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All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis. }, Cronkite School at ASU The American League president, Will Harridge, voided Gaedels contract two days later, saying the decision was in the best interests of baseball.. Logan HensleyHensley is both the highest-ranked full-time pitcher and the highest-ranked native of the St. Louis area on this list, having been born in 1900 in Pacific, Missouri. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Veeck was a well-liked sports figure already known for his dramatic flair. Baltimore Orioles All-Time Team. Contact SABR, LnRiLWhlYWRpbmcuaGFzLWJhY2tncm91bmR7cGFkZGluZzowfQ==, LnRiLWZpZWxke21hcmdpbi1ib3R0b206MC43NmVtfS50Yi1maWVsZC0tbGVmdHt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOmxlZnR9LnRiLWZpZWxkLS1jZW50ZXJ7dGV4dC1hbGlnbjpjZW50ZXJ9LnRiLWZpZWxkLS1yaWdodHt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOnJpZ2h0fS50Yi1maWVsZF9fc2t5cGVfcHJldmlld3twYWRkaW5nOjEwcHggMjBweDtib3JkZXItcmFkaXVzOjNweDtjb2xvcjojZmZmO2JhY2tncm91bmQ6IzAwYWZlZTtkaXNwbGF5OmlubGluZS1ibG9ja311bC5nbGlkZV9fc2xpZGVze21hcmdpbjowfQ==, 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, https://sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Sisler_1924_11450u.jpg, /wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png. St. Louis Browns (Cardinals): Ike Samuels, died February 22, 1964, age 90. Do you have a blog? 1888: The St. Louis Browns win the American Association pennant for a fourth straight season, posting a record of 92-43 to edge the Brooklyn Bridegrooms by six and a half games. All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. It was a shortening of the name Brown Stockings used by previous St. Louis teams in the National Association and in the National League from 1875 to 1877. Steve Doerschuk: Drafted by the Lions in 1947, James was back with his old Massillon coach, Paul Brown, in Cleveland in 1948. [8] He was a professional performer, belonging to the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA). They had also hammered out agreements with both TWA Airlines and the Chicago, IL-to L.A. Santa Fe Railroad to assist in drawing up a feasible schedule. What player in team history had a bigger impact on his position group than Cribbs? They were ready to purchase the Pacific Coast League's Los Angeles Angels and move them to Long Beach, CA, in order to secure territorial rights. "[21] On April 19, 1961, Veeck hired several dwarfs, including Gaedel, as vendors, allegedly due to "some complaints" from fans regarding hitherto blocked sight lines. Veeck had hoped that Delsing would go on to score in a one-run Browns victory, but he ended up stranded at third base and the Tigers won the game 62. But we do know Willie Bobo was a St. Louis Star from 1924 through 1928 and that the first baseman was one of the most feared hitters in the Stars lineup. A few weeks after that, he got in another altercation. The first group of 15, published Monday, can be found here. View The Deck. Many thanks to him. 1922 Browns Had Best Record The 1922 Browns had the. Thompson played decently for the last-place Browns, hitting .256, while Brown struggled, hitting under .200. The Browns drew only 80,922 fans for the entire 1936 season the first year of Donald Barnes ownership. He brought the then 69-year-old Bob Cain to the park to "reenact" the at-bat, by pitching to the 10-year-old son of the Saints manager. It was a project that at once feels long overdue but also like such a research challenge that demanding such a free and comprehensive project would be greedy. 3779726 Steve D: Had there been a Fiss movie, Galen would have been played by Fred MacMurray of TV's "My Three Sons" Fame. The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. [15] Until Gaedel stepped up to the plate, even his teammates had no idea he was actually going to play in the game.[17]. He started for four Browns teams that reached NFL championship games. The St. Louis left fielder was the first player in the major leagues to hit more than 30 home runs and steal 30 bases (37). 75 has been a captain-worthy leader and tremendous left guard, and he was a load even before making second-team, All-Pro, in each of the last three seasons. 183 overall draft pick in 1979 (Texas A&M), Risien spent his entire 11-year pro career in Cleveland, covering 146 games. