This Date in Browns History!

[Bill_McCurdy]

April 27th

On This Date in History!



April 27, 1947: Browns Sweep White Sox, 4-2, 4-3!
St. Louis Runs Into Rare Triple Play in Game One!

"Should we keep on runnin'? ... Nyuk! Nyuk! ... Why, soi-ten-ly!"

The St. Louis Browns power their way to a doubleheader sweep of the Chicago White Sox this afternoon. Al Zarilla's 2-run blast in the 8th inning of Game One snaps a tie and provides the difference in a 4-2 Browns victory, Vern Stephens follows with a 3-run homer in the eighth inning of Game Two to seal a 4-3 win in the nitecap. - It was good the Browns were hitting well late in oth games because they weren't thinking too well on the base paths in Game One. In the opener, the Browns have runners on 1B (Walt Judnich) and 3B (Jerry Witte) when the Sox turn a Johnny Berardino grounder into an unusual triple play. All three runners are retired on rundowns. Jerry Witte is caught between 3B and home, Walt Judnich is tagged between 2B and 3B, and Johnny Berardino is nailed between 1B and 2B. - Too bad we can't see a videotape replay of that fine piece of base running art.



April 27, 1930: Chicago's Bud Clancy Has No Chance Against Browns!

- "No Chance Clancy"

Bud Clancy, the Chicago White Sox 1st baseman, enters the record book today without doing a thing. It's hard to believe that a game like this one ever happens. 1st baseman Clancy has no chances in a 9-inning game against the St. Louis Browns. Prior to today, the last player to have a game with no plays at 1st base was Al McCauley of Washington (American Association) in 1891.



April 27, 1909: St. Louis Enters Goose Egg Business.

... 3 sculptured goose eggs and counting.

The Chicago White Sox win their 3rd straight 1-0 game from the St. Louis Browns in three days, setting the American League mark for consecutive 1-0 wins. Hits by the two teams in the three games total only 18.



Births on April 27



Allen Sutton "Allen" or "Dixie" Sothoron

- Prior to entering pro baseball, Sothoron attended Juniata College.

Allen Sothoron is born on April 27, 1893 in Bradford, Ohio. The BB/TR pitcher will start his big league career by posting 55 wins and 62 losses for the Browns (1914-1921). Allen will enjoy his best year as a member of the 1919 Browns when he wins 20, losses 12, and posts a 2.20 ERA. For his entire career (1914-1922, 1924-1926), Allen Sothoron finishes with a record of 91 win, 100 losses, and an ERA of 3.31. - Allen Sothoron will pass away on June 17, 1939 in St. Louis Missouri at the age of only 46.



Rogers Hornsby

... The Browns players mainly hated him.

Rogers Hornsby is born on April 27, 1896 in Winterset, Texas. Considered by many as the greatest righthanded hitter of all time (.358 career BA), Hornsby will be active as a player from 1916 through 1937. He manages the 1926 Cardinals to their first World Series title and twice serves as manager of the Browns in the 1930's and early 1950's. Taking over late in 1933, Hornsby manages the hapless Browns until he is replaced in 1937 by Jim Bottomley. Hornsby returns as manager of the 1952 Browns. Brought back by Bill Veeck, Hornsby is so hated by the players that he is replaced by Marty Marion after only 50 games at the helm. The Browns players give owner Veeck a trophy for firing Hornsby as a token of their appreciation. (In reality, the whole trophy presentation was a publicity stunt arranged by owner Veeck and travel secretary Bill Durney.) Hornsby becomes a no-brainer Hall of Fame player, but he is absolutely awful when it comes down to dealing with people - especially those who play with limited ability for bad clubs like the Browns. Rogers Hornsby R.I.P., Rajah! - Nobody's perfect, but you came close as a hitter. - Rogers Hornsby will pass away on January 5, 1963 in Chicago at age 67.



John Henderson "Silent John" Whitehead is born on April 27, 1909 in Coleman, Texas. The BR/TR pitcher has an MLB career (1935-1940, 1942) record of 49 wins, 54 losses, and an ERA of 4.60 that is achieved mostly with the Chicago White Sox. As a Brown (1939-1940, 1942), Whitehead wins only 2 against 6 losses. - Silent John Whitehead is silent forever on October 20, 1964 in Bonham, Texas at the age of 55.



George Albert "George" Archie is born on April 27, 1914 in Nashville, Tennessee. The BR/TR infielder (3b/1b) has a 3-year career (1938, 1941, 1946), batting .273 with 3 HR in 121 total games played. Archie hits .325 in limited action (13 for 40) for the 1941 and 1946 Browns. - George Archies will pass away on September 20, 2001 in Nashville, TN at the age of 87.

BCT/GB, George Archie!



Deaths on April 27



John Burchard "John" Terry passes away on April 27, 1933 in Kansas City, Missouri at the age of 53. The ?b/?t pitcher has 1 win, 2 loss, 2.78 ERA record for his two years in the big leagues (1902-1903). He is only a Brown long enough in 1930 to get his only career win and finish the year at 1-1, 2.55. - John Terry was born in Waterbury, Connecticut on November 1, 1879.



Alphonse "Tommy" Thomas dies on April 27, 1988 in Dallastown, PA at the age of 88. The righthander's 12-year pitching career (1926-1937) includes two years with the Browns (1936-1937). Thomas is 11-10 as a Brown and 117-128, 4.11 ERA overall. Tommy Thomas was born on December 23, 1899 in Baltimore, Maryland.



Harlond Benton "Harlond" Clift


Harlond Clift, 3B

Harlond Clift passes away on April 27, 1992 in Yakima, Washington at the age of 79. The BR/TR best-hitting 3rd baseman in Browns history hit .272 with 178 HR's for his total career (1934-1945). All but the last 139 games of his 1,582 game history were played as a Brown. He finished as a Senator. - Harlond Clift was born on Augus 12, 1912 in El Reno, Oklahoma.

Today's Reference Links ... http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...logy/today.stm

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

[Bill_McCurdy]

April 28th

On This Date in History!



April 28, 1952: Browns Lend Players to Japan.


Abe Saperstein: Abe & Veeck
Could Have Been Partners in
Globetrotting Baseball to Japan.

In an unusual personnel move, the St. Louis Browns lend two black minor league players, third baseman John Britton and pitcher Jim Newberry, to the Hankyu Braves of the Japanese Pacific League. The Browns are the first team to send players outside of the U.S. It's of interest to note that Abe Saperstein, owner and coach of the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters, negotiates this special example in lend-lease for both sides. - We are not really sure what Bill Veeck's long term goals were in developing a working relationship with Japanese baseball interests, but we imagine they contained some visionary qualities. If any of you know more about this late-in-their-life move by the Browns, please post away or drop me an e-mail message at [email protected]



April 28, 1922: Ken Williams Homers Browns Past Tribe, 3-2.

In a 3–2 St. Louis Browns win over the Cleveland Indians, Ken Williams provides the edge with a homer off Duster Mails.



April 28, 1915: Tigers Drub Browns, 12-3, Behind Cobb.

The Detroit Tigers trim the St. Louis Browns, 12–3, with Ty Cobb stealing home in the 3rd inning. Cobb will steal home six times this season.




Births on April 28


Michael George "Mike" or "Shotgun" Chartak is born on April 28, 1916 in Brooklyn, New York. The BL/TL outfielder/1st baseman will have a 4-year MLB career (1940, 1942-1944), batting ,243 with 21 career HR's. Chartak come over to the Browns from the Senators in 1942 and finishes his career with the Browns (1942-1944). In his only season as a full time player for the 1943 Browns, Chartak hits .256 with 10 homers in 108 games. - Mike Chartak will pass away on July 25, 1967 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa at the age of 51.



Clarence Westly "Cuddles" Marshall is born on April 28, 1925 in Bellingham, Washington. The BR/TR pitcher will go on to a 4-year MLB career (1846, 1948-1950), posting a final record of 7 wins, 7 losses, and an ERA of 5.98. In his only season as a 1950 Brown, "Cuddles" wins 1, losses 3, and posts a 7.88 ERA. After 1950, the Western Washington University alumnus is gone-for-good from big league ball, but he's still alive and kicking today on his birthday.

