May 26th
On This Date in History!
May 26, 1952: In Search of The Truth.
"Never look back. That thing that may be gaining on
you may be a mystery about what I did or didn't do."
- Satchel Paige
The first rule of historical research is to never assume that your sources are correct. In cross-checking rhe following report from "baseball library.com" for the scores of a reported Memorial Day doubleheader om May 26, 1952, I found one of those contradictions that I am unable to resolve without further research. Since it's always my goal to avoid, whenever possible, contributing to the misinformation/disinformation that's out there in the annals of baseball history, I'll have to give you these reports as I now have them. If anyone knows the truth about what actually happened on Memorial Day 1952, please e-mail me at [email protected] or post away here.
Baseball Library.Com reports the following for 5/26/52: "In a Memorial Day doubleheader in St. Louis, 13,000 fans at Sportsman's Park cheer as the Browns sweep two from Detroit. Satchel Paige picks up a save in the opener and then wins his 4th game in the nitecap."
link ... http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...logy/today.stm
Baseball Almanac.Com reports this outcome for 5/26/52: The Browns lost to the Chicago White Sox, 6-2, at Sportsman's Park.
link ... http://www.baseball-almanac.com/team...p?y=1952&t=SLA
Thinking that Baseball Library.Com may have recorded the year inaccurately, I checked the years 1951 and 1953, the other two seasons that Satchel Paige was with the Browns, in Baseball Almanac.Com and found that (1.) the Browns never played the Tigers on Memorial Day while Paige was with the club; and (2.) the Browns won no doubleheaders from the Tigers from 1951-1953.
Go figure - but always be careful what you're figuring. It may not be based on correct information.
May 26, 1944: BoSox Fell Browns, 4-2, in 11th; Potter Gem Slips Away!
On the way to perfection ...
It is a frustrating day at Sportsman's Park. The Boston Red Sox defeat the St. Louis Browns, 4–2, in 11 innings, in spite of the fact that Browns pitcher Nels Potter retires the first 23 batters he faces. The loss leaves the Browns with a record of 19-16 through this date in the 1944 season.
May 26, 1917: Browns Drown When They Can't Reach Shore; Sox Win, 11-7!
Red Sox Win Is A Shore Thing Today.
At St. Louis today, Boston Red Sox starter Carl Mays is rocked for four runs and lasts just one inning, giving way to Lore Bader, who gives up single runs to the Browns in the 2nd and 3rd. That's good enough for a victory for Bader, as the Sox score in each of the first five innings on their way to an 11–7 victory. Ernie Shore sinks further threat over the last six innings, allowing a single Brown run in the 9th. Shore's save goes unnoticed for 50 years until later research uncovers his efforts. Today's loss leaves the Browns with a record of 15-22 through this date in the 1917 season.
New Feature: Brownie Record Bookers.
From here on, I thought it might be kind of interesting to include a daily fact about Brownie team leaders in various statistical categories. For as long they last, or until we can find more, I'll be adding a single record fact each day. Hopefully, we will be able to cover all the really important ones over the course of a year.
Today's Question: Most Browns fans know that lefty hitting Ken Williams holds the Browns' single season HR mark with his 39 round-trippers in 153 games in 1922. - Who holds the record for the best home run year by a Browns right handed batter?
Today's Answer: It's Harlond Clift. The right handed hitting 3rd baseman Clift hit 34 home runs for the 1938 Browns in 149 games.
Births on May 26
Eugene Edward "Gene" Paulette is born on May 26, 1891 in Centralia, Illinois. The BR/TR infielder will enjoy a cups-of-coffee with the Browns in 1916 and 1917. Over the course of his 6-year big league career (1911, 1916-1920), Paulette will hit .269 with 2 homers in 500 games. Paulette's career will be ended by new Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis on March 21, 1921. On that date, Landis bans Paulette from organized baseball for life for taking part in throwing games. Paulette will play his last big league game for the Phillies on October 3, 1920. Because of his lifetime ban, obviously, Paulette is gone-for-good after the 1920 season. - Gene Paulette will pass away from this earth on all of its temptations on February 8, 1966 in Little Rock Arkansas at the age of 74.
William Allen "Bill" Fincher is born on May 26, 1894 in Atlanta, Georgia. The BR/TR hurler will pitch 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 will pass away on May 7, 1946, in Shreveport, Louisiana, just 19 days shy of his 52nd birthday.
BCT/GB, Bill Fincher!
Deaths on May 26
Clyde Ellsworth "Buzzy" Wares passes away on May 26, 1964 in South Bend, Indiana at the age of 78. The BR/TR middle infielder played 92 games for the 1913-1914 Browns as his total MLB playing career, hitting .220 with 0 HR's. Before winding his way back to the Browns in time for his brief MLB career, Wares will be remembered for a unique trade made by the club on March 28, 1913. On that date, St. Louis Browns infielder Buzzy Wares is "traded" to the Montgomery, Alabama team in exchange for the Brown's use of the minor league club's stadium for spring training. The Browns get Wares back. Perhaps, his reaquisition is tied to a continuation in Montgomery of a pattern that Wares flashed earlier on the west coast. Wares led Pacific Coast League shortstops in errors in 1911-1912 with a total of 199. - Buzzy Wares was born on March 23, 1886 in Vandalia, Michigan.
William George "William" Rumler dies on May 26, 1966 in Lincoln, Nebraska at the age of 75.The BR/TR utility catcher/outfielder hit .251 in his 3-year Browns/big league career (1914, 1916-1917). He collected 1 HR in his 171 official at bats and was then gone-for-good. - William Rumler was born on March 27, 1891 in Milford, Nebraska.