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Bees / Braves, Brooklyn Dodgers, Washington Senators, and St. Louis Browns between 1931 and 1945. Eddie Gaedel was a spokesman for Buster Brown shoes, Mercury Records and the Ringling Brothers Circus. Hensley led the Stars in career innings and wins, and he earned wins in both NNL championship series victories for the team. Unfortunately, the final vote granting approval was scheduled for Monday, December 8, 1941 - and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, HI on December 7th completely upset that apple cart: with President Franklin D. Roosevelt having declared war, every team including the Browns voted against the proposed move. In 1936, Moore played in 151 games for the Boston Bees, batting .290, with 185 hits, 38 doubles, 12 triples, and 91 runs scored all career-highs. [1] The Tigers catcher offered his pitcher a piece of strategy: "Keep it low". This Month in Sports ReferenceFind out when we add a feature or make a change. The next spring, seven little people from Hollywood showed up at Browns try-outs. Join our linker program. See one of Eddie Gaedel's only existing autographs. By the time he was fully grown, he measured 3 feet 7 inches tall and weighed about 65 pounds. He died on February 22, 1931 in San Diego, though I couldnt find a cause of death from anything approaching a reliable source. We Baseball. In 1954, following eight straight losing seasons, the Browns moved to Baltimore and became the Baltimore Orioles. Blackwell rotated around the Giants/Stars outfield, but was primarily in right field in 1921 when he had one of the greatest offensive seasons in the history of the teamin 1921, in 342 plate appearances, Blackwell batted .405 with a .478 on-base percentage and, aided a career-high 20 doubles, 11 triples, and 12 home runs, a .670 slugging percentage. In baseball, the strike zone is the width of the home plate and the height of the distance from the midline between the players shoulders and waistband to just below their knee caps. The Negro Major Leagues played formally from 1920 through 1948, formed in the aftermath of increasing popularity of barnstorming teams comprised of players unofficially barred from Major League Baseball due to the color of their skin, and waning in popularity once the National and American Leagues finally came to their senses and began to open its doors to the greatest players in the sport regardless of ancestry. Then, check out a photo of the very first basketball game from 127 years ago. The contract had been filed late in the day on Friday, August 17. Gaedel took his base (stopping twice during his trot to bow to the crowd) and was replaced by pinch-runner Jim Delsing. Ever since the word got out that Andre Dawson was going into the Hall of Fame as a Montreal Expo, I've thought often of St. Louis' own relocated team. STARTING LINEUP. Or write about sports? Ray Yannucci: He was one of the league's top defensive backs during the Paul Brown era. Despite the brevity of his moment in the spotlight, Gaedel knew how to capitalize on ten minutes of fame. While the records of the National and American Leagues by the 1920s through 1940s were a bit more comprehensive, 19th century baseball has historical records littered with inconsistencies and incompletions far more egregious than the records of the Negro Leagues, and those numbers are still valued because they are still a part of baseballs history. I really dont have a great answer for how to compare the exploits of the 1920-1931 St. Louis Stars to, say, the 1920-1931 Cardinals or Browns. The 18,369 fans gave Gaedel a standing ovation. Dizzy Dean p (1946) 79.17% - Browns Years: 1947 6. Full-year historical Major League statistics provided by Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette of Hidden Game Sports. St. Louis went to the World Series in all three of . The Browns tendency to be remembered as a mere punchline has obscured . The Browns existed from 1902 to 1953 in the American League and managed just 11 winning seasons over that span. All Rights Reserved by Baseball Almanac, Inc. Privacy Policy. Pictorial Parade/Getty ImagesPortrait of maverick baseball executive Bill Veeck seated at his desk, 1965. This page was last edited on 10 July 2022, at 18:34. The Saint Louis Browns Historical Society & Fan Club extends Happy Birthday wishes to George Elder the newest member of MLB's Centenarian Club when he joins twenty-one other former players to reach the 100 year old mark on Wednesday March 10th . Some defensive statistics Copyright Baseball Info Solutions, 2010-2022. Steve King: His arrival in 1986 set up the Browns' offense and the team overall to go from very good to great. In 1923, Sisler, unquestionably