BCT/GB & Happy 80th Birthday, Cuddles Marshall!



Deaths on April 28


Ernest Devon "Ernie" Manning passes away on April 28, 1973 in Pensacola, Florida at the age of 82. The BL/TR pitched 10 innings of relief for the 1914 Browns, posting no record to go with his 3.60 short-term ERA. After 1914, the gone-for-gooder joins the rest of us in the everyday woodwork of life. - The Auburn alumnus was born in Florala, Alabama on October 9, 1890.

BCT/GB, Ernie Manning!



Albert Wayne "Al" or "Boots" Hollingsworth



Al Hollingsworth passes away in Austin, Texas at the age of 88. The BL/TL pitcher had an 11-year career in the big leagues (1935-1946), posting an overall record of 70 wins, 104 losses, and ERA of 3.99. In his 5 years with the Browns (1942-1946), Al marked two of his best years in 1942 (10-6, 2.96) and 1945 (12-9, 2.70). He also won 5 games for the 1944 Browns American League championship club. - As a 13-year old kid in Houston, I first saw Hollingsworth when he came to town to manage the 1951 Houston Buffs and lead them to the Texas League championship. Of course, I thought Al was the greatest manager in the world. Al also introduced me to certain words of anger that I had never heard previously. One time my dad got tickets from his boss that put us in seats directly behind the Buffs dugout. Something happened to perturb Hollingsworth during the game and he lept out of the dugout and headed for the home plate umpire. I won't repeat what he said here, but it was the famous reference to the umpire's ancestry that we all hear, sooner or later, and it was laced with a few other expressions, including the slang word for the procreative act. "Close your ears, son," my embarrassed father said, but it was a little late for that advice. I had never seen a redder face in my life as Hollingsworth came back to the dugout on his way to an early shower. - I finally got to meet Al Hollingsworth in September 1995 at the Last Reunion Dinner of Former Houston Buffs - and I told him of my experience 44 years earlier. He just laughed and told me that he had managed to mellow some since then. I also got him to sign a ball for me. - The following spring, Al was gone forever. - Al Hollingsworth was born on February 25, 1908 in St. Louis, Missouri.

A great big BCT/GB to you, Al Hollingsworth - and thanks for the educational memories! :grouchy



Jerome Charles "Jerry" Witte



For ordering information on my book about Jerry Witte, please check out this link to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Bookstore ...

http://www.mfah.org/shops/main.asp?target=detail&par1=&par2=7&par3=&par4=&par5=&par6=&par7=196&currentPage=1&bhcp=1

The museum bookstore is selling "A Kid From St. Louis" through the run of "Baseball As America" in Houston, May to August 2005.

Jerry Witte passes away today at his home in Houston, Texas on April 28, 2002. (All of the internet sources show his date of death incorrectly as April 27, 2002 due to an initially errored report. As his close friend, and the person who delivered his eulogy, all I can tell you here is that April 27th is not correct. I will again do what I can to get it straight for the record.) - Jerry Witte was 86 years old when he passed away.

Although Jerry Witte failed in two cup-of-coffee tries with the 1946 and 1947 Browns, he will always be remembered as one of the great sluggers in minor league baseball history. Jerry's 4 home runs and .167 BA in the 52 games he played for the Browns in those brief stays are hardly the whole story. It wasn't as simple as some propose. That is, that he couldn't hit a curve ball or lay off a high inside unhittable fastball. Jerry hit curves in the high minors and he also laid off the high inside stuff pretty well in 1946 when he hit 3 homers in the American Association All Star Game and was the the league MVP. - Following his bust with the Browns, Witte hit 50 home runs for the 1949 Dallas Eagles - and still got no further chances with a major league club. Why not? Maybe his age entered into the equation by then. Maybe it was the rap he took for his earlier poor showing with the Browns.

I grew up watching this "kid from St. Louis" from 1949 to 1952, as he was finishing his career with the Dallas Eagles and Houston Buffs. All I know for sure is that his life ended better than most. The man was a faithful husband to his wife Mary for the 53 years of their life together. He was the strong and loving father of seven beautiful daughters. He was my childhood hero. And he was my closest adult friend in his later life. All of us who who knew and loved him still miss his powerful, booming presence in our lives and that is especially true this morning on the 3rd anniversary of his death. - Jerry Witte was born on July 30, 1915 in St. Louis, Missouri.

BCT/GB to You, Jerry Witte! - We still love you! And we continue to miss you!

Today's Reference Links ... http://www.todayinbaseballhistory.co...oday/todays.pl

http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/chronology/today.stm

[Bill_McCurdy]

April 29th

On This Date in History!



April 29, 1944: 1944 Browns Finally Lose One.



Until today, the St. Louis Browns had rolled off a perfect start to the 1944 season with 9 straight wins against 0 losses. As the law of averages more than tells us, it couldn't last forever and, on this fine Saturday, it ended. The Chicago White Sox brought the voice of reality to the table as they beat the Browns, 4-3, and ended all illusions/delusions of a perfect season. Still, if the Browns can maintain their new winning percentage of .900 over the first 10 games, they ought to be able to take the pennant with considerable ease.



April 29, 1931: Wes Ferrell No-Hits Browns, 9-0.


Wes & Rick Ferrell: Brother
Rick Almost Ruined the Day.

Wes Ferrell pitches a 9-0 no-hit game for the Cleveland Indians against the St. Louis Browns today. His brother, Rick Ferrell, the catcher for the Browns, almost ruins the day when he beats out an infield grounder that is then ruled an error on the fielder. Meanwhile, Wes Ferrell is having a brilliant all-around day. On top of his no-no, he strikes out 8 and bats in 4 runs with a home run and a double.



April 29, 1922: Ken Williams On Homer Tear; Gets Nos. 8 & 9 Today!


Ken Williams

Ken Williams clouts homers #8 and #9 off Stan Coveleski to lead the St. Louis Browns to a 6–5 win over the Cleveland Indians. (Baseball Library [dot] Com offers us an example of how fleeting fame can be. - 83 years after the fact, this truly good reference site is erroneously giving National Leaguer "Cy Williams" the credit for all these feats performed by Ken. I'm doing what I am able to alert them to the error so that it will be corrected in their chronicles of this date in baseball history.)



April 29, 1916: Browns Foiled By Season's 1st Triple Play.

Buck Weaver: One of the Future "8 Men Out" Starts Play That Gets 3 Men Out.

Buck Weaver (3B) and Jack Fournier (1B) execute the season's first triple play in the 3–1 Chicago White Sox win at St. Louis over the home team Browns.



April 29, 1910: Rookie Hurler Goose Eggs Browns, 5-0.

In his major league debut, Sailor Stroud of the Detroit Tigers shuts out the St. Louis Browns, 5-0. I was going to borrow the "capsizes the Browns" metaphor which Baseball Library already has deployed upon the yeoman work of the young "sailor" on this date, but this is one of those mornings where even I haven't the stomach for that kind of reach. I feel reasonably certain that news of the Browns' loss to a rookie named "Sailor" in 1910 was hardly the stuff of tsunami shock throughout the rest of the American League.



Births on April 29



Ernest Rudolph "Ernie" Johnson is born on April 29, 1888 in Chicago, Illinois. The BL/TR infielder will enjoy a 10-year MLB career (1912, 1915-1918, 1921-1925), hitting .266 with 19 HR's. As a member of the Browns for 3 seasons (1916-1918), Johnson will hit .229, .246, and .265 in utility service. - Ernie Johnson will pass away on May 1, 1952 in Monravia, California at the age of 64.



John Aloysius "Johnnie" Heving is born on April 29, 1896 in Covington, Kentucky. The BR/TR catcher's Browns career consists entirely of 1 fruitless time at bat in 1922. It is also his only game appearance of the 1922 year, but Heving is no gone-for-gooder. Heving comes back with the Red Sox and Athletics to play 8 seasons in the big leagues (1922, 1924-1925, 1928-1932), finishing with a BA of .265 and 1 HR in 399 games. Johnnie Heving will die on December 24, 1968 in Salisbury, North Carolina at the age of 72.



