This Date in Browns History!

[Bill_McCurdy]

July 24th

On This Date in History!



July 24, 1953: Red Sox Fry Browns in Double Goose Egg Omelet, 6-0, 8-0!

Cooked Again!

The Boston Red Sox sweep the St. Louis Browns at Sportsman's Park as both Beantown pitchers, Mickey McDermott and Bill Henry, hurl 6-0 and 8-0 shutouts. The double-lump loss leaves the Browns at 33-63 on the year.



July 24, 1934: Browns Down NY, 4-2! Yankees Lose Combs!

Earl Combs Suffers Head Injury in Yankee Loss!

The St. Louis Browns take the New York Yankees, 4-2, at Sportsman's Park today, but the Bronx Boys also suffer a longer term setback when center fielder Earle Combs crashes into the outfield wall and suffers a fractured skull. New York calls up George Selkirk to replace Combs, but learns that he also was injured today when he broke his arm playing for the Yankee farm club, the Newark Bears. (Remember, there are no outfield warning tracks in 1934.) Amidst the Yankee gloom, the Browns raise their sights on .500 ball. With the win today, the Browns' record climbs to 40-43.



July 24, 1922: Yankee Player Acquisitions Angers Pennant-Rival Browns!

"I didn't invent the unfair New York advantage. Buying what you want, when you need it - is simply a Yankee tradition." - Boss George.

In the middle of a pennant fight with the St. Louis Browns, the New York Yankees obtain 3rd baseman Joe Dugan and outfielder Elmer Smith from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for outfielders Chuck Fewster and Elmer Miller, and shortstop John Mitchell. This latest Red Sox-Yankees deal engenders such outrage in St. Louis because of the tight pennant race that Commissioner Kenesaw M. Landis recommends passage of the rule that no deals, except for waiver transactions, will be allowed after June 15.



A Browns Record Booker


Question: What is the franchise record for most Browns hits in a single game?

Answer: 24! The Browns first turned the 24-hits feat in a 17-8 win over the Philadelphia Athletics at Sportsman's Park on September 17, 1920. They later tied their record, also at home, by getting 24 hits in a 17-3 bashing of the Washington Senators on June 14, 1932.



Births on July 24



Duane Pillette



Birth Name: Duane Xavier Pillette Bats : Right
Born On: 07-24-1922 Throws : Right
Born In: Detroit, Michigan Height : 6-03
Died On: Still Living Weight : 205
Died In: Still Living First Game: 07-19-1949
College: University of Santa Clara Last Game: 09-16-1956
Nickname: Dee Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Duane Pillette had an 8-year MLB career (1949-1956) record of 38 wins, 66 losses, and an ERA of 4.40. As a Brown from 1950 to 1953, Pillette won 26 and lost 45 - and also had the distinction of making the last start in Browns history on the last day of the 1953 season against the Chicago White Sox, also losing the last Browns game ever played by a score of 2-1. Today Duane celebrates his 83rd birthday. - Happy Birthday, Dee!



Deaths on July 24



Lin Storti
Birth Name: Lindo Ivan Storti Bats : Both
Born On: 12-05-1906 Throws : Right
Born In: Santa Monica, California Height : 5-11
Died On: 07-24-1982 Weight : 165
Died In: Ontario, California First Game: 09-18-1930
College: None Attended Last Game: 09-30-1933
Nickname: None Draft: Not Applicable

Infielder Lin Storti had a 4-season (1930-1933) all Browns MLB career, hitting .227 with 9 home runs. He was 75 at the time of his 1982 death.

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

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/team...p?y=1953&t=SLA

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

[Bill_McCurdy]

July 25th

On This Date in History!




July 25, 1939: NY's Atley Donald Wins 12th Straight! Browns Lose, 5-1!

Atley Donald is all wins after today!

At Yankee Stadium today, unbeaten New York rookie Atley Donald wins his 12th in a row, beating the St. Louis Browns, 5-1. Donald will finish the 1939 season with a record of 13 wins and 3 losses. Their defeat on July 25th drops the lowly 1939 Browns to a season-to-date mark of 24-63. The Browns are well on their way to the club's worst finish in history at 43-111.



July 25, 1918: Big Train Rolls in 4-Hit, 15-Inning Shutout of Browns, 1-0!

Walter Johnson is all smiles after today!

At Sportsman's Park today, Washington's Walter Johnson gives up only one hit (a triple by George Sisler) in the first 11 innings of a 15-inning, 4-hit, 1-0 Senators whitewashing of the St. Louis Browns. Today's goose egg drops the Browns' 1918 record-to-date to 40-47.



July 25, 1915: Browns Drub Boston's Ruth, 9-8! Darkness Wins Game 2 of DH!

Babe Ruth is all frowns after today!

In the first of two games scheduled at Sportsman's Park today, the St. Louis Browns bash Boston Red Sox starter Babe Ruth for four unearned runs in the 3rd inning. The young lefty is relieved by Carl Mays. Boston ties the score, 4–4, in the 4th inning, but the Browns eventually win, 9–8. In the nitecap, a 1–1 tie, George Sisler pitches the last two innings for the Browns, but darkness and train travel schedules finally win out over both teams and the pursuit of victory.



July 15, 1913: Darkness Stops Browns @ Nats as Individual Records Fall!

Sam Agnew is all "pain" after today!

At Griffith Stadium today, a 15-inning 8–8 tie game between the St. Louis Browns and the Washington Nationals is called because of darkness. Reliever Walter Johnson fans a major-league record 15 batters over the last 11 innings, but he also hits rookie Browns catcher Sam Agnew with a pitch, breaking his jaw. Browns pitcher Carl Weilman sets a major league record by striking out six times. He becomes the first player in history to strike out six consecutive times in a game, as Johnson gets him four times, and Joe Engel and Long Tom Hughes once each. Walter Johnson's 15 strikeouts mark for relievers will last through the 20th century, but it eventually will be broken by a randier Johnson in 2001.



A Browns Record Booker

Question: Who holds the single season franchise record for most sacrifice hits?


Giving up Babe Ruth's 60th HR in 1927 wasn't Tom Zachary's only trip into the record book.

Answer: Tom Zachary holds that mark with the 53 sacrifice hits he produced in 1926.



Births on July 25



Not today. Not "Browns" ones, anyway.



Deaths on July 25



Joe Schepner
Birth Name: Joseph Maurice Schepner Bats : Right
Born On: 08-10-1895 Throws : Right
Born In: Aliquippa, Pennsylvania Height : 5-10
Died On: 07-25-1959 Weight : 160
Died In: Mobile, Alabama First Game: 09-11-1919
College: None Attended Last Game: 09-28-1919
Nickname: Gentleman Joe Draft: Not Applicable

Joe Schepner played 3rd base and went 10 for 48 (.208 BA) for the 1919 Browns in his only MLB stop on the way to The Land of Gone For Good. Joe was 63 at the time of his death in 1959. - BCT/GB, Joe Schepner!



Mike Chartak
Birth Name: Michael George Chartak Bats : Left
Born On: 04-28-1916 Throws : Left
Born In: Brooklyn, New York Height : 6-02
Died On: 07-25-1967 Weight : 180
Died In: Cedar Rapids, Iowa First Game: 09-13-1940
College: None Attended Last Game: 09-27-1944
Nickname: Shotgun Draft: Not Applicable

Mike Chartak hit .243 with 21 HR's in his 4-season (1940, 1942-1944) MLB career. The outfielder/1st baseman did most of his limited time playing and he hit all 21 of his homers as a member of the 1942-1944 Browns. Mike was 51 at the time of his 1967 passing.

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

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/team...p?y=1939&t=SLA

http://www.todayinbaseballhistory.co...oday/todayb.pl

[Bill_McCurdy]

July 26th

On This Date in History!




1933: Hornsby Takes Over As Manager of The Browns!

The Rajah Was Never a Candidate for Mayor!

After a brief return to the Cardinals for 46 games, Rogers Hornsby swaps St. Louis uniforms to manage the Browns at mid-season. Hornsby takes over the Brownie helm from interim nanager Allen Sothoron, who in turn had taken the post as a stop gap replacement for Bill Killifer, who had begun the 1933 season as the Browns manager. - Even by Brownie standards, 1933 is a dismal Depression era year. The team will finish 8th and last again with a record of 55-96 - and they will draw only 88,113 fans to Sportsman's Park for the entire season. In the coming fall, owner Phil Ball will pass away. Add to the mix Mr. Hornsby's incredible ability to quickly alienate others and the Browns are in for another bumpier ride in the days that will follow.



July 26, 1922: Yankees Beat Up Selves Before KO'ing Browns, 11-6!

... but could Jack Dempsey hit the cut-off man?

The Browns should be out there trying to sign Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney, but not to fight each other. The Browns need help taking on the damn violent Yankees. - Among several pre-game fights between Yankees teammates, Bob Meusel and Wally Schang duke it out in the dugout. Then Babe Ruth and Wally Pipp take a turn at smacking each other around. Once the game starts, the Yankee uncivil warriors turn on the Browns, beating them into an 11–6 pulp. Ruth bangs two homers, Pipp adds another, and Schang chips in with a two-run triple. - We don't know what happened to Meusel. He didn't seem to get us much out of the pre-game "warm-up" fun as the others. - Today's loss drops the Browns to 54-39 on the year.



A Browns Record Booker

Question: What was the worst home attendance year in Browns history?

Sportsman's Park was a lonely place to be in 1935.

Answer: No, it wasn't 1933 - the year that the Browns drew 88,113 fans. The worst attendance year came two years later when the Browns drew only 80,922 in 1935. Put that figure into another perspective. - The first two games of the 2004 NLCS Playoffs at Busch Stadium between the Astros and Cardinals drew more fans than the Browns pulled in over the course of their entire 1935 season.



Births on July 26



Sam Jones
Birth Name: Samuel Pond Jones Bats : Right
Born On: 07-26-1892 Throws : Right
Born In: Woodsfield, Ohio Height : 6-00
Died On: 07-06-1966 Weight : 170
Died In: Barnesville, Ohio First Game: 06-13-1914
College: None Attended Last Game: 09-28-1935
Nickname: Horsewhips or Sad Sam the Cemetary Man Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Sad Sam Jones had an MLB record of 229 wins, 214 losses with an ERA of 3.84 for his work from 1914-1935. In his only season for the 1927 Browns, Jones was 8-14 with a 4.32 ERA. - Sam Jones was 20 days shy of his 74th birthday when he died in 1966. Jones's death leaves us with a question I have pondered since I was a kid. - Was there ever a "Sam Jones" who wasn't sad?



Ellis Kinder

Ellis Kinder had his best year when he went 23-6 for the 1949 Red Sox.

