Veeck Made 133 Deals in 27 Months

(Click on Above Article to Enlarge)

Less Moss: Deceased

John Lester "Les" Moss (May 14, 1925 - August 29, 2012) was an American professional baseball player, coach, scout and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the St. Louis Browns for the most significant portion of his career.

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Moss began his professional baseball career in 1942 at the age of 17, playing for the Americus Pioneers of the Georgia-Florida League. In 1943 he moved up to the Class A Elmira Pioneers of the Eastern League where he posted a .308 batting average in 96 games. He missed the 1944 and 1945 seasons while serving in the Merchant Marines. He would play for the Toledo Mud Hens in 1946, hitting .297 in 121 games before, being called up late in the season to make his major league debut with the Browns on September 10.

Moss platooned alongside left-handed-hitting catcher Jake Early in 96 games during the 1947 season.  He caught the majority of the games for the Browns in 1948 while his hitting improved with a .257 average along with 14 home runs and 46 runs batted in.  In 1949, the Browns acquired 24-year-old Sherm Lollar from the New York Yankees and, Moss became the second string catcher. Moss' hitting continued to improve with a .291 average and an impressive .399 on base percentage.

On May 17, 1951, Moss was traded to the Boston Red Sox.  After producing a .198 batting average in 71 games for the Red Sox, he would be traded back to the Browns on November 28, 1951. He continued as the Browns' second string catcher backing up Clint Courtney. Moss was the Browns' catcher on May 6, 1953 when Bobo Holloman pitched a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Athletics.  In 1954, the Browns relocated to Baltimore where Moss played one full season in Baltimore before being traded to the Chicago White Sox in June 1955, where he once again served as a back up to Sherm Lollar.  He played three more seasons with the White Sox before ending his major league career after 1958.

Moss returned to the minor leagues, appearing in two games for the Indianapolis Indians in 1959 and then, appeared in three games for the San Diego Padres in 1960, before retiring as a player at the age of 35.

In a 13 year major league career, Moss played in 824 games, accumulating 552 hits in 2,234 at bats for a .247 career batting average along with 63 home runs, 276 runs batted in and a .333 on base percentage. He ended his career with a .978 fielding percentage.

St. Louis Browns/Cardinals: A Hotbed of Activity in Early 20th Century

St. Louis was a hotbed of baseball activity in the early 20th century. Two of baseball's great wars played out here-the rise of the American League and the rise and fall of the Federal League. No pennants flew over the city from 1900 to 1925, yet St. Louis teams were involved in a number of torrid pennant races.

 Here is the heyday of the St. Louis Browns and the emergence of the Cardinals, as well as a vibrant scene for semi-pro and black teams. The city had two of the greatest hitters in baseball history- George Sisler and Rogers Hornsby-and one of the game's most influential executives - Branch Rickey. Twenty-one members of the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown played baseball in St. Louis during these years.

 

Boston Braves Field 1953

(Click on Photo to Enlarge)

Ruth Taken Out for Pinch Hitter

While the following baseball event does not involve our Browns, it's a bit of baseball lore of interest. It is about Babe Ruth and the Yakees, who almost always beat up on our Browns.

On opening day of the season in 1927, the Yankees entertained the Philadelphia Athletics. It was a strong rivalry then against the beginning of Connie Mack's last great team with Lefty Grove, Jimmie Foxx, Ernshaw, Mickey Cochran, Al Simmons, Jim Dykes and others.

Ruth had held out signing that spring, and he did not show up for spring training. He waited until a day or so before the first game in early April before coming to terms. Not having batted since the 1926 World Series games against the Cardinals, Ruth was rusty. He struck out in his first 2 plate appearances. The Yankee manager, Miller Huggins (I think it was) put in a 3rd string catcher to pinch-hit for the Babe.

In 1944 I wrote to John Wray, then sports editor of the Post, about this.  He featured the incident in his column the next day. It was a rarity for anyone to pinch-hit for the great Bambino. Wray commented that Ruth was shocked. Also that he so recovered that he hit 60 homes runs that year of 1927.