Deaths on April 29



James Robert "Jimmy" or "Loafer" McAleer passes away on April 29, 1931 in Youngstown, Ohio at the age of 66. The BR/TR outfielder went 2 for 3 in 2 games for the original 1902 Browns club and then came back years later to go 0 for 2 in a couple of times at bat for the 1907 Browns. How did he do it? Easy. Jimmy McAleer was the original manager of the Browns from 1902 to 1909. Prior to the Browns, McAleer managed the Cleveland club in 1901. After the Browns, he managed Washington for 2 years (1910-1911). Over the course of his playing career (1889-1898, 1901-1902, 1907), Jimmy McAleer batted .253 with 12 HR's in 1,020 games. - Jimmy McAleer was born on July 7, 1864 in Youngstown, Ohio. - Don't know how he got his nickname. His record hardly fits his description as a "Loafer."

Today's Reference Links ... http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...logy/today.stm

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

[Bill_McCurdy]

April 30th

On This Date in History!



April 30, 1936: A's Pound Browns, 12-8! Hornsby Goes Into Trading Mode!

Chief Hogsett: On His Way to Browns Today.

The Philadelphia Athletics outslug the St. Louis Browns, 12–8, behind George Puccinelli's four hits. A's pitcher Bill Dietrich "chops down" Sugar Cain I of the Browns for the win. Later in the day, Browns manager Rogers Hornsby announces that he is swapping 1st baseman Jack Burns to the Detroit Tigers for lefty pitcher Chief Hogsett and cash. Burns will take over for the injured Hank Greenberg at Detroit and hit .283.



April 30, 1922: Browns Whip Tribe, 11-9; Tie NY for 1st Place!

Urban Shocker: He's Becoming a Force for the Browns.

Ken Williams goes homerless today, but the St. Louis Browns still manage to defeat the Cleveland Indians, 11–9, despite hitting into a triple play. Urban Shocker is the winner for St. Louis. As a result of today's big win, the Browns are now tied (11-5) with the New York Yankees for first place in the American League.



Births on April 30


Chester Peter "Chet" Laabs is born on April 30, 1912 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Chet's MLB career (1937-1947) will include 8 seasons as a Brown (1939-1946). As a member of the 1944 American League championship club, the BR/TR outfielder will hit two homers in a victorious game against the Yankees on the last day of the season. The Browns' win over the Yankees gives the club the pennant by one game over the Detroit Tigers. Chet's big power day is more of a shock because he previously had belted only 3 homers all season in part-time action for the Browns. The rap on Laabs always will be his high strikeout rate, but he still will finish his MLB career with a BA of .262 and a golden day in Browns history. Today will be remembered by Browns fans forever. Chet Laabs will pass away on January 26, 1983 in Warren, Michigan at the age of 70.

BCT/GB, Chet Laabs! - Thank you for your big day in our Browns history!



Deaths on April 30


Elam Russell "Elam" Vangilder passes away on April 30, 1977 in the place where he started, Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He is 81 at the time of his death. - The BR/TR pitcher was one of the golden boys, along with ace Urban Shocker, of the club now equally revered for their greatness and disappointment, the 1922 Browns. Vangilder won 19, lost 13, and posted a 3.42 ERA for the Browns team that lost the 1922 AL pennant to the New York Yankees by a single game. In his 9 seasons as a Brown (1919-1927), Vangilder posted a W-L record of 88-91. He closed his MLB career with 2 additional seasons as a Tiger (1928-1929), bringing his final career record to 88 wins, 102 losses, and an ERA of 4.28. - Elam Vangilder was born on April 23, 1896 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

A Great Big BCT/GB to You, Elam Vangilder!

Today's Reference Links ... http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...logy/today.stm

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

Have a great weekend, everybody!

[Bill_McCurdy]

May 1st

On This Date in History!



May 1, 1928: Browns "Assist" Indians To Outfield Assist Record; Lose, 4-3.


"Now see here, Mortimer! If
you want to keep your job, you
had better listen to me. A good
bases coach has to be able to
say more than - 'keep going'!"

Cleveland Indians outfielders tie the big league record for same with five assists in a game against the St. Louis Browns. Rookie Sam Langford has four of the assists, also equaling the major league mark for individual outfielders. Today's 5 outfield assist performace is the 10th in big league history. Only one of these 10 occurences was helped by extra innings. The rest all happened in regulation length contests. What's more more amazing? After this one 1928 event, no other big league game for the remainder of the 20th century produces another 5 outfield assist performance.

Side Notes: Although outhit 12-10 by St. Louis, Cleveland goes on to defeat the Browns, 4-3. Of course they did. Look at the help they were getting from the Browns on the basepaths. - Do you think maybe someone on the Browns, at sometime during the game, had this flashing thought: "Uh, gee. - Maybe we shouldn't be so quick to run on these outfielders, especially that rookie they keep yelling 'Way to go, Sam!' to!"



May 1, 1912: Let's Keep An Eye On This Kid Prospect.

A freshman pitcher for the University of Michigan struck out 20 in seven innings of work today on the collegiate level. The young man's name is George Sisler.



Births on May 1



Robert Arthur "Bob" Harris is born on May 1, 1917 in Gillette, Wyoming. The BR/TR pitcher will go on to record a 5-year record (1938-1942) in the big leagues of 30 wins, 52 losses, ad an ERA of 4.96. Harris will join the Browns from the Tigers after the start of the 1939 season. He will remain a Brown through 1942, but he will move to the A's that same season to finish his career with Philadelphia. Harris's record as a Brown will be 27 wins and 46 losses, the bulk of his career record. - Bob Harris will die on August 8, 1989 in North Platte, Nebraska at the age of 72.



John "Johnny" Berardino


"John Beradino" in his 2nd
career as a tv actor/doctor.

John "Johnny" Berardino is born on May 1, 1917 in Los Angeles, California. The BR/TR infielder from USC will enjoy an 11-year MLB career (1938-1942, 1946-1952) and leave the game with a BA of .249 with 36 HR's. Beradino has two tours as a Brown. The first tour is interrupted by World War II (1939-1942, 1946-1947). The second tour is brief (39 games in 1951). - After retiring from baseball, Berardino dropped the 2nd "r" in his last name and goes on to a long career as an actor named "John Beradino" playing a doctor on the television soap, "General Hospital." The final curtain for Johnny Berardino, aka John Beradino, comes on May 19, 1996 in Los Angeles, California at age 79.



Allen Lee "Al" or "Zeke" Zarilla


Al Zarilla: During His Best Days with the
Boston Red Sox.

Al Zarilla is born on May 1, 1919 in Los Angeles, California. The BL/TR outfielder has a 10-year MLB career (1943-1944, 1946-1953) that includes two tours with the Browns (1943-1944, 1946-1949 and 1952). Zarilla leaves the game with a .276 career BA and 61 homers. - Al Zarilla will pass away on August 28, 1996 in Honolulu, Hawaii at the age of 77.



Deaths on May 1


Ernest Rudolph "Ernie" Johnson passes away on May 1, 1952 in Monravia, California at the age of 64. The BL/TR infielder enjoyed a 10-year MLB career (1912, 1915-1918, 1921-1925), hitting .266 with 19 HR's. As a member of the Browns for 3 seasons (1916-1918), Johnson hit .229, .246, and .265 in utility service. - Ernie Johnson was born on April 29, 1888 in Chicago, Illinois.



Edwin Lee "Ed" or "Satchelfoot" Wells passes away on May 1, 1986 in Montgomery, Alabama at the age of 85. The BL/TL pitcher from Bethany College played 11 years in the big leagues (1923-1934), leaving behind a record of 68 wins, 69 losses, and an ERA of 4.65. He finished his career with the 1933-1934 Browns, winning only 7 against 21 losses. - Ed Wells was born on June 7, 1900 in Ashland, Ohio.



Alva Lee "Bobo" Holloman passes away on May 1, 1987 in Athens, Georgia at the age of 62. The BR/TR pitcher was one of the true shooting stars in baseball history.