Birth Name: Ellis Raymond Kinder Bats : Right
Born On: 07-26-1914 Throws : Right
Born In: Atkins, Arkansas Height : 6-00
Died On: 10-16-1968 Weight : 195
Died In: Jackson, Tennessee First Game: 04-30-1946
College: None Attended Last Game: 05-08-1957
Nickname: Old Folks Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Ellis Kinder posted a career MLB record of 102 wins, 71 losses, and an ERA of 3.43 over a career that spanned from 1946 to 1957. Kinder broke into the majors with the 1946-1947 Browns and went 11-18 in those two seasons. - Kinder was only 64 at the time of his 1968 death.



Leo Thomas
Birth Name: Leo Raymond Thomas Bats : Right
Born On: 07-26-1923 Throws : Right
Born In: Turlock, California Height : 5-11½
Died On: 03-05-2001 Weight : 178
Died In: Concord, California First Game: 04-29-1950
College: None Attended Last Game: 07-27-1952
Nickname: None Draft: Not Applicable

Third baseman Leo Thomas had a short, inglorious 95-game career with the Browns and White Sox in 1950 and 1952. He batted .212 and banged 1 HR on his way to The Land of Gone for Good. Leo Thomas was 77 when he died.



Procopio Herrera
Birth Name: Procopio Rodriguez Herrera Bats : Right
Born On: 07-26-1926 Throws : Right
Born In: Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico Height : 6-00
Died On: Still Living Weight : 184
Died In: Still Living First Game: 04-19-1951
College: None Attended Last Game: 05-05-1951
Nickname: Tito Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Procopio Herrera appeared as a reliever in 3 games for the 1951 Browns, achieving no W/L record, but piling up a 27.04 ERA in only 2.1 innings of work as his total MLB experience. - After 1951, Herrera is "G for G" from the big leagues. - BCT/GB, Procopio Herrera! Happy Birthday too! - Procopio Herrera is 79 on this date in 2005!



Deaths on July 26



Otto Miller
Birth Name: Otis Louis Miller Bats : Right
Born On: 02-02-1901 Throws : Right
Born In: Belleville, Illinois Height : 5-10½
Died On: 07-26-1959 Weight : 168
Died In: Belleville, Illinois First Game: 04-17-1927
College: None Attended Last Game: 04-29-1932
Nickname: None Draft: Not Applicable

Shortstop Otto Miller hit .224 in 51 games for the 1927 Browns. He returned to the big leagues with the 1930-1932 Red Sox as a utility 3rd & 2nd baseman, finishing his MLB career with a BA of of .274 and no homers. Otto Miller was 58 when he died in 1959.



Herm Holshouser
Herman Alexander Holshouser Bats : Right
Born On: 01-20-1907 Throws : Right
Born In: Rockwell, North Carolina Height : 6-00
Died On: 07-26-1994 Weight : 170
Died In: Concord, North Carolina First Game: 04-15-1930
College: University of North Carolina Last Game: 09-16-1930
Nickname: None Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Herm Holshouser appeared in 25 games for the 1930 Browns, achieving a record of 0 wins, 1 loss, and an ERA of 7.80. After that moment in the sun, he was gone for good. - BCT/GB, Herm Holshauser!

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

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/team...p?y=1933&t=SLA

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

[Bill_McCurdy]

July 27th

On This Date in History!



July 27, 1948: Rookie Hank Arft Barks Browns By Yankees, 4-0!

"Arft! Arft! ......... Bow! Wow!"

Hank Arft makes his rookie debut for the St. Louis Browns today at Sportsman's Park and it turns out to be a day he will not soon forget. St. Louis native Hank Arft celebrates his first action in the big leagues by banging a triple and a home run off Frank Hiller of the New York Yankees. Arft drives in three runs with his happy bat as the Browns top the visitors from New York, 4–0. Tomorrow's cheers of "Arft, Arft" will bestow upon Hank the nickname he will embrace forever - that of "Bow Wow." - The impact of Arft's big break-in day gives Browns fans something to cheer about in the wake of the colder, common place reality. At the end of the day, the Browns are 33-53 on the season.



July 27, 1947: Thrown Glove By Browns' Sanford Produces Infield Triple!

Minus = Triple!

In a 4-3 Red Sox win over the Browns at Fenway Park today, Jake Jones of Boston hits a foul ball along the 3rd base line in the 6th inning. Browns pitcher Fred Sanford throws his glove at the ball to prevent it from rolling into fair territory. Umpire Cal Hubbard reacts by awarding Jones a triple on the basis of the rule against intentionally thrown gloves. In 1954 the rule is changed so that it only applies to fair balls. ... (Hmmm! So does the 1954 rules change make it now OK to throw gloves at balls hugging the line on the foul side?) ... The loss at Boston drops St. Louis to a record of 32-57 on the year.



July 27, 1946: Boston's York Completes 2-Game, 15-RBI Assault Upon Browns!

Rudy York Decimates Browns in 2-Game RBI Spree!

Rudy York of Boston hits grand-slam HRs in both the 2nd and 5th innings off Tex Shirley of the St. Louis Browns as the Red Sox win 13-6 over St. Louis. Only Tony Lazzeri and Jim Tabor have accomplished this feat before York. York also has a 2-run double to knock in 10 runs. He had five RBI against the Browns yesterday to complete his 15-RBI assault upon the Browns in an 8-5 win. - Crumbling under the weight of this one-man wrecking crew, the Browns' 1946 record drops to 39-53.



July 27, 1922: Yankees Win See-Saw Battle with Browns, 6-5!

Dave Danforth Suspended for Doctoring Baseball.

What a game! - What a shame! - Elam Vangilder of the Browns gives up a home run to Wally Pipp of New York in the 4th, but still leads, 2–1, going into the 8th inning. The Yankees finally jump on the Browns starter and reliever Ray Kolp for 4 runs before the Browns tie it up again with with 3 tallies in the 9th. Dave Danforth comes on and throws Yankee Fred Hofman a pitch "that sailed a foot." When umpire Brick Owens exams the ball, he rules ithat it has been doctored, earning Danforth an automatic 10-day suspension. Reliever Wayne Wright comes on for St. Louis and promptly serves up what soon proves to be a game-winning home run to Yankees catcher Wally Schang. The Yankees win, 6–5, at Sportsman's Park, dropping the Browns' 1922 record to-date to 54-40.



July 27, 1906: Boston's Bill Dinneen Shuts Out Browns, 1-0!

At St. Louis today, Boston Red Sox pitcher Bill Dinneen allows only a Pete O'Brien single in beating the St. Louis Browns, 1-0. Dinneen will join the Browns in 1907, but that fact doesn't save the club today from taking a goose egg in the eye. The loss also drops the Browns' 1906 record to 42-44.



A Browns Record Booker

Question: Who holds the franchise career record for most times HBP?

"OUCH!"

Answer: George Sisler. - Who else? - Sisler was plunked 40 times during his years with the Browns.



Births on July 27



Harry Kane
Birth Name: Harry Kane Bats : Left
Born On: 07-27-1883 Throws : Left
Born In: Hamburg, Arkansas Height : Unknown
Died On: 09-15-1932 Weight : Unknown
Died In: Portland, Oregon First Game: 08-08-1902
College: None Attended Last Game: 05-05-1906
Nickname: Klondike Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Harry Kane breaks into the big leagues in 1902 with the first-year Browns. In his only season as a Brown, Kane posts a 0-1 record with an ERA of 5.48 in 23 innings of work. Kane will continue for a short time with the Tigers (1903) and Phillies (1905-1906) and wrap his career at 2 wins, 7 losses, and an ERA of 4.81. - Harry Kane is 51 at the time of his 1932 death.



Benny Bengough

Benny Bengough will finish as a Brown.

Birth Name: Bernard Oliver Bengough Bats : Right
Born On: 07-27-1898 Throws : Right
Born In: Niagara Falls, New York Height : 5-07½
Died On: 12-22-1968 Weight : 168
Died In: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania First Game: 05-18-1923
College: Niagara University Last Game: 09-24-1932
Nickname: None Draft: Not Applicable

Catcher Benny Bengough, best remembered as a Yankee, has career record (1923-1932) BA of .255 with 0 homers. Bengough plays his last 2 seasons as a part-time Brown, hitting .250 and .252. - Bengough is 70 when he dies in 1968.



Deaths on July 27



Whitey Platt
Birth Name: Mizell George Platt Bats : Right
Born On: 08-21-1920 Throws : Right
Born In: West Palm Beach, Florida Height : 6-02
Died On: 07-27-1970 Weight : 195
Died In: West Palm Beach, Florida First Game: 09-16-1942
College: None Attended Last Game: 10-02-1949
Nickname: Whitey Draft: Not Applicable

Outfielder Whitey Platt has a 5-year career (1942-1943, 1946, 1948-1949) in the big leagues, playing his last 2 full seasons as a Brown. Platt hits .255 with 13 HR before he hangs 'em up for good. Whitey Platt is one month shy of age 70 when he passes away in 1970.



Rick Ferrell

Rick Ferrell Broke In with The Browns.

[IMG]Birth Name: Richard Benjamin Ferrell Bats : Right
Born On: 10-12-1905 Throws : Right
Born In: Durham, North Carolina Height : 5-10
Died On: 07-27-1995 Weight : 160
Died In: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan First Game: 04-19-1929
College: Guilford College Last Game: 09-14-1947
Nickname: Rick Draft: Not Applicable

Catcher Rick Ferrell plays 18 years in the big leagues (1929-1945, 1947) and hits .281 with 21 homers. Ferrell is twice a Brown (1929-1933 and 1941-1943) over one of the most productive long term careers by any major league catcher. Ferrell died at age 89 in 1995.

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

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/team...p?y=1948&t=SLA

[Bill_McCurdy]

July 28th

On This Date in History!



July 28, 1952: Cincinnati Replaces One Old Browns Manager With Another.


Hornsby & Sewell Are Polar Personalities (and that doesn't mean they are both cold fish!).

The Cincinnati Reds apparently are going into the Brownie managerial retread business. Today the Reds hire recently fired Browns manager Rogers Hornsby to replace another former Brownie manager, Luke Sewell, as their new field leader. Cincinnati has a horse track across the river in Kentucky, but that perq probably has little to do with Hornsby taking the Reds job. Hornsby is first of all a baseball man who must be involved in the game. He will do fine as the Reds manager for as long as the players do exactly as he says and also perform at the levels he thinks they are capable of playing. - Good luck, Reds!



July 28, 1935: Chicago's Lyons Ties Doubles Mark, Defeats Browns, 14-6, in 1st Game of DH! - Browns take Nitecap, 4-3, for a Split on Today's Joy!

Ted Lyons Slugs & Pitches White Sox to Victory!