(Sent in by Monsignor Jerome Sommer, St. Louis, MO)

Mighty Kratz Has Spoiled the Day

The outlook was brilliant for the Cardinal nine that day...
The score stood 7-4, only six outs in the way...
And good old Zeppo coming in, he'll get those lefties out...
But Zeppo can't locate home plate and Matheny is in doubt...
Two on, no outs, what should a manger do now?...
Mitchell Boggs will douse that fire, no runs will he allow!...
And just like that two outs ensue!...
The Philly fans are restless and some begin to boo...
And then advancing to the plate is Mighty Erik Kratz...A second string receiver with only a few at bats...
From the grandstand filled with fanatics there went up a muffled roar...
"NO, not that bum" the Philly fans implore...
With a smile of Christian charlty great Kratz's visage shone...
He stilled the rising tumult; he bade the game go on...
And now Boggs holds the ball and now he lets it go...
And now the air is shattered by the force of Kratz's blow......
Oh! Somewhere in America the sun is shining bright...
A band is playing somewhere and in Philly hearts are light...And somewhere folks are laughing and somewhere children play...
But there's no joy in Cardinal Nation...
Mighty Kratz has spoiled the day.....

Bud Kane 

Thomas Phelps, Deceased

Tom Phelps died this past Thursday, August 9, 2012 at the age of 68 of cancer. Tom's wife, Trent Barnes Phelps of St. Louis, is the granddaughter of Donald L.Barnes, owner of the St. Louis Browns from 1936-1944.

Tom served as trustee for the Donald L. Barnes Foundation charitable trust and for over fifteen years he served as trustee for the Brehm Preparatory School, Carbondale, Illinois, serving students with learning disabilities.

Mr. Phelps made a sizable donation to the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame in the name of the Donald L. Barnes family. In addition he donated 7 boxes of STL Browns memorabilia, much of which is on display at the Browns exhibit at the Scottrade Center.

 Friends are invited to attend the Memorial Service to be conducted at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 101 N. Warson Road, at Ladue Road, Ladue, on Friday, August 17, 2012 at 11:00 a.m.

More information is available at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/stltoday/obituary.aspx?n=thomas-edward-phelps&pid=159086332#fbLoggedOut

Browns Display Part of Urban Beautification Project

Last November Jacob Schmidt took out the trash. It was not for the first time; Schmidt, 18, has been taking out the trash of his Compton Heights home for years now. But this trip was different.

"I don't know what made me really notice it that day, but it just struck me how Dumpsters are everywhere, and they are incredibly ugly," Schmidt said. "I started looking at all of these ugly things —Dumpsters, billboards and I realized these are normal and accepted in city life.

Schmidt decided to do something about it. With permission from the city, he painted two Dumpsters in his alley. From there, he met with St. Louis streets officials. Schmidt wanted to paint 100 alley Dumpsters, but streets officials worried some folks wouldn't be able to tell the difference between their recycling and trash Dumpsters. And inevitably some residents would grouse that they prefer their army-green Dumpster to a brightly colored work of contemporary art.

Bill Rogers, Browns Fan Club President, contacted Schmidt and Megan Rieke to see if we could put some St. Louis baseball history on display as part of the project. Megan did the work personally. Pictured is her rendition of the St. Louis Browns recognizing their winning the American League pennant in 1944.

The Dumpsters are 20 feet long by 8 feet tall, with protruding ribs and bars — not exactly a flat canvas. Schmidt's team of professional and amateur artists have transformed the Dumpsters into panoramas of racing cyclists, bursting fireworks, the Milky Way and abstract street scenes.

"It becomes a traveling art show," Schmidt said. (Click on photos to enlarge)

The working conditions are miserable; they've been laboring daily on the scorching blacktop of a streets department parking lot all month. The pay is lousy; Schmidt chose to forego summer in New Hampshire to run the all-volunteer project. Schmidt raised about $4,000 to pay for 80 gallons of paint and 150 cans of spray paint through an online Kickstarter campaign.

