Former Browns Pitcher, Jack Kramer, & Others in New Orleans Hall of Fame

Former New Orleans Zephyrs manager Tony Pena and Crescent City natives Al Jurisich, Jack Kramer and Lou Klein will be inducted into the New Orleans Professional Baseball Hall of Fame

Tony Pena was the Zephyrs' manager from 1999 to 2001, compiling a record of 205-216 in his three seasons at the helm of the Z's. As a player, Pena was a five-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove Award winner as a catcher, playing 18 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros.

Al Jurisich pitched a total of nine seasons in the minors, including three with the New Orleans Pelicans in the Southern Association (1940 - 1942). He made his Major League debut on April 26, 1944 with the St. Louis Cardinals, posting a record of 10-12 during two seasons before moving on to the Philadelphia Phillies (1946 - 1947), where injuries reduced his time in the majors.

Jurisich appeared in the 1944 World Series against the St. Louis Browns, pitching two-thirds of an inning in relief during Game Three.

John (Jack) Henry Kramer signed as an amateur free agent with the St. Louis Browns in 1936. He made his major league debut on April 25, 1939 and would go on to compile a record of 143-144 over 22 seasons in professional baseball, including winning Game Three of the 1944 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. He was a three-time All-Star with the Browns in 1945, 1946 and 1947 and led the American League in winning percentage (.783) with a record of 18-5 with the Boston Red Sox in 1948.

Kramer finished his baseball career with the New Orleans Pelicans in 1959.

Louis Frank Klein signed a professional contract with the St. Louis Cardinals organization. Klein was a versatile infielder who enjoyed a long career in baseball, including a stellar 1943 rookie season where he was second in the National League in triples (14) and at-bats (627) and helped the Cardinals capture the 1943 pennant. He appeared in five games of the 1943 World Series against the New York Yankees.

Saturday, May 29th, the 100th Anniversary of George McQuinn's Birth

Greetings Browns Fans,

Here in Arlington, Va., we're celebrating the 100th birthday of our hometown hero and the best hitter of the '44 Series, George McQuinn. And despite Ryan Zimmerman's 30-game hit streak last year, McQuinn still holds the MLB record for an Arlington resident.

Here's what we put up on our Library website: http://virginiaroomarlingtonva.blogspot.com/2010/05/arlingtons-all-star.html

Best regards,
Pete Golkin

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George McQuinn

He has no plaque in Cooperstown and you won’t find a hometown field with his name. But back in the day, George Hartley McQuinn of Arlington, Va. could pick it with the best of them. In 1938, just his first full season in the big leagues, he hit safely in 34 straight games for the lowly St. Louis Browns. Later, he hit .304 while playing for the New York Yankees.

Born in 1910, George McQuinn was a six-time All-Star and a major leaguer for 12 years. He helped win two American League pennants and a world championship ring as the unlikely spark for the 1947 Yankees. And at the end of each season, he came home to Arlington, where as a boy living near modern-day Ballston, George played ball with his five brothers. He was even named the first captain of the Washington-Lee baseball team.

Just before his final season in the big leagues, George bought himself a sporting goods store back home at 1041 N. Highland St. in Clarendon, gave it the winning brand “McQuinn’s,” and took an active role in running the place. He returned to the store for a year after his retirement following the 1948 season, but baseball wasn't finished with him yet. George managed various minor league teams, winning four championships with the Braves in Quebec. As time went on, he accepted part-time scouting positions for the Braves and then the Washington Senators while spending more time at his store and writing a concise but thorough “Guide to Better Baseball.”

Clarendon's downturn in the 1960s forced McQuinn to close his store, and he finally left baseball in 1972. He moved to Alexandria and became an apartment manager, spending more time with his family. George McQuinn died following a stroke on Christmas Eve 1978. He was 68 years old. McQuinn was never voted into Cooperstown. But in the last spring of his life, he was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in Portsmouth. His official photograph shows him wearing the Yankees uniform.

Saturday, May 29th, is the 100th anniversary of George McQuinn's birth.
http://virginiaroomarlingtonva.blogspot.com/2010/05/arlingtons-all-star.html

Browns Players Who Played Into the 1960s

* 1965 was Satchel Paige’s first major league appearance since 1953.

** In 1967, the 38-year-old Don Larsen was called up by the Cubs for 12 days, but had not played in the majors since 1965.

Veeck Gets Trophy For Firing Manager

St. Louis Browns pitcher Ned Garver presents a silver trophy on behalf of his teammates to Bill Veeck, center, Browns' president, in dressing room at Fenway Park, Boston, Ma. , a few hours after Veeck fired Rogers Hornsby as manager of the club. The trophy bears the inscription, "To Bill Veeck for the greatest play since the Emancipation Proclamation. June 10, 1952. From the Players of the St. Louis Browns."

The American Association Pennant Winners (Browns er Cardinals)

From 1882-1891 they challenged the National League toe-to-toe and almost won. They played on Sunday, charged only 25 cents to see a game (the NL charged 50) sold beer and brought a lot of new innovations to the game of baseball. Why, they even had a team that in 1886 won the World Series, the St. Louis Browns! Today, the Browns play in the National League and are known as the Cardinals.

The American Association left its imprint and its existence is still being felt to this day for if you watch the St. Louis Cardinals, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Cincinnati Reds, the Los Angeles Dodgers, you are watching teams that began in the American Association!

The American Association folded after 1891 when after being weakened by the Player's League revolt in 1890 it could no longer compete with the NL.

The American Association had something the NL never had, a club that won 4 straight pennants. Thier first pennant winner were the Cincinnati Reds, yes the same Reds. Their big dynasty were the St. Louis Browns, today's Cardinals. The Browns won four straight pennants from 1885 to 1888.

American Association Pennant Winners 1882-1891

YEAR PENNANT WINNER W-L

1882 Cincinnati Red Stockings 55-25

1883 Philadelphia Athletics 66-32

1884 New York Metropolitans 75-32

1885 St. Louis Browns 79-33

1886 St. Louis Browns 93-46

1887 St. Louis Browns 95-40

1888 St. Louis Browns 92-43

1889 Brooklyn Bridegrooms 93-44

1890 Louiville Colonels 88-44

1891 Boston Red Stockings 93-42