At Sportsman's Park today, Chicago White Sox pitcher Ted Lyons ties a major-league record by hitting 2 doubles in the same inning while also beating the Browns from the mound, 14-6, in the first game of a doubleheader. The Browns take the nitecap for a split of today's fun. As the sun goes down, the Browns' season record moves to 29-59.



July 28, 1922: NY Defeats SL, 7-3; Recaptures Lead in AL Pennant Race!

The Empire Strikes Back!

The New York Yankees move back into first at Sportsman's Park today when "Sad Sam" Jones beats Ray Kolp and the St. Louis Browns, 7–3. Kolp lasts just two innings before Bill Bayne takes over for the final seven innings and allows two more runs. Ken Williams of the Browns hits his 23rd HR of the season, but Whitey Witt counters with a 3-run home run for New York. Today's action completes a 4-game series between the two American League contenders. After dropping the opener, the Yankees win the last 3 games to take a half game lead over the Browns in the American League pennant race. Here's how their records now compare at the end of action on this date in the 1922 season:

New York (56-42, .571)
St. Louis (54-41, .568, 0.5 games behind) *

* This is too good to miss! With the Browns and Yankees involved in the most famous pennant race in our franchise's history, we will start to run the daily game outcomes and records on this thread for both teams from here to the end of the 1922 season. Whenever game data is available on either team, these "standings reports" will be included in the piece written about a particular game.



July 28, 1917: Oddities Abound in Red Sox Sweep of Browns, 3-2, 3-2!


Ernie Shore of the Red Sox is called out twice as a baserunner for being hit by batted balls.

In a doubleheader at St. Louis today, the Boston Red Sox sweep the St. Louis Browns by identical 3-2 scores. The nitecap takes 11 innings before it too is resolved by the same figures. It is a day for other bizarre occurrences. In the 20 innings played, not a single Red Sox batter strikes out. Another oddity happens in Game Two when Ernie Shore of the Red Sox is called out twice as a baserunner when he is hit with a batted ball. Less odd is the effect on the Browns' dismal season record. After today, the Brown record in 1917 slips to 36-60.



July 28, 1908: Big Train Has Career High 15 "K"s; Browns Lose, 2-1, in 16th!

Surgery-Recovering Walter Johnson Pitches 15 Scoreless Innings.

At St. Louis today, Washington's Walter Johnson's (1–5) recuperation from his recent operation seems complete as he pitches 15 innings against the Browns. With neither team scoring through 15 innings Washington pulls out a 2–1 victory in the 16th as Johnson K's 15 Browns on the day, It is "The Big Train's" highest single game strikeout total for his entire career. Johnson is apparently well as ever. He will go on from here to win 11 of his next 13 decisions. - The Browns are playing pretty well to this point in the 1908 season. Today's loss drops their record to a still fine 53-38.



A Browns Record Booker

Question: What Brown named Sisler holds the franchise career mark for total bases?

Answer: George Sisler holds the record with 3,207 total bases as a Brown.



Births on July 28



No new Browns today. Ever.



Deaths on July 28



Lu Blue
Birth Name: Luzerne Atwell Blue Bats : Both
Born On: 03-05-1897 Throws : Left
Born In: Washington, D.C. Height : 5-10
Died On: 07-28-1958 Weight : 165
Died In: Alexandria, Virginia First Game: 04-14-1921
College: None Attended Last Game: 04-25-1933
Nickname: None Draft: Not Applicable

Over the course of 13-year MLB career (1921-1933), 1st baseman Lu Blue hit .287 with 44 HR's. During his 2 seasons as a Brown (1928-1929), Blue batted .281 and .293. He had his career-high HR season in 1928 when he banged 14 round-trippers. Lue Blue was age 61 at he time of his 1958 death.



Myril Hoag
Birth Name: Myril Oliver Hoag Bats : Right
Born On: 03-09-1908 Throws : Right
Born In: Davis, California Height : 5-11
Died On: 07-28-1971 Weight : 180
Died In: High Springs, Florida First Game: 04-15-1931
College: None Attended Last Game: 09-16-1945
Nickname: None Draft: Not Applicable

In his 13 big league seasons (1931-1932, 1934-1942, 1944-1945), outfielder Myril Hoag batted .271 with 28 HR's. In his 3 years as a Brown (1939-1941), Hoag batted .295, .262, and was 0 for 1 AB in 1941 before he was moved to the White Sox. Myril Hoag was age 63 at the time of his 1971 death.

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

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/team...p?y=1908&t=SLA

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

[Bill_McCurdy]

July 29th

On This Date in History!



1922 American League Pennant Race

Standings Thru Games of July 29
New York (57-42, .576)
St. Louis (55-41, .573) 0.5 GB

Results of July 29:
@ St. Louis: Browns 4 - Red Sox 1.
@ Chicago: Yankees 6 - White Sox 2.

Game Reports for July 29, 1922:

The Browns host the Red Sox and beat them, 4–1, behind Urban Shocker. Bad news abounds, however, from the fact that both George Sisler and catcher Hank Severeid are injured. Severeid suffers a split finger on a foul tip. Sisler is spiked in the 4th inning. There is no immediate word on the availability of either player for tomorrow's game.

Games Scheduled for July 30:
Boston @ St. Louis.
New York @ Chicago.



July 29, 1908: Ghost of Waddell Haunts Mack; Browns Down A's, 5-4!

Rube Waddell strikes out 16 in win over former club.

Rube Waddell continues to haunt Philadelphia manager Connie Mack. For the second time since his cash sale by Mack to the Browns on February 7, 1908, Waddell again fans 16 A's in a 5–4 home game win for St. Louis over Philadelphia. Waddell's eccentricities drove Mack to get rid of him - and today Mr. Mack gets to pay the latest installment on his sanity tax. - Today's win by Waddell elevates the Browns' 1908 season record to 54-38.



A Browns Record Booker



Question: What Browns player named Sisler holds the franchise record for most career extra base hits?

"It's me again!"

Answer: George Sisler holds the Browns' career record with 581 extra base hits.



Births on July 29



No Browns were born on this date. Ever.



Deaths on July 29



Babe Borton
Birth Name: William Baker Borton Bats : Left
Born On: 08-14-1888 Throws : Left
Born In: Marion, Illinois Height : 6-00
Died On: 07-29-1954 Weight : 178
Died In: Berkeley, California First Game: 09-02-1912
College: None Attended Last Game: 09-30-1916
Nickname: Babe Draft: Not Applicable

First baseman Babe Borton had a 4-year MLB career (1912-1913, 1915-1916) in which he batted .270 with 4 HR's. In his only season with the 1916 Browns, Babe Borton hit .224 with 1 HR in 98 times at bat. Borton was 65 at the time of his 1954 death.



Burt Shotton

As a manager, Burt Shotton favored the Connie Mack style dugout attire!

Birth Name: Burton Edwin Shotton Bats : Left
Born On: 10-18-1884 Throws : Right
Born In: Brownhelm, Ohio Height : 5-11
Died On: 07-29-1962 Weight : 175
Died In: Lake Wales, Florida First Game: 09-13-1909
College: None Attended Last Game: 04-21-1923
Nickname: Barney Draft: Not Applicable

Outfielder Burt Shotton is best remembered as the man who took over as manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers upon the suspension of Leo Durocher in 1947, but he also had a Browns-connected playing career. Over the course of his 14 years as an MLB player (1909, 1911-1923), Shotton batted .271 with 9 homers. Shotton was a Brown for 8 seasons (1909, 1911-1917). He was 77 when he passed away in 1962.



Ray Kolp
Birth Name: Raymond Carl Kolp Bats : Right
Born On: 10-01-1894 Throws : Right
Born In: New Berlin, Ohio Height : 5-10½
Died On: 07-29-1967 Weight : 187
Died In: Cincinnati, Ohio First Game: 04-16-1921
College: None Attended Last Game: 09-21-1934
Nickname: Jockey Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Ray Kolp had a 12-year MLB career (1921-1924, 1927-1934) in which he won 79, lost 95, and posted a 4.08 ERA. As a 4-season Brown (1921-1924), Ray Kolp posted his best year for the great 1922 St. Louis club when he won 14, lost 4, and had an ERA of 3.93. - Ray Kolp was 72 when he died in 1967.



Charlie Bold
Birth Name: Charles Dickens Bold Bats : Right
Born On: 10-27-1894 Throws : Right
Born In: Karlskrona, Sweden Height : 6-02
Died On: 07-29-1978 Weight : 185
Died In: Chelsea, Massachusetts First Game: 08-24-1914
College: Georgetown University Last Game: 08-28-1914
Nickname: Dutch Draft: Not Applicable

First baseman Charlie Bold had a 4-day MLB career. From August 24th to August 28th in 1914, Bold played in 2 games for the Browns. He was hitless in his only time at bat on his way to The Land of Gone for Good. Bold was 83 at the time of his 1978 death. - BCT/GB, Charlie Bold!

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

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/team...p?y=1908&t=SLA

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

[Bill_McCurdy]

July 30th

On This Date in History!



1922 American League Pennant Race

Standings Thru Games of July 30
St. Louis (56-41, .577)
New York (57-43, .570) 0.5 GB

Results of July 30:
@ St. Louis: Browns 4 - Red Sox 1.
@ Chicago: White Sox 6 - Yankees 5.

Game Reports for July 30, 1922:

The St. Louis Browns recapture 1st place in the American League with a 2nd straight 4-1 win over the Boston Red Sox at Sportsman's Park. The half game lead over the New York Yankees, who fell, 6-5, to the White Sox in Chicago today, is helped along by 3 Brownie bombs, one of which is Ken Williams's 26th homer of the season.

Games Scheduled for July 31:
Boston @ St. Louis.
New York @ Chicago.



July 30, 1916: Browns Bomb NY Twice! Boston Takes Over AL Lead!

Boston's Carl Mays Is All Smiles After Today's Game!

Carl Mays tops the Detroit Tigers, 9–3, for a Boston Red Sox win. With the St. Louis Browns also sweeping the New York Yankees in a doubleheader, 2-1, 2-0, Boston (54-40, .575) moves into 1st place over New York (53-42, .558) by 1.5 games. - The Brownie twin killing elevates the St. Louis season record to 47-49, .490. The Browns are down in the pack - a full 8 games back of Boston.



A Browns Record Booker

Question: What Browns player named Sisler holds the franchise record for most career singles as a Brown?

Answer: If you guessed George Sisler, you are absolutely correct. George banged out 1,714 singles during his Brownie years.



Births on July 30



Jerry Witte



Click here for purchasing information ...http://www.mfah.org/shops/main.asp?t...tPage=1&bhcp=1

... or contact me at [email protected]

Birth Name: Jerome Charles Witte Bats : Right
Born On: 07-30-1915 Throws : Right
Born In: St. Louis, Missouri Height : 6-01
Died On: 04-28-2002 * Weight : 190
Died In: Houston, Texas First Game: 09-10-1946
College: None Attended Last Game: 07-13-1947
Nickname: None Draft: Not Applicable

* 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.