Artist Megan Rieke of Kirkwood donated to the campaign, and then offered to help and get her friends involved. (Click on photos to enlarge)

"I like the idea of free beauty," said Rieke, who painted the cyclists as well as a mural of a VW bus. "As an artist, I know artists need to sell their work to survive, but I also like the idea that art can and should be anywhere, even on a trash Dumpster."

Flake hopes to bring Schmidt back next summer to paint the city's truck beds. He thinks colorful trucks would bring the same whimsy to city streets as the popular Cardinals, Rams and Blues street sweepers do.

(Click on Photos to Enlarge)

At the start below

Rube Waddell & his Browns Mascot

MLB: Five biggest Forgotten Legends Includes a Brownie

By Kenny Servera
July 22, 2012

In the Major Leagues, there are many players who have the statistics to make it in the Hall of Fame. As baseball fans, we often get caught up in the luster surrounding the superstars of the game and as a result, we tend to harp on them and thus forget about the other key contributors who stayed out of the spotlight. Here are the five biggest forgotten legends:

5. Pete Gray- St Louis Browns- Not many people remember his name, but Gray is known for being the only player in Major League history to play with one arm. He lost right arm in a childhood accident. Gray played one season with the St. Louis Browns for a single season during World War II. In his brief career, Grey hit .218 with 13 RBIs and five stolen bases.

Gray attained a minor league batting average of .333 and a stolen-base record of 63; as a result, he was named the 1944 Southern League Most Valuable Player. On May 19, he played in Yankee Stadium, collecting five hits and two RBI as the Browns swept the Yankees.

4. Denny McLain- Detroit Tigers- In 1968, he went 31-6 with a 1.96 ERA. The right-hander also tossed 28 complete games as he took home both the AL Cy Young and MVP Awards in leading his team to the World Series against the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals. You don’t see pitchers win 30 games in this day and age.

3. Mickey Lolich- Detroit Tigers- Another pitcher from the famous Tigers 1968 pitching staff. The lanky lefty went 17-9 with a 3.19 ERA that year, overall very respectable numbers. When the postseason rolled around, he gave his best performance. Against the Cardinals, Lolich went 3-0 in three World Series starts, posting a 1.67 ERA and tossing a complete game each time.

2. Jack Chesbro- New York Yankees- “Happy Jack” had the most memorable season ever in 1904. Chesbro went 41-12 with a 1.82 ERA in tossing an astounding 454.2 innings. His record still stands.

1. Dick Allen - For his career, he hit .292 with 351 homers and 1,119 RBI. Allen was the African-American player in the state of Arkansas, where the Phillies Triple-A team played in Little Rock, a hotbed of racial tension. Allen did his best work amidst the tension, leading the International League with 12 triples, 33 homers, 97 RBI’s and a .289 batting average. His bad attitude was legendary on and off the field.

On May 19, he played in Yankee Stadium,^[3] collecting five hits and two RBI as the Browns swept the Yankees.

Browns Luncheon Video on TV and Computer Streaming

The St. Louis Browns 2012 luncheon from June 14 will be broadcast on CharterCable and AT&T in St. Louis. Check below for time and channel.

Charter - Channel 994
AT&T  - Channel 99 (Follow instructions and click on Black Jack GNTV)

Saturday  -  5:00 p.m. July 21
Sunday    -  10:00 a.m. July 22
Wednesday - 7:00 p.m. July 25

You can also watch the program on your iPad, laptop or desktop PC. Visit http://www.gtntv.com.