Holloman was the third pitcher in major league history, after Charlie Jones and Ted Breitenstein, to throw a no-hitter in his first start. After he had bounced around the Cubs' farm system, Holloman's contract was purchased by the lowly St. Louis Browns prior to the 1953 season. His early appearances with them, all in relief, yielded an ERA close to 9.00. Undaunted, the confident Holloman pestered manager Marty Marion to give him a chance as a starter. He took the mound in that capacity for the first time on the rainy night of May 6, 1953 before a hometown crowd of 2,473 and no-hit the Athletics 6-0. The 29-year-old rookie embellished his performance with three RBI and his only two hits in the majors. He never pitched another complete game in his major league career, which was over before the end of 1953.

Holloman was a colorful personality who stopped at the foul line each time he pitched to scratch the initials of his wife and son in the dirt. Brown's owner Bill Veeck said of him, "He had charm and he had humor and he had unlimited confidence in himself."

by Christopher D. Renino an English teacher in the Scarsdale, New York public school system. Link: http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...loman_Bobo.stm

Bobo Holloman's 3-7, 5.22 ERA record for the 1953 Browns was his only act on the big league stage, but he sure made memorable use of his 15 minutes of fame. - Bobo was born on March 7, 1925 in Thomaston, Georgia,

BCT/GB, Bobo Holloman! After that 1st start no-no back in 1953, you never will quite be - gone for good!

Today's Reference Links ... http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...logy/today.stm

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

[Bill_McCurdy]

May 2nd

On This Date in History!



May 2, 1926: Satch Wakes Up With 1st "W" by His Name.


Satchel Paige Turns 1st
Pro Baseball Page.

19-year old Satchel Paige wakes up this morning for the first time with a "W" beside his baseball name. There is no report on how long he slept in today, and no word on what he had for breakfast, if anything. All we know with reasonable certainty, and that degree of assuredness doesn't include proof of his exact age on the date of his debut, is that the young man from Mobile, Alabama pitched his first professional game on May 1, 1926 for Chattanooga of the Negro Southern League and that he was the 5-4 winner over Birmingham. Because of the racist color line that existed in 1926, it will be another 22 years before the great pitcher debuts in the previously all white Major Leagues with the Cleveland Indians on July 19, 1948 - and 25 years from 1926 before Satchel Paige makes his first appearance with the 1951 St. Louis Browns.

Good morning, Satchel, and congratulations. To this day, I never think of you once without immediately going to all those other thoughts of what might've been.

(Paige Debut Fact Reference: "The Baseball Chronology" by James Charlton.)



Births on May 2


John Louis "John" or "Jack" Leary is born on May 2, 1891 in Waltham, Massachusetts. The BR/TR 1st baseman/catcher will play 2 years in the big leagues for the 1914-1915 Browns and hit .258. He will hit 0 HR's in 760 official times at bat. - Jack Leary will pass away on August 18, 1961 in his birthplace of Waltham, MA at the age of 70.



Deaths on May 2



No Browns Ever Died on This Fine Spring Date in Baseball History.

Have a great week, everybody!

Today's Reference Link ... http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

[Bill_McCurdy]

May 3rd

On This Date in History!




May 3, 1952: Fan Fun at Fenway Upstages BoSox 5 - Browns 2.



The Boston Red Sox beat the St. Louis Browns, 5–2, in Fenway Park, but some fans think it's their special field day. The game is stopped twice by bizarre fan invasions of the playing field. In the bottom of the first, two college fraternity boys dressed in baseball uniforms run onto the field and start throwing a rubber ball around. Two innings later, a one-legged man on crutches jumps onto the field to talk to Browns shortstop Marty Marion and pitcher Earl Harrist. The man then shakes hands with Red Sox base runner (and former Brown) Don Lenhardt before being hurried off the field.

Let me guess. - As a veteran of that frat-rat era, I'll bet I can tell you how the first invasion happened without being too far from wrong. An active fraternity member asked a couple of pledges: "Do you love this fraternity enough to put on baseball uniforms and run onto the field at Fenway to play catch during an actual Red Sox game?" - The second one? I don't know. Maybe it was Bill Veeck.



May 3, 1951: Damn Yankees!



On a miserable day at Sportsman's Park, Gil McDougald hits a grand slam and a triple in the 9th, as the New York Yankees score 11 runs in the last inning to rout the St. Louis Browns, 17–3. McDougald, on his way to earning Rookie of the Year honors, racks up six RBIs in the frame. To make things worse, Jackie Jensen follows McDougald's triple with one of his own. On his second time around in the 9th, Jensen follows McDougald's grand slam with a single-shot homer. Double ouch! - Meanwhile, Allie Reynolds is the gift recipient of today's Yankee explosion and is the winning pitcher of record. After the nightmare ends, the Browns go home with only the wish that they had stayed in their beds.

Damn Yankees!



May 3, 1939: Senator 1st Baseman Ties Error Mark Against Browns.

Jimmy Wasdell of Washington: "Nobody's Perfect."

In an 11–11 tie with the Browns, Washington Senators 1st baseman Jimmy Wasdell makes four (4) errors to equal the major league mark.



Births on May 3

Not Today!



Deaths on May 3


George Louis "Kewpie" Pennington passes away on May 3, 1953 in Newark, New Jersey at the age of 56. The BR/TR pitcher was a Moonlight Graham type who pitched one scoreless inning for the Browns on April 14, 1917 before inexplicably departing for the Land of Gone-For-Good. "Kewpie" surrendered one single, but no runs, in his only big league game and he was not involved in the decision. - Kewpie Pennington was born on September 24, 1896 in New York City.

BCT/GB, Kewpie Pennington!



Ernest Alonzo "Ernie" Nevers



Football Hall of Famer Ernie Nevers dies on May 3, 1976 in San Rafael, California at the age of nearly 74. The football great from Stanford University also pitched for three seasons in the big leagues with the St. Louis Browns (1926-1928), earning a career mark of 6 wins, 12 losses, and an ERA of 4.64. - Ernie Nevers (BR/TR) was born on June 11, 1902 in Willow River, Minnesota.



Thomas Griffith "Tom" or "Tut" Jenkins passes away on May 3, 1979 in Weymouth, Massachusetts at the age of 81. The BL/TR outfielder had a 6-year MLB career (1925-1926, 1929-1932), hitting .259 and 3 homers. In his 4 seasons of limited action as a Brown (1929-1932), "Tut" bagged all of his 3 HR's in the 81 games he played in 1931, when he also hit .265 on the year. 1931 was the only season in which Jenkins played more than 25 games. - Tom Jenkins was born on April 10, 1898 in Camden, Alabama.



Darrell Johnson
Birth Name: Darrell Dean Johnson Bats : Right
Born On: 08-25-1928 Throws : Right
Born In: Horace, Nebraska Height : 6-01
Died On: 05-03-2004 Weight : 180
Died In: Fairfield, California First Game: 04-20-1952
College: None Attended Last Game: 06-06-1962
Nickname: None Draft: Not Applicable

Catcher Darrell Johnson (1952, 1957-1958, 1960-1962) had a 6-year MLB career in which he batted .234 with 2 HR's. Johnson broke in to the big leagues with the 1952 Browns and batted .282 (22 for 78) before he was shipped off that same season to the White Sox. - Darrell Johnson was 75 when he died in 2004.


Today's Reference Links ...

http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/chronology/today.stm

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

[Bill_McCurdy]

May 4

On This Date in History!




May 4, 1951: Damn Yankees Deja Vu!
Rookie Mantle Blasts 450’ Homer at
Sportsman’s Park!

Mantle Gets Career HR # 2!

In St. Louis, the New York Yankees pummel the St. Louis Browns, 8–1, behind Eddie Lopat. Rookie Mickey Mantle, again batting leadoff and playing right field for New York, connects for the 2nd home run of his young career off Duane Pillette, a 450-shot in the 6th inning.



May 4, 1944: Browns End Segregated Seating at Sportsman’s Park!

Racism Takes A Whack Today, But It "Ain't Over!"