Jerry Witte would've been 90 years old today. 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.

Happy 90th Birthday, Jerry Witte! - We still love you! And we continue to miss you!



Deaths on July 30



Dave Rowan
Birth Name: David Drohan Bats : Left
Born On: 12-06-1882 Throws : Left
Born In: Elora, Ontario, Canada Height : 5-11
Died On: 07-30-1955 Weight : 175
Died In: Toronto, Ontario, Canada First Game: 05-27-1911
College: None Attended Last Game: 06-22-1911
Nickname: None Draft: Not Applicable

1st baseman Dave Rowan went 25 for 65 (.385 BA) for the 1911 Browns and, amazingly, never played another inning in the big leagues. Dave Rowan was 72 when he passed away in 1955, taking the truth about his brief, but brilliant career as a Brown with him to the grave.

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

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/team...p?y=1916&t=NYA

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

Have a nice weekend, everybody!

[Bill_McCurdy]

July 31st

On This Date in History!



July 31, 1951: Browns Get Mapes from NY! Mantle Gets Mapes' Uniform # 7!


"When Mantle went into the HOF, he was wearing my uniform & number!" - Cliff Mapes

The St. Louis Browns acquire outfielder Cliff Mapes from the New York Yankees today at the trading deadline. he Browns send Bobbie Hogue, Kermit Wahl, Tom Upton and Lou Sleater to New York in exchange. The trade frees up an outfield spot for Mickey Mantle's return to the Yankees from his minor league assignment to Kansas City. With Mapes now gone, it also makes uniform # 7 available to Mantle as his number of choice.



July 31, 1935: Former Brown Bobo Newsom Surrenders 2 HRs to Mound Foe!


Sens' Bobo Newsom: BoSox pitcher Wes Ferrell Takes Him Downtown Twice.

Two American League pitchers each hit two HRs in a game today. Wes Ferrell of the Red Sox clouts a couple against former Brown Bobo "Buck" Newsom, who now toils for the Washington Senators, and also knocks in 4 runs in a 6-4 win for Boston over Washington. (The Browns sold Newsom to Washington on May 21, 1935 for $40,000 cash.) Elsewhere, Mel Harder hits 2 homers for Cleveland, but he still loses to the White Sox by the same 6-4 tally. No other big league hurlers will hit 2 HRs in a game this season.



1922 American League Pennant Race

Standings Thru Games of July 31:
St. Louis (57-41, .582)
New York (57-44, .570) 1.5 GB

Results of July 31:
@ St. Louis: Browns 6 - Red Sox 2.
@ Chicago: White Sox 3 - Yankees 2.

Game Reports for July 31:
The Browns are heating up again. Their 6-2 win over the Red Sox at Sportsman's Park on Monday was their 3rd victory in a row and the boys are going for a 4-game sweep at home over the Beantowners tomorrow. Meanwhile, the Yankees' 2nd straight road loss to the White Sox at Comiskey Park drops them a game and a half behind 1st place St. Louis in the American League. - While the Browns entertain the Red Sox tomorrow, the Yankees have the day off for train travel from Chicago to Cleveland.

Games Scheduled for Tuesday, August 1:
Boston @ St. Louis.
New York (no game; train travel to Cleveland.)

Games Scheduled for Wednesday, August 2:
Philadelphia @ St. Louis
New York @ Cleveland



A Browns Record Booker

Question: What Brown named Sisler holds the franchise record for highest career batting average as a Brown?

DUH!!!

Answer: That's right, everyone! George Sisler has the highest career batting average as a Brown with a brilliant .344 mark!



Births on July 31



Joe Sugden
Birth Name: Joseph Sugden Bats : Both
Born On: 07-31-1870 Throws : Right
Born In: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Height : 5-10
Died On: 06-28-1959 Weight : 180
Died In: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania First Game: 07-20-1893
College: None Attended Last Game: 05-18-1912
Nickname: None Draft: Not Applicable

Joe pitched one inning for the 1902 Browns, giving up one hit and no runs. He did not figure in the decision. For his career as a catcher/infielder (1893-1899, 1901-1905, 1912), the former member of the notoriously bad 1899 Cleveland Spiders built a BA of .255 with 3 HR's. Sugden was a Brown from 1902 to 1905. His best year as a Brown was 1904, when he batted .267 in 105 games. - Joe Sugden was 88 at the time of his 1959 death.



Glenn Liebhardt
Birth Name: Glenn Ignatius Liebhardt Bats : Right
Born On: 07-31-1910 Throws : Right
Born In: Cleveland, Ohio Height : 5-10½
Died On: 03-14-1992 Weight : 170
Died In: Winston-Salem, North Carolina First Game: 04-22-1930
College: None Attended Last Game: 08-09-1938
Nickname: Sandy Draft: Not Applicable

Glenn Leibhardt was a pitcher with a limited and spotty MLB career. His only decision resulted in a loss for the 1930 Athletics. In two years with the Browns (1936 and 1938), he was never the pitcher of record in 26 games and 58.1 innings of work. Leibhardt closed out his MLB career after the 1938 season, finishing with a total record of 0 wins, 1 loss, and an ERA of 8.96 in 67.1 innings on the mound. Any guy who can work 67.1 innings with an 8.96 ERA and end up with only a single loss is either Harry Houdini or a a mop-up pitcher. In the case of the Browns, we suspect the latter explanation. - Leibhardt was 81 at the time of his 1992 death.



Billy Hitchcock

Smilin' Billy H.

Birth Name: William Clyde Hitchcock Bats : Right
Born On: 07-31-1916 Throws : Right
Born In: Inverness, Alabama Height : 6-01½
Died On: Still Living Weight : 185
Died In: Still Living First Game: 04-14-1942
College: Auburn Polytechnic Institute Last Game: 08-27-1953
Nickname: None Draft: Not Applicable

Infielder Billy Hitchcock batted .243 with 5 HR's in a 9-year MLB career (1942, 1946-1953). In his only season with the 1947 Browns, Hitchcock batted .222 and had 1 homer in 275 times at bat. On this date in 2005, Smilin' Billy Hitchcock is alive and well down in Alabama. - Happy 89th Birthday, Billy Hitchcock!



Deaths on July 31



Rollie Hemsley

Rollie Hemsley was a steady receiver and a pretty fair hitter.

Birth Name: Ralston Burdett Hemsley Bats : Right
Born On: 06-24-1907 Throws : Right
Born In: Syracuse, Ohio Height : 5-10
Died On: 07-31-1972 Weight : 170
Died In: Washington, D.C. First Game: 04-19-1928
College: None Attended Last Game: 04-17-1947
Nickname: None Draft: Not Applicable

Catcher Rollie Hemsley had a 19-year career in the majors (1928-1944, 1946-1947), hitting .262 with 31 homers. As a Brown for 5 years (1933-1937), Hemsley had his best year when he hit .309 in 123 games for the 1934 club. - Rollie Hemsley was almost 65 at the time of his 1972 death.

Today's Reference Links ... http://www.baseball-almanac.com/team...p?y=1922&t=SLA

http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...logy/today.stm

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

[Bill_McCurdy]

August 1st

On This Date in History!



August 1, 1941: Lefty Gomez Walks Record 11 in 9-0 NY Shutout of Browns!

Lefty Gomez: "Walk. Don't (expect to score) Run(s)."

Lefty Gomez of New York pitches a 9-0 shutout over the St. Louis Browns at Yankee Stadium today despite walking 11 batters. Lefty's 11 walks are the most ever issued by an MLB pitcher in a complete game shutout. The Browns leave a total of 15 stranded base runners on the day. Today's lumps leave the Browns at 38-58 on the season.



1922 American League Pennant Race

Standings Thru Games of Tuesday, August 1:
St. Louis (58-41, .586)
New York (57-44, .564) 2 GB

Results of Tuesday, August 1:
@ St. Louis: Browns 5 - Red Sox 2.
(Yankees have the day off.)

Game Reports for Tuesday, August 1:
Browns Boost Lead to 2 Games: With their 5-2 win today, the Browns finish a 4-game, home park sweep of the Red Sox to go 2 full games up on the idle Yankees. Tomorrow the Browns begin another 4-game home series against the Athletics while the Yankees are deep in card games today at Cleveland, waiting for a 4-game series with the Indians that they hope will help them make up for lost ground.

Games Scheduled for Wednesday, August 2:
Philadelphia @ St. Louis
New York @ Cleveland

Games Scheduled for Thursday, August 3:
Philadelphia @ St. Louis
New York @ Cleveland



August 1, 1921: Sisler Spoils No-Hit Bid, But Red Sox Still Win, 2-0!

Sisler Deprives Joe Bush of Classic No-No!

At Boston today, Red Sox pitcher Joe Bush fires a one-hitter, beating the Browns, 2–0. George Sisler's single is the lone Brownie hit as the club's season record slides to 44-51.



A Browns Record Booker


Question: Who holds the franchise record for most career triples?

"Yep. It's me again."

Answer: George Sisler holds this record too with 145 career triples during his Browns years,



Births on August 1



Chet Johnson
Birth Name: Chester Lillis Johnson Bats : Left
Born On: 08-01-1917 Throws : Left
Born In: Redmond, Washington Height : 6-00
Died On: 04-10-1983 Weight : 175
Died In: Seattle, Washington First Game: 09-12-1946
College: University of Washington Last Game: 09-29-1946
Nickname: Chesty Chet Draft: Not Applicable

"Chesty Chet" Johnson was a pitcher who fell upon no W/L record as he was busy compiling an ERA of 5.00 in 5 games for the 1946 Browns prior to joining the legion of other lost baseball souls in the MLB Land-Of-Gone-For-Good Club. - Johnson was 65 at the time of his 1983 death. - BCT/GB, Chesty Chet Johnson!



Deaths on August 1



Don Heffner
Birth Name: Donald Henry Heffner Bats : Right
Born On: 02-08-1911 Throws : Right
Born In: Rouzerville, Pennsylvania Height : 5-10
Died On: 08-01-1989 Weight : 155
Died In: Pasadena, California First Game: 04-17-1934
College: None Attended Last Game: 04-29-1944
Nickname: Jeep Draft: Not Applicable

Infielder Don Heffner posted a career big league BA of .241 from 1934 to 1944. As a Brown (1938-1943), the fiesty little guy they will nickname "Jeep" will have his best year in St. Louis when he hits .267 in 110 games during the team-awful 1939 season. Heffner had virtually no long distance power, hitting only 6 HR's in 2,526 career MLB times at bat. - Don Heffner was 78 at the time of his 1989 death.