General Reference Links ... http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...logy/today.stm
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/team...p?y=1952&t=SLA
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/
May 26, 1952: In Search of The Truth.
"Never look back. That thing that may be gaining on
you may be a mystery about what I did or didn't do."
- Satchel Paige
The first rule of historical research is to never assume that your sources are correct. In cross-checking rhe following report from "baseball library.com" for the scores of a reported Memorial Day doubleheader om May 26, 1952, I found one of those contradictions that I am unable to resolve without further research. Since it's always my goal to avoid, whenever possible, contributing to the misinformation/disinformation that's out there in the annals of baseball history, I'll have to give you these reports as I now have them. If anyone knows the truth about what actually happened on Memorial Day 1952, please e-mail me at [email protected] or post away here.
Baseball Library.Com reports the following for 5/26/52: "In a Memorial Day doubleheader in St. Louis, 13,000 fans at Sportsman's Park cheer as the Browns sweep two from Detroit. Satchel Paige picks up a save in the opener and then wins his 4th game in the nitecap."
link ... http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...logy/today.stm
Baseball Almanac.Com reports this outcome for 5/26/52: The Browns lost to the Chicago White Sox, 6-2, at Sportsman's Park.
link ... http://www.baseball-almanac.com/team...p?y=1952&t=SLA
Thinking that Baseball Library.Com may have recorded the year inaccurately, I checked the years 1951 and 1953, the other two seasons that Satchel Paige was with the Browns, in Baseball Almanac.Com and found that (1.) the Browns never played the Tigers on Memorial Day while Paige was with the club; and (2.) the Browns won no doubleheaders from the Tigers from 1951-1953.
Go figure - but always be careful what you're figuring. It may not be based on correct information.
May 26, 1944: BoSox Fell Browns, 4-2, in 11th; Potter Gem Slips Away!
It is a frustrating day at Sportsman's Park. The Boston Red Sox defeat the St. Louis Browns, 4–2, in 11 innings, in spite of the fact that Browns pitcher Nels Potter retires the first 23 batters he faces. The loss leaves the Browns with a record of 19-16 through this date in the 1944 season.
May 26, 1917: Browns Drown When They Can't Reach Shore; Sox Win, 11-7!
At St. Louis today, Boston Red Sox starter Carl Mays is rocked for four runs and lasts just one inning, giving way to Lore Bader, who gives up single runs to the Browns in the 2nd and 3rd. That's good enough for a victory for Bader, as the Sox score in each of the first five innings on their way to an 11–7 victory. Ernie Shore sinks further threat over the last six innings, allowing a single Brown run in the 9th. Shore's save goes unnoticed for 50 years until later research uncovers his efforts. Today's loss leaves the Browns with a record of 15-22 through this date in the 1917 season.
New Feature: Brownie Record Bookers.
From here on, I thought it might be kind of interesting to include a daily fact about Brownie team leaders in various statistical categories. For as long they last, or until we can find more, I'll be adding a single record fact each day. Hopefully, we will be able to cover all the really important ones over the course of a year.
Today's Question: Most Browns fans know that lefty hitting Ken Williams holds the Browns' single season HR mark with his 39 round-trippers in 153 games in 1922. - Who holds the record for the best home run year by a Browns right handed batter?
Today's Answer: It's Harlond Clift. The right handed hitting 3rd baseman Clift hit 34 home runs for the 1938 Browns in 149 games.
Births on May 26
Eugene Edward "Gene" Paulette is born on May 26, 1891 in Centralia, Illinois. The BR/TR infielder will enjoy a cups-of-coffee with the Browns in 1916 and 1917. Over the course of his 6-year big league career (1911, 1916-1920), Paulette will hit .269 with 2 homers in 500 games. Paulette's career will be ended by new Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis on March 21, 1921. On that date, Landis bans Paulette from organized baseball for life for taking part in throwing games. Paulette will play his last big league game for the Phillies on October 3, 1920. Because of his lifetime ban, obviously, Paulette is gone-for-good after the 1920 season. - Gene Paulette will pass away from this earth on all of its temptations on February 8, 1966 in Little Rock Arkansas at the age of 74.
William Allen "Bill" Fincher is born on May 26, 1894 in Atlanta, Georgia. The BR/TR hurler will pitch 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 will pass away on May 7, 1946, in Shreveport, Louisiana, just 19 days shy of his 52nd birthday.
BCT/GB, Bill Fincher!

Deaths on May 26
Clyde Ellsworth "Buzzy" Wares passes away on May 26, 1964 in South Bend, Indiana at the age of 78. The BR/TR middle infielder played 92 games for the 1913-1914 Browns as his total MLB playing career, hitting .220 with 0 HR's. Before winding his way back to the Browns in time for his brief MLB career, Wares will be remembered for a unique trade made by the club on March 28, 1913. On that date, St. Louis Browns infielder Buzzy Wares is "traded" to the Montgomery, Alabama team in exchange for the Brown's use of the minor league club's stadium for spring training. The Browns get Wares back. Perhaps, his reaquisition is tied to a continuation in Montgomery of a pattern that Wares flashed earlier on the west coast. Wares led Pacific Coast League shortstops in errors in 1911-1912 with a total of 199. - Buzzy Wares was born on March 23, 1886 in Vandalia, Michigan.
William George "William" Rumler dies on May 26, 1966 in Lincoln, Nebraska at the age of 75.The BR/TR utility catcher/outfielder hit .251 in his 3-year Browns/big league career (1914, 1916-1917). He collected 1 HR in his 171 official at bats and was then gone-for-good. - William Rumler was born on March 27, 1891 in Milford, Nebraska.
General Reference Links ... http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...logy/today.stm
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/team...p?y=1952&t=SLA
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/
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