The St. Louis Browns announce that they are dropping their segregation policy restricting African Americans to the bleachers. Henceforth, "Negroes" may purchase a ticket for any seat.



May 4, 1941: Grove Defeats Browns, 11-4, for 294th Career Win!

Lefty Grove: Well On His Way To The Hall!

In St. Louis today, Lefty Grove wins his 294th victory, 11–4, over the Browns. The Boston Red Sox back Lefty with 15 hits.



Births on May 4


John Thomas "Jack" Tobin This native St. Louisan is born on May 4, 1892. The BL/TL right fielder will hit .331 for the almost-champion 1922 Browns. He will go on to even better years, batting .352 in 1921 and and .341 in 1920. His career (1914-27) record with four clubs, but mostly with the Browns (1916-25) produces a .309 lifetime BA and 1,906 hits. The presence of a few more players like Jack Tobin in our club's past could have resulted in a much better win history for the St. Louis Browns. - Jack Tobin will pass away on December 10, 1969 in St. Louis at the age of 77.


John Anthony "Ox" Miller is born on May 4, 1915 in Gause, Texas. The BR/TR pitcher will have a 4-year MLB career (1943, 1945-1947) in which he wins 4, losses 6, and registers an ERA of 6.38. Miller will go 3-3 as a Brown (1943, 1945-1946). - Ox Miller is still with us in 2005. Happy Birthday # 90, Ox Miller!



Hal Campbell "Hal" or "Lefty" Hudson is born on May 4, 1927 in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. The BL/TL will pitch 10.1 innings for the Browns and White Sox in 1952-1953, registering no record to go with his 7.85 career ERA. - Hal Hudson is also still with us in 2005. Happy Birthday # 78, Hal Hudson!



Deaths on May 4


Vincent Leo "Vince" Molyneaux passes away on May 4, 1950 in Stamford, Connecticut at the age of 61. The BR/TR alumnus of Villanova University will pitch for the 1917 Browns, achieving no W/L rrecord, and then go 1-0 for 1918 Red Sox to finish his career with a record of 1 win, 0 losses, and an ERA of 4.41. - Vince Molyneaux was born in Lewiston, New York on August 17, 1888. - BCT/GB, Vince Molyneaux!


Guy Sturdy passes away on May 4, 1965 in Marshall, Texas at the age of 65. The BL/TL 1st baseman played 59 games for the 1927-1928 Browns, batting .288 with 1 HR as the totals on his complete MLB career. - Guy Sturdy was born on August 7, 1899 in Sherman, Texas.


Robert Irving "Bob" Elliott passes away on May 4, 1966 in San Diego, California at the age of 49. The BR/TR 3rd baseman had a 15-year MLB career (1939-1953) in which he batted .289 with 170 HR's. Elliott batted .250 iwith 5 HR's n 48 games for the the 1953 Browns. - Bob Elliott was born on November 26, 1916 in San Francisco, California.


William John "Billy" Mullen dies in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri on May 4, 1971 at the age of 74. Mullen's 36-game big league career spanned 5 seasons and it included 2 stops with the Browns (1920-1921, 1928). Mullen was a BR/TR utility infielder who hit for a career (1920-1928) average of .220 (11 for 50). Only one of Billy's 11 hits was for extra bases and that one was a double. Billy Mullen was born on January 23, 1896 in St. Louis. - BCT/GB, Billy Mullen!


Robert Daniel "Bob" Cooney passes away on May 4, 1976 in Glen Falls, New York at the age of 48. In his 2-season MLB/Browns career, the Fordham alumnus TR/BR pitcher had a record of 1 win, 5 losses, and an ERA of 5.95. - Bob Cooney was born on July 12, 1927 in Glen Falls, New York.

Today's Reference Links ...

http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/chronology/today.stm

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

[Bill_McCurdy]

May 5th

On This Date in History!



May 5, 1934: Grove Awful in BoSox Debut Vs. Browns.


Lefty Grove Out of Groove!

It was for from typical Grove. With the Red Sox leading the Browns, 9–3, Lefty Grove bombs in his first appearance against St. Louis. Grove gives up three hits, two walks, and five earned runs, without retiring a batter before he's done. No word is available on any damage from Grove to the visitors' clubhouse this time.


May 5, 1930: Hey! - It's 1930! - Just Follow The Bouncing Ball!



The Philadelphia Athletics use four solo homers today to defeat the St. Louis Browns, 4–3, in 12 innings. Al Simmons leads off the bottom of the 12th inning with the walk off shot that makes Lefty Grove a winner over General Crowder of the Browns. Both starters went all the way, Nobody kept "pitch Counts" in those days. The other Athletic homers were provided by Joe Boley with two and Mule Haas with one. The 4 solo HR's in one game are an American League record to this date. Ironically (and maybe not surprisingly, given the testy ball that comes into play this year), the New York Giants of the National League will score 5 runs on 5 solo homers in only 5 weeks from now.



May 5, 1925: Cobb Goes 6 for 6 with 3 HRs! Tigers Beat Browns, 14-8!

How in the world did a guy like Ty Cobb ever rack up 4,191 career hits?

Ty Cobb is 6 for 6 with 3 home runs today as the Detroit Tigers bury the St. Louis Browns, 14–8. All three of Cobb's homers are off different pitchers. Cobb's 16 total bases for the game tops the American League record that Joe Hauser of the Athletics set when he racked up 14 total bases of August 2, 1924 with 3 homers and a double.



May 5, 1922: Bayne Loses No-No in 9th, But Browns Beat Tigers, 6-1!

Bob Fothergill today becomes the only man to ever pinch hit for Ty Cobb.

Pitching against the Detroit Tigers, Bill Bayne of the St. Louis Browns takes a no-hitter into the 8th inning. Detroit manager Ty Cobb then sends up five straight pinch hitters, the first of whom in the 9th breaks up the no-hitter. One of the pinch hitters Cobb inserts is Bob Fothergill, who bats for Cobb and strikes out. In so doing, Fothergill becomes the only man ever to pinch hit for the Georgia Peach. The Browns win the game, 6–1.



May 5, 1917: Browns' Koob Gets Controversial No-No Vs. White Sox!

"Oh no, you can't take that away from me!" - Ernie Koob.

St. Louis Browns pitcher Ernie Koob gets a 1–0 no-hitter over the Chicago White Sox and Eddie Cicotte. It is to be the last shutout the 24-year-old pitcher will ever toss. George Sisler drives in the Browns' only run. A 1st inning tainted hit by Buck Weaver is changed later to an error after much discussion with umpires and players. Tomorrow, the writers' association will take a mail vote on a resolution declaring that a scorer's decision can not be reversed. - The resolution will fail, but today's outcome really spotlights the pressure on official scorers in all those instances in which one tainted hit stands in the way of a pitching masterpiece.



Births On May 5


No Way on 5th of May! *

* OK, there is a way. It just never happened for the Browns on May 5th.



Deaths on May 5


Verne James "Verne" or "Stinger" Clemons passes away on May 5, 1959 in Bay Pines, Florida at the age of 67. The BR/TR catcher was only 1 for 7 (.143) for the 1916 Browns, but he came back to play 6 seasons (1919-1924) for the Cardinals. finishing with a career BA of .286 and 5 HR's. Verne Clemons was born on September 8, 1891 in Clemons, Iowa. (His family must have started the town.)



Vitautis Casimirus "Vito" Tamulis dies on May 5, 1974 in Nashville, Tennessee at the age 62. The BL/TL pitcher had a 6-year career (1934-1935, 1938-1941) record of 40 wins, 28 losses, and an ERA of 3.97. He was 0-3 in one partial season with the 1938 Browns. - Vito Tamulis was born on July 11, 1911 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Today's Reference Links ... http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/chronology/today.stm

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

[Bill_McCurdy]

May 6th

On This Date in History!




May 6, 1953: Bobo Pitches No-No in 1st Rookie Start for Browns!


It wasn't this big of a deal, but Bobo's feat did seem pretty miraculous at the time.

Bobo Holloman of the St. Louis Browns pitches a no-hitter in his first MLB start. He had made 4 relief appearances prior to today. Holloman is only the 3rd rookie in big league history to pitch a no-no in his first starting role try. The others were Charlie Jones and Ted Breitenstein.