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

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

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/team...p?y=1922&t=SLA

[Bill_McCurdy]

August 2nd

On This Date in History!



1922 American League Pennant Race

Standings Thru Games of Wednesday, August 2:
St. Louis (58-42, .580)
New York (58-44, .569) 1 GB

Results of Wednesday, August 2:
@ St. Louis: Athletics 8 - Browns 4.
@ Cleveland: Yankees 6 - Indians 1.

Game Reports for Wednesday, August 2:
NY Pulls Back to 1 GB of SL: With the "NY 6 - CLE 1 F" score already posted on the outfield wall at Sportsman's Park, the Browns add to their own bad news today by dropping an 8-4 game to the Philadelphia Athletics. The home loss ends a 4-game Brownie winnning streak and allows the Yankees to again pull back to within 1 game of the American League lead.

Games Scheduled for Thursday, August 3:
Philadelphia @ St. Louis
New York @ Cleveland

Games Scheduled for Friday, August 4:
Philadelphia @ St. Louis
New York @ Cleveland

Games Scheduled for Saturday, August 5:
Philadelphia @ St. Louis
New York @ Cleveland



August 2, 1915: Big Train Runs Over Browns! Washington Wins, 5-1!

Walter Johnson Wins Again!

It's a big day at Griffith Stadium in Washington. DC. On the 8th anniversary of Walter Johnson's debut with the Nationals, the "Big Train" rolls over the St. Louis Browns, 5–1, for a Washington home win. The losing pitcher for the Browns is a young fellow named George Sisler, who also has a single off Johnson. (Sisler may prove to be one of those pitchers who helps his own cause with his ability to hit.) - Today's loss drops the Browns' 1915 season record to 38-56.



A Browns Record Booker ...

Question: (You fill in the question on any career franchise offensive record.)

"Mr. Best Bet"

Answer: (If you guess George Sisler to whatever question posed, you will have a much better chance of winning than I found at Harrah's in New Orleans playing the roulette wheel a couple of weeks ago.)



Births on August 2



Dwight Stone
Birth Name: Dwight Ely Stone Bats : Right
Born On: 08-02-1886 Throws : Right
Born In: Holt County, Nebraska Height : 6-01½
Died On: 06-03-1976 Weight : 170
Died In: Glendale, California First Game: 04-13-1913
College: None Attended Last Game: 09-29-1914
Nickname: None Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Dwight Stone posted 2-6 W/L record with a 3.56 ERA for the 1913 Browns and then put in one year with the 1914 Kansas City Packers of the short-lived Federal League to finish his career with a total of 10 wins, 20 losses, and an ERA of 4.08. - Stone was 89 when he died in 1976.



Deaths on August 2

So far, no Browns ever died on August 2nd.



Special Mention in Memoriam.



Raymond Lee Cunningham wasn't a Brown, but he was a Cardinal, and until last Saturday, July 30, 2005, he was the oldest living former Cardinal (1931-1932), the oldest living former major leaguer, the oldest living former Houston Buff, and the oldest living player from any team sport in Houston. My guess is that he held that last honor in St. Louis as well.

Born on January 17, 1905 in Mesquite, Texas, "Lee" Cunningham was 100 years, 6 months, and 13 days old at the time of his death. When I finish here, I'm leaving to attend his funeral services. Say a prayer, or give Lee a good strong positive thought today, if you will. He was a good man - and one of baseball's better unsung goodwill ambassadors.

If you want to read more about Lee Cunningham, check out this link to some work we did in search of him last year at the St. Louis Cardinals Birdhouse website. ... http://stlcardinals.scout.com/2/417242.html

Today's Reference Links ...

http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...logy/today.stm

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/team...p?y=1922&t=SLA

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/team...p?y=1922&t=NYA

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

[Bill_McCurdy]

August 3rd

On This Date in History!



August 3, 1948: "Attack of The Former Browns" Produces Boston Win, 15-8!

Former Browns Vern Stephens (L) & Jack Kramer Carry Red Sox Today!

A couple of old Brownies make it deadly for their former club at Sportsman's Park today. Pitcher Jack Kramer leaves in the 3rd inning with a sore shoulder but still is credited with his 11th straight win as the Red Sox (58-40) pound the Browns, 15–8. Vern Stephens also drives in 3 runs and Ted Williams hits his 19th home run of the season to assure the Boston victory. As a result of their loss, the Browns slip to 36-57 on the '48 season.



1922 American League Pennant Race

Standings Thru Games of Thursday, August 3:
St. Louis (59-42, .584)
New York (59-44, .573) 1 GB

Results of Thursday, August 3:
@ St. Louis: Browns 9 - Athletics 5.
@ Cleveland: Yankees 10 - Indians 9.

Game Reports for Thursday, August 3:
Browns & Yankees Both Win! St. Louis Holds On to 1-Game Lead! With the Yankee menace still breathing heavily upon their necks, the 1st place St. Louis Browns today beat the visiting Philadelphia Athletics, 9–5, behind the pitching of Rasty Wright. Center fielder Baby Doll Jacobson homers twice to drive in 5 runs and catcher Pat Collins adds a 3-run homer for the Browns. On the down side, 3rd baseman Herm Bronkie contributes three errors for St. Louis. Jimmy Austin will take over the hot corner tomorrow. - The Browns' win allows the club to maintain their 1-game lead over New York. Earlier in the day, the Yankees kept pace by whacking the Cleveland Indians in a wild one, 10-9.

Games Scheduled for Friday, August 4:
Philadelphia @ St. Louis
New York @ Cleveland

Games Scheduled for Saturday, August 5:
Philadelphia @ St. Louis
New York @ Cleveland

Games Scheduled for Sunday, August 6:
Washington @ St. Louis
New York @ Detroit



August 3, 1906: Pitcher Hughes Tools 10th Inning HR! Nats Take SL, 1-0!

Tom Hughes Is "Tom Terrific" for Washington Today!

Pitchers Tom Hughes of the visiting Washington Nationals and Fred Glade of the home St. Louis Browns enter the 10th inning with a scoreless tie. Hughes promptly tools a solo home run in his extra inning time at bat and then makes his lead hold up by retiring the Browns in the bottom of the 10th for a 1-0 Washington win. In performing these dual heroics, Tom Hughes becomes the first MLB pitcher ever to win a 1-0 extra inning game with his own home run.



A Browns Record Booker

Question: What is the record for most runs ever scored against the Browns in a single regular season game?

Answer: 29. The Boston Red Sox did it when they whacked the Browns, 29-4, at Fenway Park on June 8, 1950. The Sporting News 2005 Record Book also credits the Detroit Tigers with scoring 29 runs against the Browns on August 18, 1951, but that statement of fact is in conflict with the score provided by Baseball Almanac (dot) Com which shows that the Browns "only" lost by 20-9 at Sportsman's Park that day. I am unable to resolve immediately, either way, which of these sources is correct about the Detroit score - if indeed, either are. All I know is that this game of August 18, 1951 will be followed by one that makes everyone forget whatever the score may have been on the previous day. On August 19, 1951, Bill Veeck and the Browns will introduce the Detroit Tigers and the entire world of baseball to a little fellow named Eddie Gaedel.



Births on August 3



George Hale
Birth Name: George Wagner Hale Bats : Right
Born On: 08-03-1894 Throws : Right
Born In: Dexter, Kansas Height : 5-10
Died On: 11-01-1945 Weight : 160
Died In: Wichita, Kansas First Game: 08-24-1914
College: None Attended Last Game: 06-26-1918
Nickname: Ducky Draft: Not Applicable

Catcher George Hale had a 4-year, all Browns MLB career (1914, 1916-1918). Hale batted .175 with no homers in 103 total times at bat. Anyone who needs to ask why Hale never played in the big leagues beyond 1918 probably isn't reading this information anyway. George Hale was 51 at the time of his 1945 death. - BCT/GB, George Hale!



Deaths on August 3



Homer Ezzell
Birth Name: Homer Estell Ezzell Bats : Right
Born On: 02-28-1896 Throws : Right
Born In: Victoria, Texas Height : 5-10
Died On: 08-03-1976 Weight : 158
Died In: San Antonio, Texas First Game: 04-22-1923
College: None Attended Last Game: 10-02-1925
Nickname: None Draft: Not Applicable

Homer was born in Victoria, Texas - a small city only 53 miles east of my own birthplace of Beeville in South Texas. I'm pretty sure that a nice fellow named Camp Ezzell, a writer for my grandfather's newspaper, The Beeville Bee, was some relation to Homer, but I will have to research that matter further. In that era, in that part of the country, you hardly ever met two people with the same unusual surname who weren't kin in some way. This Ezzell, at any rate, started his 3-year big league career (1923-1925) with the 1923 Browns as a 2nd & 3rd baseman, hitting .244 in 88 games. Ezzell moved over to the Red Sox in 1924-1925 and he finished his big league career with an overall BA of .264. Ironically, "Homer" concluded his 742 AB run in the big leagues with 0 homers. - Homer Ezzell was 80 when he passed away in 1976.

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

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/team...p?y=1922&t=SLA

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/team...p?y=1922&t=NYA

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

[Bill_McCurdy]

August 4th

On This Date in History!



August 4, 1948: Browns Rally From 6 Down for 9-8 Win Over Boston!

Former Brown Ellis Kinder Can't Stop His Old Teammates Today!

At Sportsman's Park today, the St. Louis Browns spot the Boston Red Sox 6 big runs in the top of the 1st inning. The boys from St. Louis then promptly strike back for 7 runs of their own in the bottom of the 1st for what starts out as a Donnybrook Day at the old ballpark. The scoring rate slows down, but the Browns come up to bat in the bottom of the 9th trailing the Red Sox by 8-7. It's time for one more rally. St. Louis scores 2 runs off former Brown and current Boston reliever Ellis Kinder in their last time at bat to win, 9–8. - What a day it is for Browns fans! (If we ever get the last few hitches worked out in our time machine, this one will be a great game to go back and watch.)



August 4, 1926: Football Star Nevers Pitches Browns By A's, 3-1!

"Wonder if I can hit the outside corner of the plate with this thing?" - Ernie Nevers.

At Stanford University, star fullback Ernie Nevers had few peers. Today, however, Nevers is just another baseball rookie, pitching on a Wednesday afternoon at Sportsman's Park for the St. Louis Browns against the Philadelphia Athletics. Nevers has a relatively big day. He pitches his first complete game for the Browns, beating the A's, 3-1. If the 4-man pitching rotation holds from Wednesday, it will again be "Nevers on Sunday." - Ernie Nevers will be 6-12 in his brief baseball life as a Brown, but he will give up baseball and go on to win a place for himself in the Pro Football Hall of Fame playing with the Duluth Eskimos and Chicago Cardinals (1926-31). As a minor aside, today's baseball win by Nevers elevates the Browns' 1926 season record to 44-60.