the greatest of all Browns, missed the entire season with sinusitis, and St. Louis fell to 5th place. The panel worked 19 rounds, with the draft order being oldest to youngest, age range 79 to 65 Ray Yannucci, Mike McLain, Steve Doerschuk and Steve King. It coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Browns debut year, 1946. This Month in Sports ReferenceFind out when we add a feature or make a change. Ray Yannucci: The vastly under-rated Green was a great complement to Hall of Fame running backs Jim Brown and Leroy Kelly after being acquired to fill the void left when leukemia claimed Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis. The Sisler-led teams of the 1920s would never seriously contend again. 8. Unofficial All-Time Browns Team [ edit] 1B - George Sisler 2B - Marty McManus 3B - Harlond Clift SS - Vern Stephens OF - Ken Williams OF - Baby Doll Jacobson OF - Jack Tobin OF - George Stone C - Hank Severeid C - Clint Courtney SP - Urban Shocker SP - Jack Powell SP - George Blaeholder SP - Ned Garver SP - Lefty Stewart Further Reading [ edit] Competing in the Negro National League, the St. Louis Giants, who would become the St. Louis Stars in 1922, were charter members of the league in 1920 and remained in it until the leagues dissolution in 1931. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Browns career: A No. St. Louis Browns owner Bill Veeck, in his 1962 autobiography Veeck As in Wreck, said of Gaedel, "He was, by golly, the best darn midget who ever played big-league ball. Branch RussellA World War I veteran who was later buried in St. Louiss Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Russell was primarily a right fielder but with material playing time at second base, third base, and shortstop. All the guys put their hand out, all but three. But these players did matter and anybody who cares about professional baseball in St. Louis ought to know at least a little bit about the Stars. With Jon Hamm. The uniform was that of future St. Louis Cardinals managing partner and chairman William DeWitt, Jr. who was a 9-year-old batboy for the Browns at the time. 2023 BaseballBiography.com. . With an OPS+ of 222, Blackwell even managed to eclipse the dominance of the citys great National League slugger, Rogers Hornsby (Hornsby would equal Blackwells 222 mark in 1924). In 1915, George Sisler, the greatest ever Brown, debuted. He joined the Stars in 1922 and remained there until 1931, notching more plate appearances in the history of the St. Louis Stars than any other player. The Browns had good runners and intermediate receivers, but to push the safeties back, they needed a deep threat. Ball confidently predicted that there would be aWorld Series in Sportsmans Park by 1926. They had preliminary approval from other owners, had secured rights to play in L.A.'s Wrigley Field and had been promised additional financial backing by west coast banker A.P. He lasted through 1959, logging 132 games. [27], Because of its scarcity, Gaedel's autograph now sells for more than Babe Ruth's. 5. While Veecks Browns period is perhaps best known for his Eddie Gaedel midget gag, Veeck did bring a number of quality players to St. Louis, such as Virgil Trucks, Vic Wertz, Clint Courtney, Johnny Groth, and Satchel Paige. Browns career: A No. In St. Louis, they appeared in one World Series as the St. Louis Browns, in 1944. An excellent baserunner and superb fielder who was once tried out at second and third base even though he threw left-handed, Sisler's primary asset was his left-handed swing, which he used to notch a career .340 batting average. His mother, Helen (ne Janicki), was a homemaker. Yet, he made 271 catches for 4,208 yards and 16 TDs, good numbers considering the times. The Browns showed no patience with either man, sending both back to the Negro Leagues in August. Gaedel was under strict orders not to attempt to move the bat off his shoulder. And from 1927 through 1931, Trent was a stalwart atop the Stars rotation. 3. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Home of the St. Louis Browns Historical Society & Fan Club. When Gaedel crouched low at the plate, that meant his strike zone was about 1.5 inches tall making it nearly impossible for a pitcher to throw a strike to him. Wilson RedusNicknamed Frog, Wilson Redus was one of the most tenured Stars players, ranking 5th in games played with the organization, and the outfielder, while not having quite the highest highs among the team, was a model of consistency of being a regularly terrifying offensive force. Over their twelve seasons, the St. Louis Stars compiled a 580-388 recorda 97-win pace in a 162-game schedule season over the course of a dozen yearsand won three league pennants. Bobby GRICH. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. He became a fixture on Browns teams that compiled 10 winning seasons and three trips to the NFL finals. Cemetery Location: We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. After 15 minutes of amused debating, Hurley acquiesced. Browns career: Drafted by the Steelers in 1947 (Case Western Reserve), he didn't play pro ball until 1949, when he made the team in the town where he went to college. He never again reached quite those heights, but he remained a solid hitter for the remainder of his Stars career. [4] His father, Carl Gaedele (18861949), was a Lithuanian immigrant who managed a department store and worked as a parking lot checker. Now in St. Louis, Veeck was hoping to make another major-leagues first though for less noble and practical reasons. 14 overall draft pick in 1966 (Massachusetts), he spent his entire 10-year career with the Browns, covering 129 games. The old expression about the St. Louis Browns was, First in shoes, first in booze, and last in theAmerican League. In their 52-year history, the Browns finished in the cellar 14 times, and seventh 12 times. In response, Veeck threatened to request an official ruling on whether Yankees shortstop and reigning American League MVP Phil Rizzuto, who stood 5feet 6inches (1.68m), was a short ballplayer or a tall dwarf. Keeping the surprise he had in store for the second game to himself, Veeck just meekly apologized. 2. Browns career: A Round 10 pick in 1984 (East Carolina), Byner played 105 of his 224 NFL games with the Browns, in two shifts, 1984-88 and 1994-95. Wiggin never missed a game en route to a long career in coaching and front-office work. He was a Cleveland broadcasting personality when he died at age 45, leaving a wife and five daughters. Phone: 602.496.1460 His father, Gene Sr., was a pitcher for the Pirates and Reds between 1910 and 1912.[1]. The ten greatest players in St. Louis Starshistory, 1925 Negro National League All-Star Team Year-by-Year All Star Teams, 1926 Negro National League All-Star Team Year-by-Year All Star Teams, 1927 Negro National League All-Star Team Year-by-Year All Star Teams. Fiss made a run as a minor-league catcher in the Cleveland organization, a teammate of Rogers Maris. The demoralized, depleted Browns lost 100 games. 1909: The Browns are unable to build off their solid season as they stumble all year, falling back down into seventh place, posting a record of 61-89 along the way, as Manager Jimmy McAleer is fired following the season. Banks regret in the form of drug issues that tainted his career, but he was consistently good and at times spectacular. The tall, slender Floridian did suffer a drop in production starting in 1929, but particularly for his first two seasons, he is regarded as one of the best pitchers in Stars history. With no other options, Veeck sold the Browns to Miles, a Baltimore lawyer, and the AL subsequently voted to allow the Browns to move. He also maintained a relationship with Veeck. Born May 28, 1926, Frank Saucier is the oldest; Billy Hunter, born June 4, 1928, is the youngest. Post A Comment Cancel Reply. Oh, and he had 2,375 yards and three scores on punt returns. The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. Though he only went to bat once in his life and his story doesnt have a happy ending his one day in a St. Louis Browns uniform went down in sports history and made fans carefully consider where the line was drawn between athletics and entertainment. George Sisler 1b (1939) 85.77% - Browns Years 1915-27. Browns career: A No. This is Jim Hegan, and Hegan put his hand out. Do you have a sports website? Baseball Almanac just got a whole lot better as the primary resource for any kind of baseball research. Find out more. His total earnings as a pro athlete were $100 (equivalent to $1,044 in 2021), the scale price for an American Guild of Variety Artists appearance. In 1947, the Browns became the second American League team to integrate (following the Cleveland Indians), adding Negro League players Willard Brown and Hank Thompson to the roster in July. Willie BoboAs is often the case for Negro League players, the biographical information available is somewhat scant. The team, which played from 1902 to 1953, has just 3 remaining representatives. All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only.