Bobo gets his "No-No" today with a 6–0 win over the Philadelphia Athletics and Morrie Martin. To make it even better, Bobo also drives home three runs on a pair of singles. Sadly, these two bingles will rest as the only hits of his brief major league career. Within three months from this golden moment, Bobo Holloman will be out of the major leagues and gone-for-good with only three career wins. After his big first start, Bobo has nine more calls to begin games, but he is unable finish any of them. He leaves with a record of 3 wins, 7 losses, and an ERA of 5.23 Holloman's three wins are on the books too as the fewest ever achieved by a no-hit pitcher.



May 6, 1946: Teddy Ballgame Hot! Red Sox Sweep Browns, 7-5, 5-4.

Our Browns helped Ted Williams become a very famous hitter - as he proved again today.

The Boston Red Sox sweep two games from the St. Louis Browns today in a postponed twinbill, with Boo Ferriss winning the opener, 7–5, with the help of three RBIs from Ted Williams. In the 8th inning of the opener, with George Metkovich on first, Johnny Pesky grounds out on a hit-and-run. He had hit safely 11 times up, one shy of Pinky Higgins' major-league record hitting streak. Manager Joe Cronin said Pesky had called the play on his own, and he would have had him hitting away. In the nitecap, Williams scores the winning run in the 9th on Dom DiMaggio's RBI single, and the Sox's Joe Dobson comes away with a 5–4 win. Dom will drive in a record-tying 84 runs hitting in the leadoff spot, ending the year with a total of 87 RBI. As a result of today's twin win, the Boston Red Sox have now won 11 games in a row and are now three games ahead of the New York Yankees.



May 6, 1936: Foxx Roars! Red Sox Bash Browns, 9-6!

Our Browns helped Jimmie Foxx become a very famous hitter - as he proved again today.


Jimmie Foxx hits his 7th and 8th homers of the season as Wes Ferrell beats the St. Louis Browns, 9–6, to keep the Boston Red Sox in first place.



May 6, 1925: Cobb On Tear! Tigers Crush Browns, 11-4!

Our Browns helped Ty Cobb become a very famous hitter - as he proved again today.

Ty Cobb belts two more homers, these coming off Dave Danforth and Chester Falk, to give him five round trippers in two days. Cobb's feat ties Cap Anson's 1884 achievement. Cobb's 1st inning single also gives him nine straight hits. Two other drives in the game are barely caught. Along the way of this hit parade, Ty Cobb's six RBIs lead the Tigers to an 11–4 clawing of the Browns. Mickey Cochrane also hits his 1st big league home run in the game off Sad Sam Jones of the beleaguered Browns.



May 6, 1902: Browns' Piracy Helps Leverage Peace with National League.

"Why don't we all sit down and reason this out? - Can I fix you a drink?"

A circuit court in St. Louis rules that the National League reserve clause is unfairly restrictive on three defectors who jumped to the Browns. Inability to retrieve jumpers gives the National League a stronger incentive to reconcile their considerable differences with the upstart new American League. There's nothing quite like the help of a threat to the pocketbook when it comes to the goal of promoting peace between business people.



Births on May 6


Ivy Paul "Ivy" or "Poison Ivy" Andrews is born on May 6, 1907 in Dora, Alabama. The BR/TR pitcher will go on to a career MLB record of 50 wins, 59 losses, and a 4.14 ERA from 1931-1938. As a Brown (1934-1936), Andrews is part poison and part ivy, posting a record in St. Louis of 24 wins and 20 losses during his three years of service. - Poison Ivy Andrews will pass away on November 24, 1970 in Birmingham, Alabama at the age of 63.



Deaths on May 6


Frank Bernard "Beauty" McGowan passes away on May 6, 1982 in Hamden, Connecticut at the age of 80. The BL/TR outfielder has 5-year, chopped up MLB career (1922-1923, 1928-1929, 1937) in which he hits .262 with 6 HR's. As a member of the 1928 Browns (.363 in 47 games) and 1929 Browns (.254 in 125 games), Beauty also bangs 4 of his 6 career homers. - Beauty McGowan was born on November 8, 1901 in Branford, Connecticut.



Joseph Charles "Joe" or "Gabby" Glenn dies on May 6, 1985 in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania at the age of 76. The BR/TR catcher had an MLB career (1932-1933, 1935-1940) BA of .252 with 5 HR's. In his only year as a Brown in 1939, Glenn batted .273 in 88 games, hitting 4 of his 5 career homers. - Gabby Glenn was born on November 19, 1908 in Dickson City, Pennsylvania.



Len Schulte passes away on May 6, 1986 in Orlando, Florida at the age of 69. The BR/TR infielder began his brief big league career on September 27, 1944 with the St. Louis Browns, drawing a walk in his only trip to the plate. The following year, 1945, Len got into 119 games as a utility infielder for the Browns, playing 71 games at 3rd base, 37 games at 2nd base, and 14 games at shortstop. He collected 106 hits for a .247 average, but showed no power. Of his total hits, 89 were singles and 16 were doubles. 1 triple found its way to the wall, but zero homers sprang from his porous, shock-absorbing bat.

By 1946, Schulte was finished after going 2 for 5. The return of talent from World War II, even for the Browns, gave the club better choices for its roster, and so, the 29-year old Schulte was ingloriously cut. He would never make it back for another day in the big leagues.

He was born as "Leonard Bernard Schultehenrich" with a name about as memorable as his career. He came into this world on December 5, 1916 in St. Cahrles, Missouri. It should be noted that Len's older brother, Ham Schulte, also had a short-term big league career. Ham played a full season as an infielder with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1940, hitting only .237 as an infielder in 120 games. That one year was also the only shot that Ham ever got at the big leagues. I'm not sure if it was World War II or that .237 BA that got Ham, but one or the other did him in.

Today's Reference Links ... http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...logy/today.stm

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

[Bill_McCurdy]

May 7th

On This Date in History!




May 7, 1939: Browns Halt Streaking Red Sox, 6-3!

Bobo Newsom puts stop on lofty Red Sox hopes.

After seven straight road wins, the Boston Red Sox lose to the St. Louis Browns, 6–3, today and drop to 2nd place in the American League. Bobo Newsom's 7-hitter stops Boston in their tracks. As result of the their loss, the New York Yankees take over 1st place and remain there the rest of the season.



May 7. 1929: Zachary Begins Undefeated Year with Win Over Browns, 6-5!

Tom Zachary will go 12-0 in 1929.

New York Yankee southpaw Tom Zachary wins a 6–5 game in relief at St. Louis, the first of his 12 wins without a loss for the year. It is a major league record total for pitchers earning an undefeated season. No pitcher will have a better winning season without losing a game. Zachary's batterymate, rookie Bill Dickey, helps out with his first major league homer, off General Crowder of the Browns. To make the victory even sweeter, the also-a-former-Brown Tom Zachary gets this first win on his 33rd birthday. - In spite of his record year with the Yankees, Tom Zachary will be remembered for something he did two years earlier as a pitcher for the 1927 Washington Senators in a game played against the Yankees. It was Tom Zachary who gave up Babe Ruth's record 60th home run.



May 7, 1928: Who Needs A Pinch Hitter When You're Down, 15-1?

The Senators also knew how to lose with flair.

Trailing the St. Louis Browns, 15–1, the Washington Senators allow reliever Clay Van Alstyne to bat for himself in the 9th inning. Clay had earlier scored the only Nats run. He responds this time by blasting his first major league home run, a solo shot that makes the final score, 15-2, Browns. Sadly for Van Alstyne, it is also his last home run and worse. It proves to be his last time at bat in the big leagues. At least, he took the Ted Williams Freeway to MLB retirement - and he even took that famous exit ramp 32 years earlier than Ted built it.




Births on May 7



August Joseph "Gloomy Gus" Williams is born on May 7, 1888 in Omaha, Nebraska. No weather report on that date is handy, but we will presume that it was a cloudy day in Omaha. The BL/TL outfielder will go on to a 5-year All-Browns MLB career (1911-1915), one in which he bats .263 with 12 homers. - Gloomy Gus Williams will pass away on April 16, 1964 in Sterling, Illinois at the age of 75.