1922 American League Pennant Race

Standings Thru Games of Friday, August 4:
St. Louis (60-42, .588)
New York (60-44, .577) 1 GB

Results of Friday, August 4:
@ St. Louis: Browns 9 - Athletics 4.
@ Cleveland: Yankees 7 - Indians 5.

Game Reports for Friday, August 4:
Browns & Yankees Each Win Again! St. Louis Holds On To 1 Game Lead! All a club can do is win their own games - one game at a time. The Browns try to keep that ancient baseball axiom in mind as they also try not to watch the scoreboard. One glance there - and the thought is bound to pop into mind: "We're winning comfortably at home. The Yankees are winning tough games on the road."

Games Scheduled for Saturday, August 5:
Philadelphia @ St. Louis
New York @ Cleveland

Games Scheduled for Sunday, August 6:
Washington @ St. Louis
New York @ Detroit

Games Scheduled for Monday, August 7:
Washington @ St. Louis
New York @ Detroit



August 4, 1916: 7th Place Browns Win 14th Straight! Red Sox Fall, 6-1!

Acting out a curious reversal of fortunes, the lowly 7th place St. Louis Browns defy all odds by winning their 14th game in a row today. In a game played at Sportsman's Park, pitcher Eddie Plank of the Browns allows only two Boston hits as he tops young mound foe Babe Ruth and propels St. Louis to a 6–1 win over the first place Red Sox. The red hot St. Louis Browns are now 51-49 on the year. - Now, if the 7th place ball club is still two games over .500 ball in the win column on August 4th, what does that tell you about the state of American League parity during the 1916 season?*

*The Browns win streak will be snapped tomorrow, August 5th, when the eventual AL champion Red Sox defeat them by a score of 4-1. The Browns will finish the 1916 season in 5th place with a record of 79-75. The 6th place finishing Cleveland Indians will sign off at 77-77 and the 7th place Washington Senators will end up only a half game back at 76-77. - Where are all these wins among second division clubs coming from? - Look to "The City of Brotherly Love" for answers. - The 8th place Philadelphia Athletics will finish the 1916 season with a record of 36 wins against 117 losses! - Is that how parity works?



A Browns Record Booker

Question: In what season did the Browns use the greatest number of different players?



Answer: 1951. Depending upon how you count Eddie Gaedel, the Browns used either 52 or 51 1/8 different players on their roster during the greatest year of Veeckian fun and games.



Births on August 4



Ski Melillo


"He fought to the fin-itch,
'Cause he ate his spinach!"

Birth Name: Oscar Donald Melillo Bats : Right
Born On: 08-04-1899 Throws : Right
Born In: Chicago, Illinois Height : 5-08
Died On: 11-14-1963 Weight : 150
Died In: Chicago, Illinois First Game: 04-18-1926
College: None Attended Last Game: 09-18-1937
Nickname: Ski or Spinach Draft: Not Applicable

Ski Mellio was rhe Browns 2nd baseman from 1926 through an early season trade in 1935. Melillo had his best year in 1931 when he collected 189 hits and registered a .306 batting average. Oscar played out the balance of his career (1935-37) with the Boston Red Sox, finishing with 1,316 career hits and a career batting average of .260.

Melillo's career and life were threatened by Bright's disease, an often fatal kidney inflammation. He doggedly stuck to a doctor's prescribed diet of spinach, and nothing but spinach, until cured. That commitment allowed the fellow they already called "Ski" for the usual anatomical reasons to acquire the second nickname of "Spinach." He must have missed out on the name of "Popeye" by hitting the public eye prior to the great popularity of the spinach-empowered cartoon sailor man.

A smooth-fielding second baseman, Melillo was a Browns regular for nearly a decade. He later became a popular big league coach, serving as a loyal lieutenant to Lou Boudreau with the Indians, Red Sox, and A's. - The spinach man was 74 at the time of his 1963 death.



George Caster
Birth Name: George Jasper Caster Bats : Right
Born On: 08-04-1907 Throws : Right
Born In: Colton, California Height : 6-01½
Died On: 12-18-1955 Weight : 180
Died In: Lakewood, California First Game: 09-10-1934
College: None Attended Last Game: 09-16-1946
Nickname: Ug Draft: Not Applicable

As a a 5-year pitcher (1941-45) for the Browns, Caster won 24 and lost 25. His (1934-46) career mark was 76 wins and 100 losses with a 4.54 E.R.A. George Caster was only 48 at the time of his 1955 death.



Deaths on August 4



Mike Balenti
Birth Name: Michael Richard Balenti Bats : Right
Born On: 07-03-1886 Throws : Right
Born In: Calumet, Oklahoma Height : 5-11
Died On: 08-04-1955 Weight : 175
Died In: Altus, Oklahoma First Game: 07-19-1911
College: Agricultural & Mechanical College of Texas Last Game: 09-22-1913
Nickname: None Draft: Not Applicable

This Texas Aggie shortstop/outfielder played 8 games for the 1911 Reds and 70 games for the 1913 Browns, hitting for a brief career BA of .183 and 0 homers in 219 total times at bat. - Mike Balenti was 69 at the time of his 1955 death. - BCT/GB, Mike "Aggie" Balenti! - You didn't exactly 'gig 'em,' but you got there!



Chuck Rose
Birth Name: Charles Alfred Rose Bats : Left
Born On: 09-01-1885 Throws : Left
Born In: Macon, Missouri Height : 5-08½
Died On: 08-04-1961 Weight : 158
Died In: Salina, Kansas First Game: 09-13-1909
College: None Attended Last Game: 09-29-1909
Nickname: None Draft: Not Applicable

A rose may be a rose may be a rose, but Chuck Rose was never a Pete. - Chuck Rose had 0 hits in only 7 times at bat as a pitcher in 3 games for the 1909 Browns. He posted a 1-2 record and a 5.40 ERA over that brief MLB stint and was then, of course, gone for good! - BCT/GB, Chuck Rose! - At least you never had to worry about being banned from the Hall of Fame! - Chuck Rose was 75 at the time of his 1961 death.

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

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/team...p?y=1922&t=SLA

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/team...p?y=1922&t=NYA

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

Administrative Note: This thread began on August 5, 2004. Today's entry actually concludes the full year. Due to the fact that another purpose evolved in December 2004, I'm going to continue posting daily until I reach the date in which I started recording birth and death information for every Brown that firs the date. That will be some time in December 2005.

That other purpose? After putting in about 1000 hours, so far, on the research and writing of this thread, my plans now are to transfer much of what's here into book form when it's done in December. - More on that plan later.

In the meanwhile, to minimize confusion, I'm going start labeling the date name of each new post from this point with these added word - "2nd Time Around."

Thanks for your patience and support. - Bill.

[Bill_McCurdy]

August 5th - 2nd Time Around!

On This Date in History!



August 5, 1953: Red Sox Offer Fresh Flowers; Browns Wilt, 5-0!

Lilies: The Unofficial Flower of the 1953 Browns.

The Boston Red Sox send a floral bouquet to the visiting Browns today, but this one isn't designed to bring smiles or make the boys from St. Louis feel loved and welcome in Fenway Park. Rookie Ben Flowers of the Red Sox shuts out the Browns, 5-0, in his first big league start. The Browns loss drops the club's 1953 record to a miserable 35-72.



August 5, 1940: "Silent John" Quiets Tiger Hopes for Doubleheader Sweep!

Some Big Bangs Make Very Little Noise.

He's not exactly the "Top Gun" type, but he does pitch loudly enough today to gain the St. Louis Browns a split in the nitcap of their twin bill with the Detroit Tigers at Sportsman's Park. After dropping the opener to the Tigers in a 9-2 laugher, the Browns send out John Whitehead to pitch the second game. Whitehead works a 6-inning, rain-abbreviated no-hitter against the suddenly silent bats of the Tigers, winning 4–0. Unfortunately (and what other kind of fortune to be know in Sislerville), an ankle injury will sideline Whitehead, transforming today's short and sweet success into another bursting bubble of false hope for better times around the next corner. Today's win will be "Silent John" Whitehead's only 1940 victory. - For the moment, the Browns squiggle to a 1940 record of 42-60 as a result of today's action.



August 5, 1933: Sammy West's Record Day Paces Browns by ChiSox, 10-9!

Sammy West: As a 1940 Senator.

It turns out to be another rare fun-day for the fans at Sportsman's Park as St. Louis Browns All Star outfielder Sammy West equals the big league record with 4 extra base hits in a 12-inning, 10-9 win over the Chicago White Sox. The Brownie win sends Browns fans home (or off to nearby bars) with smiles on their faces. For the day, West hits one double, two triples, and a home run. - Today's win adjusts the Browns' 1933 season record to only 40-67, but we won't mull over the gloom of the big picture in the middle of a moment to be savored with joy. It's how we Browns fans keep our sanity.



August 5, 1923: NY Edges SL, 9-8, in 13th! Ruth Bats Right-Handed Twice!

"Cluck! Cluck!" - Elam Vangilder.

Babe Ruth again practices batting righthanded twice today in a 9-8 extra inning New York win over the St. Louis Browns at Yankee Stadium. Before his decision to experiment, the Babe takes care of business from his natural left handed stance, blasting his 26th and 27th home runs of the season off Browns starter, Ray Kolp. Brownie reliever Elam Vangilder takes no chances, even with Ruth batting righthanded. Vangilder walks Ruth intentionally in the 11th - and again in the 13th inning. The Browns' timidity with Ruth, even with him batting unnaturally, reaps its own deserved result. Bob Meusel's single wins the game, 9-8, for the Yankees in the bottom of the 13th. - Today's loss slips the Browns' 1923 record down to 51-48.



1922 American League Pennant Race

Standings Thru Games of Saturday, August 5:
St. Louis (61-42, .592)
New York (61-44, .581) 1 GB

Results of Saturday, August 5:
@ St. Louis: Browns 4 - Athletics 1.
@ Cleveland: Yankees 7 - Indians 1.

Game Reports for Saturday, August 5:
Browns & Yankees In 2-Horse Race! Both Win Again! Browns Keep 1-Game Lead. Playing at home, the Browns win their 4th game in a row - and their 7th in their last 8 games. Today's 4-1 win overs the A's allows the Browns to hold on to their one-game lead at the top pf the American League, but the Yankee bats are booming in a 7-1 victory over the Indians to keep the Browns from smiling too much. Playing on the road, the Yankees also win their 4th game in a row - for their 8th win over the last 10 games.

Games Scheduled for Sunday, August 6:
Washington @ St. Louis
New York @ Detroit

Games Scheduled for Monday, August 7:
Washington @ St. Louis
New York @ Detroit

Games Scheduled for Tuesday, August 8:
Washington @ St. Louis
New York @ Detroit



August 5, 1916: Red Sox Halt Browns' 14-Game Win Streak, 4-1!

Boston's Ernie Shore Stops Browns in Game 1 of DH!

As mentioned yesterday, the St. Louis Browns bring a 14-game win streak into today's doubleheader with Boston Red Sox at Sportsman's Park. The Red Sox stop the Browns' victory roll, winning 4–1 over St. Louis in the opener behind pitcher Ernie Shore. The Browns take the nitecap, 6–3, to bring their 1916 season record back to 2 games over .500 at 52-50.



August 5, 1905: Browns Drop 2 at NY! Highlanders' Chase Sets PO Record!

Hal Chase: The Black Prince of Baseball.

At Hilltop Park in Upper Manhattan today, Highlanders 1st baseman Hal Chase sets a new MLB record by making 38 putouts in a New York doubleheader sweep of the visiting St. Louis Browns, 3–1 and 6–5. It's too bad that "Prince Hal" couldn't stay honest over the years. He is arguably regarded even today as the greatest fielding 1st baseman in the history of the game, but he also still carries a reputation far beyond the grave as one of the most corrupt game-fixers of all time.



A Brownie Record Booker

Question: In what season did the Browns set their record for most team hits in a single year?

Answer: 1922 was a good guess - and you are correct if you chose the year of the golden heartbreak. The 1922 Browns piled up 1,693 hits in 154 games during that season for an average of 10.99 hits per game! Now that's some real firepower!



Births on August 5



Ray Pepper
Birth Name: Raymond Watson Pepper Bats : Right
Born On: 08-05-1905 Throws : Right
Born In: Decatur, Alabama Height : 6-02
Died On: 03-24-1996 Weight : 195
Died In: Belle Mina, Alabama First Game: 04-15-1932
College: University of Alabama Last Game: 09-25-1936
Nickname: None Draft: Not Applicable

Outfielder Ray Pepper had a 5-year big league career with the Cardinals (1932-1933) and Browns (1934-1936), hitting .281 with 14 homers in 339 games. - Pepper was 90 at the time of his 1996 death.



Deaths on August 5



Ed Coleman
Birth Name: Parke Edward Coleman Bats : Left
Born On: 12-01-1901 Throws : Right
Born In: Canby, Oregon Height : 6-02
Died On: 08-05-1964 Weight : 200
Died In: Oregon City, Oregon First Game: 04-15-1932
College: Oregon State Agricultural College Last Game: 09-26-1936
Nickname: None Draft: Not Applicable

Outfielder Ed Coleman had a 5-year (1932-1936) MLB batting average of .285 and he also slammed 40 homers. He finished his career as a Brown, hitting .287 with 17 HR's for the 1938 club - and .292 with 2 homers for the 1939 Browns. - Ed Coleman was 62 at the time of his 1964 death.



Verdo Elmore
Birth Name: Verdo Wilson Elmore Bats : Left
Born On: 12-10-1899 Throws : Right
Born In: Gordo, Alabama Height : 5-11
Died On: 08-05-1969 Weight : 185
Died In: Birmingham, Alabama First Game: 09-11-1924
College: University of Alabama Last Game: 09-24-1924
Nickname: Ellie Draft: Not Applicable

Right fielder Verdo Elmore hit .176 (3 for 17) with 0 homers for the 1924 Browns and then departed forever to the land of you-know-where. He was 69 at the time of his 1969 demise. - BCT/GB, Verdo, Elmore! Anyone bearing the first name of "Verdo" for a lifetime deserves to be remembered for some other reason - if even for a degree of distraction from the saddle of that identity.

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

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/team...p?y=1922&t=SLA

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/team...p?y=1922&t=NYA

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

Have a nice weekend, everybody! :atthepc

PS: If you care to read my coverage of the Raymond Lee Cunningham funeral, here's the story link to the Cardinal Birdhouse site. Until his death on July 30, 2005, "Lee" was the world's oldest living former Cardinal - and former major leaguer. - I'm not sure who now holds the mantle of being the "new" oldest former major leaguer, but it may be our own Rollie Stiles. Former Browns player Stiles was born on November 17, 1906 and he pitched for the Browns in 1930 and again in 1932-1933.

At any rate, here's the Cunningham funeral link. ...

http://stlcardinals.scout.com/2/419175.html

[Bill_McCurdy]

August 6th - 2nd Time Around!

On This Date in History!



August 6, 1952: Paige & Browns Beat Trucks & Tigers in 12th, 1-0!

Paige & Trucks In Classic Pitcher's Duel!

At Sportsman's Park today, 46-year old Satchel Paige of the St, Louis Browns and Virgil "Fire" Trucks of the Detroit Tigers hook up for a classic competition between two great pitchers. Paige and the Browns finally prevail by a score of 1-0 in a contest that plays out over 12 innings before a sparse crowd. (Would you like to have a time travel ticket to help fill the stands for a look at this one? I sure would!)



1922 American League Pennant Race

Standings Thru Games of Sunday, August 6:
St. Louis (62-42, .596)
New York (62-44, .585) 1 GB

Results of Sunday, August 6:
@ St. Louis: Browns 8 - Senators 4.
@ Detroit: Yankees 11 - Tigers 6.

Game Reports for Sunday, August 6:
Browns & Yankees Each Win Again! SL Holds 1 Game Lead Over NY. In St. Louis today, Washington's Walter Johnson gives up the first grand slam of his career. The 3rd inning balst by Browns right fielder Jack Tobin provides the eventual margin of victory as St. Louis tops the Senators, 8–4. George Sisler also chips in with a 2-for-2 day against the Big Train, and Browns ace Urban Shocker does his part by pitching the Browns to another big win. That being said, there is no room to relax. After a night train ride from Cleveland to Detroit on Saturday, the Yankees limber up from all that sitting by spanking the Tigers on Sunday, 11-6. The New York win allows the Yankees to keep pace with the AL-leading Browns at one game back.

Games Scheduled for Monday, August 7:
Washington @ St. Louis
New York @ Detroit

Games Scheduled for Tuesday, August 8:
Washington @ St. Louis
New York @ Detroit

Games Scheduled for Wednesday, August 9:
Washington @ St. Louis
New York @ Detroit



August 6, 1917: Big Train & Sens Spoil Plank's Last Dance in 11 Innings, 1-0!

Eddie Plank's 1.79 ERA and 5-6 record invites late 1917 season retirement.

Toiling the foreign soil of Griffith Stadium today, the veteran pitcher and 41-year old man that is Eddie Plank hooks up with Washington's Walter Johnson in a brilliant 11-inning pitching duel. Washington's Johnson wins the game for the Senators over the Browns by the classic pitcher's day margin of 1-0. For Plank, this will turn out to be the last game of his oustanding career. He will announce his retirement in a week, citing stomach problems as the reason. Pitching for the hapless Browns doesn't help as Plank's 1.79 ERA this season results in nothing more than a 5–6 record. - As a result of today's action, the Brown's season average flattens further to 38-65.



August 6, 1916: BoSox Beat Browns, 1-0! Austin Dukes It Out!

Jimmy Austin. Still waiting for actor Robyn Williams to play him in a tv movie.

At Sportsman's Park today, Boston Red Sox pitcher Rube Foster allows just 3 hits in beating the St. Louis Browns, 1–0. Most of the hitting in the game comes when Browns 2rd baseman Jimmy Austin and Boston catcher Chet Thomas mix it up over an issue of fleeting ill will. The Red Sox end the day .002 percentage points ahead of the White Sox, but they soon will take 3 out of 4 in Chicago to open up some breathing room. - After today, the Browns are still breathing - but it's only condensing on the .500 mark at 52-51.



A Browns Record Booker

Question: Who holds the career mark for Browns runs scored?

Answer: with 1,091 runs scored for the Browns.



Births on August 6



Hal Wiltse
Birth Name: Harold James Wiltse Bats : Left
Born On: 08-06-1903 Throws : Left
Born In: Clay City, Illinois Height : 5-09
Died On: 11-02-1983 Weight : 168
Died In: Bunkie, Louisiana First Game: 04-13-1926
College: None Attended Last Game: 04-20-1931
Nickname: Whitey Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Hal Wiltse had a 4-year MLB career (1926-1928, 1931), postin a record of 20-40 and an ERA of 4.87. In his only season with the 1928 Browns, Wiltse recorded a mark of 2-5 with a 5.25 ERA. Hal Wiltse was 80 at the the time of his 1983 death.



Herb Cobb
Birth Name: Herbert Edward Cobb Bats : Right
Born On: 08-06-1904 Throws : Right
Born In: Pinetops, North Carolina Height : 5-11
Died On: 01-08-1980 Weight : 150
Died In: Tarboro, North Carolina First Game: 04-21-1929
College: None Attended Last Game: 04-21-1929
Nickname: None Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Herb Cobb pitched one shaky inning for the Browns on April 21, 1929 and was then gone forever from big league baseball. In that single stanza of work, Cobb earned his way out fast. Of the 7 batters he faced, 3 reached by hits and 1 worked a walk. Throw in 2 balks, no strikeouts, and a surrendered home run and the result was a 4 run (all earned) inning and a lifetime E.R.A. for one inning of work of 36.00. In spite of his showing, Cobb escaped getting the loss because of game circumstances. - Maybe his appearance was little more than a mop up role performance and Cobb was just taking one for the team. Every batter who reached base on Cobb eventually scored. BCT/GB, Herb Cobb! - Herb Cobb was 75 at the time of his 1980 death.



Ed Roetz
Birth Name: Edward Bernard Roetz Bats : Right
Born On: 08-06-1905 Throws : Right
Born In: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Height : 5-10
Died On: 03-16-1965 Weight : 160
Died In: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania First Game: 05-26-1929
College: None Attended Last Game: 10-06-1929
Nickname: None Draft: Not Applicable

Ed Roetz only played 16 games for the 1929 Browns as his total MLB career, but he played every infield position but pitcher and catcher in that short space of time. He concluded his offensive career by going 11 for 45 (.244 BA) with 0 homers. - BCT/GB, Ed Roetz! - Ed Roetz was 59 at the time of his 1965 death.



Chad Kimsey
Birth Name: Clyde Elias Kimsey Bats : Left
Born On: 08-06-1906 Throws : Right
Born In: Copperhill, Tennessee Height : 6-02
Died On: 12-03-1942 Weight : 200
Died In: Pryor, Oklahoma First Game: 04-21-1929
College: None Attended Last Game: 07-29-1936
Nickname: None Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Chad Kimsey had a 6-year MLB career (1929-1933, 1936), registering a record of 24-29 and an ERA of 5.07. As a Brown from 1929 until his trade to the White Sox in 1932, Kimsey won 17 and lost 24 for St. Louis. - Chad Kimsey was 36 when he died in 1942.