Jonathan Thompson Walton "Tom" Zachary is born on May 7, 1896 in Graham, North Carolina. Best remembered as the Washington Senators pitcher who gave up Babe Ruth's 60th home run in 1927, the BL/TL hurler will toil for 19 years in the big leagues (1918-1936), achieving a career mark of 186 wins, 191 losses, and an ERA of 3.73. He will work for 7 different clubs over the years, stopping off with the Browns in 1926 and part of 1927. The Browns deal Zachary to the Senators during the 1927 season - in time for him to keep his destiny date with Babe Ruth. As a 1929 Yankee, Zachary will post an MLB record for most wins by a pitcher in an undefeated season by going 12-0. Tom Zachary played ball at Guilford College prior to turning pro. Zachary was 18 and 21 in his season and a half with the Browns. He will die on January 24, 1969 in Burlington, North Carolina at the age of 72.



Alfred Thomas "Al" Papai is born on May 7, 1917 in Divernon, Illinois. The BR/TR pitcher achieves a career (1948-1950, 1955) MLB record of 9 wins, 14 losses, and an ERA of 5.37. Papai will go 4-11 in his only year with the 1949 Browns. - The old knuckleballer, whom I also was privileged to watch as a member of the pitching staff for the 1951 Houstons Buffs, will pass away on September 7, 1995 in Springfield, Illinois at the age of 78. Sadly, Al's wife Claire received his invitation in the mail to attend the Last Round Up of the 1951 Houston Buffs on the day she returned home from his funeral. She came to the reunion in his place and I was moved to write the following eulogy in his belated memory.

In Memory of Al Papai

Go forth, Al Papai,
Through the heavens afar.
Throw your tantalizing knuckler,
So we'll know where you are.

And, on some summer night soon,
Across a sky, black as tar,
We shall find you fluttering wobblers,
Striking out a shooting star.

Goodbye, Al Papai, Godspeed.
You're pitching in The Bigger League now.

... PLAY BALL!



Deaths on May 7



William Allen "Bill" Fincher passes away on May 7, 1946, in Shreveport, Louisiana, just 19 days shy of his 52nd birthday. The BR/TR hurler pitched in 12 games for the 1916 Browns, going 0-1 with a 2.14 ERA before heading off to the Land of Gone For Good. Bill Fincher was born on May 26, 1894 in Atlanta, Georgia.

BCT/GB, Bill Fincher!



Edmund John "Bing" Miller dies on May 7, 1966 in Philadelphia, PA at the age of 71. The BR/TR outfielder hit .311 with 116 HR's during his 16-year (1921-1936) MLB career. In his 2 seasons with the Browns (1926-1927), Miller batted .331 and .325. - He was a good one! - Bing Miller was born on August 30, 1894 in Vinton, Iowa.



Walter William "Boo-Boom" or "Elmer The Great" Beck passes awy on May 7, 1987 in Champaign, Illinois at the age of 82. The BR/TR pitcher (1924, 1927-1928, 1933-1934, 1939-1945) posted a career record of 38 wins, 69 losses, and an ERA of 4.30. Beck was 3-3 during his 3 break-in seasons with the Browns (1924, 1927-1928). - Boom-Boom Beck was born on October 16, 1904 in Decatur, Illinois. - He most likely picked up that "Elmer The Great" nickname from a popular 1930s baseball movie of that title, starring comedian Joe E. Brown.

Today's Reference Links ... http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...logy/today.stm

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

Have a nice weekend, everybody, and don't forget
- tomorrow is Mother's Day! :atthepc

[Bill_McCurdy]

May 8

On This Date in History!



May 8, 1948: Browns Sell Nels Potter to A's for $20,000!


The Browns received no new horsepower
in this deal, The only "edge" gained was a
temporary easing of tension between the
Browns and their creditors.

The Philadelphia Athletics today purchase 37-year-old pitcher Nels Potter from the St. Louis Browns for $20,000. Potter had been with the Browns since 1943 and had posted a 19-7 record for the 1944 American League championship club. He still had some juice in the tank, but the Browns' needs to pay their bills was the louder whistle, as per usual.



May 8, 1903: Big Stick Pitcher Bashes Browns, But Still Loses!

"Hmmm! Maybe they should play me everyday!" - Nixey Callahan.

Too bad he couldn't swat himself to victory, but the outcome remains lucky for the St. Louis Browns that he could not. Chicago White Stockings pitcher Nixey Callahan gets five hits for the 3rd time in his career, but still suffers an 11-inning loss to the St. Louis Browns by an unreported final score. Callahan previously pulled the 5-hit game trick on May 18, 1902 and June 29, 1897. Today is also the final game that Callahan will pitch in the major leagues. He will play other positions until 1913. Nixey is the only pitcher ever to garner five hits three times, but his feat and fate leave you with the implicit moral to this story: Show me a pitcher who gets 5 five hits in a game 3 times - and I'll show you a position player who had been mistakenly cast as a pitcher!



Births on May 8



Chester Cornelius "Chet" or "Red" Hoff

"Thanks for the memories, Chet Hoff!" - Baseball Fans of America.

Chet Hoff is born on May 8, 1891 in Ossining, New York. The BL/TL pitcher will mark a career record of 2 wins, 4 losses, and an ERA of 2.49 with the New Yorks Americans (1911-1913) and St. Louis Browns (1915). Hoff's 1915 record with the Browns is 2-2, but he will endure to achieve his greatest fame as the world's oldest living former major leaguer. When Chet Hoff dies on September 17, 1998 in Daytona Beach, Florida, he holds that distinction by living to age 107. - Living that long is one sure way to totally avoid being gone-for-good and totally forgotten. As he continued to live on, fans learned to remember Chet Hoff for his longevity. He was headed toward becoming a 3-century man. He just ddin't quite make it. Nearly seven years later, fans are starting to forget again, so let's have another hand clap on what would've been Chet Hoff's 114th birthday!

BCT/GB, Chet Hoff! - We still remember you!



Edson Marshall "Ed" Hemingway is born on May 8, 1893 in Sheridan. Michigan. The BB/TR infielder will go on to an MLB career (1914, 1917-1918) that ends in a 43-game BA of .225 with no homers. That poorly shining record includes an 0 for 5 effort at the plate with the 1914 Browns. After going .213 for the 1918 Phillies, Hemingway needs not ask for whom the baseball bells toll. They toll for him - and he is gone for good. - Ed Hemingway will hear the really final bells on July 5, 1969 in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the age of 76.

BCT/GB, Ed Hemingway!



Edward Francis "Ed" Murray is born on May 8, 1895 in Mystic, Connecticut. The BR/TR alumnus of Trinity College is recalled today as a shorstop who struck out in his only time at bat in the major leagues and he he did it for the St. Louis Browns on June 24, 1917. - Move over, Moonlight! - Ed Murray will pass away on November 8, 1970 in Cheyenne, Wyoming at the age of 75.

BCT/GB, "Moonlight" Ed Murray!



Deaths on May 8




Glory be! No Browns ever died on May 8th!

Happy Mother's Day, Everybody!

Today's Reference Links ... http://www.baseball-fever.com/newrep...ote=1&p=296169

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

[Bill_McCurdy]

May 9th

On This Date in History!



May 9, 1950: Red Sox Sell Dorish To Browns!

Harry Dorish will join the White Sox in 1951.

The Boston Red Sox today sell pitcher Harry Dorish to the St. Louis Browns for an undisclosed amount of cash. Dorish had no record and a 2.35 ERA in 7.2 innings of work for the 1949 Red Sox and has no time with the big club this far into the 1950 season. As he joins the Browns, Dorish has a career record with the Red Sox (1947-1949) of 7 wins and 9 losses.



May 9, 1923: Browns Push Back A's Rally Attempt, Win 10-5!

Walt Kinney of A's Homers in Last MLB At Bat.