Blackie Schwamb
Birth Name: Ralph Richard Schwamb Bats : Right
Born On: 08-06-1926 Throws : Right
Born In: Lancaster, California Height : 6-05½
Died On: 12-21-1989 Weight : 198
Died In: Los Angeles, California First Game: 07-25-1948
College: None Attended Last Game: 09-18-1948
Nickname: None Draft: Not Applicable

Ralph Richard "Blackie" Schwamb pitched 12 games for the 1948 Browns. He finished his brief major league career in those 12 games with 1 win, 1 loss, and an ERA of 8.53. He was born in Los Angeles on August 6, 1926. He stood close to 6'6" in height, but he weighed a beanpole 198 pounds.

What happened to Blackie? Well, beyond his apparent lack of control on the mound was a greater lack of control in his behavior toward his fellow man. In 1949, he committed a murder and was sentenced to life in prison.

Now a fellow SABR member named Eric Stone has written a new book about Schwamb called “Wrong Side of the Wall, the Life of Blackie Schwamb, the Greatest Prison Baseball Player of All Time.”

Blackie Schwamb was 63 when he died in 1989.



Deaths on August 6



So Far, No Browns Ever Died On August 6.

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

http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...logy/today.stm

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/team...p?y=1922&t=NYA

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

[Bill_McCurdy]

August 7th - 2nd Time Around!

On This Date in History!



August 7, 1952: Umpire Suspended for One-Finger Salute to SL Writers!

Bill McGowan: Even HOF Umpires Have Buttons That The Media May Push Too Hard!

Umpire Bill McGowan is suspended indefinitely by the American League. In a game in St. Louis, McGowan alredy had thrown out Tiger pitcher Billy Hoeft, who had been heckling him from the dugout. St. Louis writers, who had had something of a stormy relationship over the years with the veteran McGowan, follow up by asking McGowan to identify the ejected player. The umpire refuses the writers and then adds an obscene one-fingered gesture in their direction for extra emphasis. The writers file a complaint with the American League office and this action results in an indefinite suspension of the blown-top McGowan. - McGowan will pass away in 1954, but he will not be forgotten for his 30 year service as a fair arbiter. In 1992, Bill McGowan will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as an umpire.



August 7, 1949: 13 Different Yankees Score in 20-2 Rout of Browns!

Casey Liked To substitute, anyway, but today he had little choice!

Combine managerial preference with necessity and you are likely to see a record day for players entering a game. Today at Yankee Stadium, manager Casey Stengel is forced to play a lot of guys as the Yankees suffer a series of injuries in Game One of a scheduled doubleheader. As a result, 13 different Yankee players score at least one run each against the St. Louis Browns as the the Bronx Bombers prevail, 20-2. Game Two is called at 2-2 because of time and travel considerations and the battered Browns finish the day with their 1949 record sinking to 34-70.



1922 American League Pennant Race

Standings Thru Games of Monday, August 7:
St. Louis (63-42, .600)
New York (63-44, .589) 1 GB

Results of Monday, August 7:
@ St. Louis: Browns 16 - Senators 6.
@ Detroit: Yankees 4 - Tigers 3.

Game Reports for Monday, August 7:
Ken Williams Hits 2 As Browns Clobber Sens, 16-6! NY Edges Tigers, 4-3! The 1-game lead holds as St. Louis crushes Washington and New York edges Detroit. At Sportsman's Park, Ken Williams blasts two HRs (#29 and #30) in the sixth inning off starter George Mogridge and reliever Eric Erickson as the Browns score 9 times against Washington in a 16–6 win. (Baseball Library Dot Com reports the final score as 16-1. I cannot immediately tell you which source, if either, is correct.) With 2 home runs in one inning, Williams is the first to turn the trick since the 1890s. Both homers follow doubles by Baby Doll Jacobson, also tying a major-league record, as the Browns bang out an MLB record of 7 extra base hits in the frame.

Games Scheduled for Tuesday, August 8:
Washington @ St. Louis
New York @ Detroit

Games Scheduled for Wednesday, August 9:
Washington @ St. Louis
New York @ Detroit

Games Scheduled for Thursday, August 10:
Browns: No Game Scheduled. 2 Days Off for Train Travel to Chicago.
Yankees: No Game Scheduled. 1 Day Off for Train Travel Home to NY.



August 7, 1916: Browns Win, 3-2! All's Fair In The Official Scorer's Mind!

"Thank you, Mr. Official Scorer!" - Walter Johnson.

At St. Louis today, we are handed yet another example of how unsteady the rules have been over the years on the assignments of pitching wins and losses. Read closely. - After the Browns score two runs in the 7th against Washington Nationals starter Bert Gallia to tie the game, Ayers relieves and Walter Johnson pitches the last 1 1/3 innings for Washington, allowing a tally in the 10th for a 3–2 St. Louis win. The official scorer kindly gives the loss to Gallia. - Go figure. - Incidental to the scoring story, the Browns' 1916 record rises to 53-51 with today's win.



August 7, 1915: Browns Take One at Yankee Stadium; Darkness Takes The Other!

"Let me pitch, please! Let me pitch!"

At Yankee Stadium today, the Browns take New York, 6-1, in Game One, but thwn have to settle for that lone victory when Game Two is called, 4-4, after the 10th because of darkness and train tavel schedules. George Sisler does pitch to two Yankees in the 6th inning of Game Two, hitting one and walking the other. The Browns are off to Boston from here to begin a 6-game series with thr Red Sox. They take a 39-59 record with them.



August 7, 1912: Browns' Stovall Has Record Day in 7-2 Loss To A's!

George Stovall Has 7 Assists at 1B for New Record!

St. Louis Browns manager/1st baseman George Stovall has 7 assists today in a 7-2 home loss to the Philadelphia Athletics. Stovall's work tops Willard Brown's record of 6 assists in a game for Louisville in 1893. The loss also drops the St. Louis 1912 record to 32-70.



August 7, 1902: Browns Bomb Boston & Cy Young, 12-4!

Cy Who?

For the second time this year, Boston's Cy Young gives up six runs in the first inning and is promptly lifted. This time the Browns bomb Young on the way to a 12-4 victory in St. Louis. Young will complete 41 of 43 starts this year, but the Browns will keep him from perfection. - Cy Young? - Wonder whatever happened to him?



A Browns Record Booker

Question: What's the single game record for most home runs by a Browns club?

Answer: The Browns set their single game HR record, appropriately, by getting 5 home runs in a 16-4 win over the homer-happy New York Yankees at Sportsman's Park on September 16, 1940. Rookie Johnny Lucadello of the Browns hit 2 of the homers, one from each side of the plate, for the only two homers he managed all season.



Births on August 7



Lou Nordyke
Birth Name: Louis Ellis Nordyke Bats : Right
Born On: 08-07-1876 Throws : Right
Born In: Brighton, Iowa Height : 6-00
Died On: 09-27-1945 Weight : 185
Died In: Los Angeles, California First Game: 04-18-1906
College: None Attended Last Game: 06-27-1906
Nickname: None Draft: Not Applicable

In his only big league season, 1st baseman Lou Nordyke hit .245 with no homers by going 13 for 53 in 25 games for the 1906 Browns.- BCT/GB, Lou Nordyke! You were one of the first Browns to come and leave early!



Tom Richardson
Birth Name: Thomas Mitchell Richardson Bats : Right
Born On: 08-07-1883 Throws : Right
Born In: Louisville, Illinois Height : 6-00
Died On: 11-15-1939 Weight : 190
Died In: Onawa, Iowa First Game: 08-02-1917
College: None Attended Last Game: 08-02-1917
Nickname: None Draft: Not Applicable

Move over, Moonlight Graham! Tom Richardson's entire MLB experience consisted of one "oh fer one" appearance as a pinch hitter for the Browns on August 2, 1917. He didn't even get to play in the field. - BCT/GB, Tom Richardson! - At least, you didn't strike out!



Guy Sturdy
Birth Name: Guy Sturdy Bats : Left
Born On: 08-07-1899 Throws : Left
Born In: Sherman, Texas Height : 6-00½
Died On: 05-04-1965 Weight : 180
Died In: Marshall, Texas First Game: 09-30-1927
College: None Attended Last Game: 08-21-1928
Nickname: None Draft: Not Applicable

1st baseman Guy Sturdy played 59 games for the 1927-1928 Browns, batting .288 with 1 HR as the totals on his complete MLB career. Sturdy was 65 at the time of his death in 1965.



Don Larsen

Don Larsen's Moment in The Sun: October 8, 1956 and a Perfect World Series Game.

Birth Name: Don James Larsen Bats : Right
Born On: 08-07-1929 Throws : Right
Born In: Michigan City, Indiana Height : 6-04
Died On: Still Living Weight : 227
Died In: Still Living First Game: 04-18-1953
College: None Attended Last Game: 07-07-1967
Nickname: Night Rider Draft: Not Applicable

Don Larsen had a 14-year career (1953-1965, 1967) record of 81 wins, 91 losses, and an ERA of 3.78. He started as a Brown (1953). He was a member of the 1st Orioles club (1954) and he was the last member of the moribund Browns franchise to still be playing in 1967. All that pales, however, by the universal picture of him pitching the only perfect game in World Series history on October 8, 1956. Final Score: Yankees 2 - Dodgers 0. - Catcher Yogi Berra jumps into Larsen's arms in celebration immediately after the moment is secured by a called strike three on Dodger batter Dale Mitchell. - Happy 76th Birthday, Don Larsen! - And thank you for the memory of our discussions at two of the recent Browns reunions. If more people had your carefree spirit, more people might live longer - and enjoy it more.



Deaths on August 7



Bill McGill
Birth Name: William Jacob McGill Bats : Right
Born On: 06-29-1880 Throws : Right
Born In: Galva, Kansas Height : 6-02
Died On: 08-07-1959 Weight : 198
Died In: Alva, Oklahoma First Game: 09-16-1907
College: Friends University Last Game: 09-27-1907
Nickname: Parson Draft: Not Applicable

Parson Bill McGill will hang around the big leagues just long enough to feel his Quaker oats. Parson Bill McGill will go 1-0 with an ERA of 3.44 in 2 games for the 1907 Browns and then be G-For-G. - BCT/GB, Parson Bill McGill! - Thou art still perfect in the record book of wins versus losses! - Bill McGill will be 79 at the time of his 1959 death.

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

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/team...p?y=1922&t=SLA

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/team...p?y=1922&t=NYA

http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/ho...Gowan_Bill.htm

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