In a game played at Sportman's Park, Walt Kinney of the Philadelphia Athletics relieves in the 3rd inning with his team down, 3–0. Kinney helps tie the score in the 6th by reaching Urban Shocker of the Browns for a solo home run. The Browns then turnaround and rock Kinney for four runs in the 7th and he is lifted. Kinney becomes the losing pitcher as St. Louis holds on to win, 10–5. For Kinney, his home run today comes on his last time at bat in the major leagues.



Births on May 9



Bradford Louis "Brad" Springer is born on May 9, 1904 in Detroit. Brad is a BL/TL pitcher who will work pitch three innings for the 1925 Browns, racking up no record and a 3.00 E.R.A. In 1926, Springer pitches 4 outs for the Reds and is then gone for good. He achieves no record in the big leagues, but he does register an E.R.A. of 4.16 for 4 and 1/3 innings of career work. Brad Springer will die at age 65 on January 4, 1970 in Birmingham, Michigan.

BCT/GB, Brad Springer!



Deaths on May 9



Chauncey De Pew "Chris" Burkam passes away on May 9, 1964 in Kalamazoo, Michigan at the age of 71. The BL/TR player strikes out in his old plate appearance as a pinch hitter for the St. Louis Browns on June 24, 1915 and never sees any other action in the big leagues. - What are the odds of a guy formally named "Chauncey De Pew" even getting a time at bat in the big leagues, anyway? - Move over, Moonlight, your little club keeps growing with each turned-over rock in Browns history. - "Chris" Burkam was born on October 13, 1892 in Benton Harbor, Michigan.

BCT/GB, Chauncey De Pew Burkam!

Today's Reference Links ... http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...logy/today.stm

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

Stinkin' Start To New Week! - I just awoke to find that our refrigerator is broken. When I opened the door to the freezer, I noticed that everything was thawed and that some of the fish in there are already smelling worse than the 1939 Browns and old "Chauncey De Pew" of the 1915 club put together. - Dadgum it! - Why does this kind of thing always have to happen on days our plates already are loaded?

:grouchy

Have a Nice Week, Everybody! Hope your Monday starts out more conveniently, but never fear, - I do understand the difference between inconvenience and calamity from personal experience. Having your fridge fail is just one of those nuisance things that even happens to Yankee fans from time to time. We old Browns fans aren't being singled out for messy Mondays.

Are we?

[Bill_McCurdy]

May 10th

On This Date in History!



May 10, 2005: Remembrance: "Eddie, You'll Be Immortal." - Bill Veeck



In the absence of any ready source that deems the Browns worthy of mention on the pages of baseball history for May 10th, allow me to recall for you here the words of Bill Veeck describing how he made his case with Eddie Gaedel for that famous one-time-only appearance as a big league hitter on August 19, 1951. In an article he wrote with Ed Linn in 1962 (and reprinted on pp 205-206 of the new book, "Baseball As America"), Veeck noted that Eddie Gaedel was dubious initially about going through with the scheme. In his own words, here's Bill Veeck's sales pitch to Eddie Gaedel, and one that obviously won the day.

"Eddie, you'll be the only midget in the history of the game. You'll be appearing before thousands of people. Your name will go into the record books for all time. You'll be famous. Eddie, you'll be immortal. - Bill Veeck"

There may be nothing quite so powerful as the human ego's flirtation with the idea of achieving some form of immortality. Bill Veeck knew what it took to land the the little guy and, no doubt about it, he told him the truth. Because he went along with Bill Veeck's plan, Eddie Gaedel will be remembered for as long as we keep playing baseball and protecting its history.



Births on May 10



Russell Lee "Russ" Bauers is born on May 10, 1914 in Townsend, Wisconsin. The BL/TR pitcher will achieve a career (1936-1941, 1946, 1950) MLB record of 31 wins, 30 losses, and an ERA of 3.53. As a twilight flickering member of the 1950 Browns, Bauers will pitch 2 innings, achieve no W/L record, and register an ERA of 4.50. - Russ Bauers will pass away on January 21, 1995 in Hines, Illinois at the age of 84.



Deaths on May 10




No Browns ever died on May 10. :atthepc

Today's Reference Link ... http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

[Bill_McCurdy]

May 11th

On This Date in History!




May 11, 1939: Yankees Edge Browns, 10-8. NY Now Leads AL by 1.5 Games.

Bill Dickey extends hitting streak to 13.

At Sportsman's Park today, the New York Yankees bounced the St. Louis Browns, 10–8, jumping on rookie Ewald Pyle early for three hits before he exits. Pyle is subbing for Bobo Newsom, who is out with a skinned finger. Russ Van Atta, the Fresno Flinger follows Pyle, but it is a turn for the worse. The Yankees proceed to score nine runs in four innings to put the game out of reach. Bill Dickey of New York has three hits to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. Lou Gehrig does not play, but he takes infield practice and warms up Monte Pearson, using a righty glove. Poor Lou. On this date in history, he still doesn't know what he's up against with his health. New York now leads the American League by 1 1/2 games.



May 11, 1933: Browns Ship Rick Ferrell and Lloyd Brown To Red Sox!

Merv Shea is now a Brown.

The St. Louis Browns today ship catcher Rick Ferrell and pitcher Lloyd Brown to the Boston Red Sox for catcher Merv Shea and cash. Ferrell will hit .300 for the Red Sox over the next four seasons, while Shea will play only a single season for the Browns. - Lloyd Brown will go 8-11 for the Red Sox over the balance of the 1933 season and then be dealt to Cleveland before the 1934 season begins.



May 11, 1927: Ruth Bangs Longest HR in Sportsman's Park History!

Nobody does it better than The Bambino!

In St. Louis today, Babe Ruth belts his second homer in two days and his 8th of the year, this one coming off Ernie Nevers, as the New York Yankees defeat the St. Louis Browns, 4–2. Ruth's mighty wallop is to the left of the center field flag pole in Sportsman's Park, and it is the longest ball to date ever hit there. Wriiter Martin Haley of the St. Louis Post Dispatch is inspired to prosaic wonderment as he writes: "Homeric Herman careened the animated leather for a sky-scraping bulls eye into the distant center-field bleachers, the ball clattering up the icy seats at the point where the left-center and dead-center field sections conjoin." That's also 2 down and 58 to go, Babe. It is 1927 - and a new record awaits you and cements your title as the Sultan of Swat.



May 11, 1906: Browns 1st Baseman Tom Jones Has Record 22 Putouts!

Don Mattingly will tie the Jones/Chase record in 81 years.

1st Baseman Tom Jones of the St. Louis Browns has 22 putouts today in an 8-3 win at Boston to set an American League record. It is a record that will be tied by the New York Highlanders' Hal Chase on September 21, 1906, but it will not be tied again until July 20, 1987 when Don Mattingly of the New York Yankees does the trick. - Just goes to show what a 1st baseman can do when he's playing behind a pitcher who induces little more than grounders and infield pop flies.



Births on May 11



"Don't drop me. This is another one of those "No Browns Welcome!" days!"



Deaths on May 11



John George "Johnny" Bero passes away on May 11, 1985 in Gardena, California at the age of 62. After an 0 for 9 times at bat history with the 1948 Tigers, Bero will play one year as a middle infielder with the 1951 Browns, going 34 for 160 for a .213 average that includes a surprising 5 homers. Like so many other Browns before and after him, Bero will pass from the big league scene after his short exposure and never return after 1951. Johnny Bero was born on December 22, 1922 in Gary, West Virginia.



Ben Taylor
Birth Name: Benjamin Eugene Taylor Bats : Left
Born On: 09-30-1924 Throws : Left
Born In: Metropolis, Illinois Height : 6-00
Died On: 05-11-1999 Weight : 185
Died In: Alma, Oklahoma First Game: 07-29-1951
College: None Attended Last Game: 09-21-1955
Nickname: None Draft: Not Applicable

1st baseman Ben Taylor had a 52-game, 3 season MLB career with the '51 Browns, '52 Tigers, and '55 Braves. Overall, he batted ,231 with 3 HR's. - Ben Taylor passed away at age 74 in 1999.


Today's Reference Links ... http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...logy/today.stm