Brown-hearted (not downhearted) fans remember the joys of team

Regarding "Remember the Browns" (July 8): What a trip down memory lane! It was heartening to read the reverie on the St. Louis Browns. When I was inspired to form a Browns fan club 28 years ago, after attending the induction of former Brooklyn shortstop Pee Wee Reese, I never thought it would last this long. That of itself is a tribute to the players and fans who have given sustenance to our meager efforts for more than a quarter of a century. The late Erv Fischer and I nearly pulled the

plug on the club several times. We had more "last dinners" than the Browns had eighth-place finishes. The fan club's strength today — just look at the wonderful exhibit at the Scottrade Center — is a tribute to the leadership of our chief operating officer, Bill Rogers, and his able assistant, Emmett McAuliffe. They not only got us out of the 20th century, but they also have made us look forward to the 22nd century.plug on the club several times. We had more "last dinners" than the Browns had eighth-place finishes. The fan club's strength today — just look at the wonderful exhibit at the Scottrade Center — is a tribute to the leadership of our chief operating officer, Bill Rogers, and his able assistant, Emmett McAuliffe. They not only got us out of the 20th century, but they also have made us look forward to the 22nd century.plug on the club several times. We had more "last dinners" than the Browns had eighth-place finishes. The fan club's strength today — just look at the wonderful exhibit at the Scottrade Center — is a tribute to the leadership of our chief operating officer, Bill Rogers, and his able assistant, Emmett McAuliffe. They not only got us out of the 20th century, but they also have made us look forward to the 22nd century.

The exhibit is the next-to-last jewel in the crown I envisioned for the St. Louis Browns after our many, many publications, which have helped to establish their written record. I established our mission statement mantra when I said that our purpose was to "resurrect and maintain the historical memory of the old St. Louis Browns."
The last jewel? A research center in some library or university where we could house our printed materials and archives. Once that happens, I think I could say "mission accomplished!"

I also thank old friend Bob Costas for his financial and personal interest in our team. We first met in 1974 when he was with the Spirits. From that experience, Mr. Costas grew to appreciate "dead teams." As I would like to tell him some day, the Browns made his Yankees the success they became. In the late 1920s, the Yankees' Murderers' Row won 37 straight from St. Louis.

As a fan used to say: We are Brown-hearted, not downhearted.

Bill Borst • Richmond Heights

Founder and first president, Browns Fan Club

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-to-the-editor-july/article_0356f081-6673-50b0-9dab-5ff534f1aa9c.html#ixzz20KQ4kaU0

Congratulations to the Orioles on being five games over .500 at the All-Star break

Hopefully on their way to their first winning season in 13 years!

(Those dirty Cardinals, always trying to one up the Browns, are six games over .500 at the All-Star break.  :-) )

The display stands alone by Section 333 at Scottrade Center. A video plays from the center console, and the voice of Bob Costas drifts down the deserted upper concourse. Behind the glass are sets of trading cards, an aerial photo of Sportsman's Park and, in the right corner, a baseball weathered by time.

The memorabilia, ordered chronologically, tells a story. "Ball Used in Last Game — Sept. 27, 1953," a sign next to the baseball reads.

The St. Louis Browns exhibit is the newest addition to the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame, a collection of similar exhibits spread across the arena. On the lower concourse you can find ones dedicated to the Cardinals, the Blues and the Hawks, as well as one to the Hall's inaugural class.

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/sports/other/remember-the-browns/article_4f4f1bb3-fefe-52d2-a74a-989e5257e4b6.html#ixzz1zx6WIw20

Browns Fans/Player Reunion 2012

St. Louis Post Dispatch, June 18, 2012

Adam Whitaker opened his car trunk and pulled out a large video camera. He handed a tripod to his 13-year-old brother, Nick, then headed to the door of the Holiday Inn in Sunset Hills.

The two brothers had driven from Springfield, Mo., to tape a documentary about Thursday's annual 2012 St. Louis Browns Luncheon. Whitaker, 29, a freelance filmmaker, wanted to know why a team that left St. Louis in 1954 still attracted more than 200 people.

"Actually, I'm a Cardinals fan myself," he said with a smile. "I think this is really interesting, though. Browns fans are pretty passionate."

Logically, the Browns, or "Brownies," should not inspire much loyalty. From 1902 to 1953, the cash-strapped team had a collective record of 3,414 wins and 4,465 losses. It won one pennant in 1944, only to lose to the Cardinals in the World Series. Then, the franchise moved to Baltimore and became the Orioles.

Photo - Ned Garver & Bud Thomas signing autographs for fans. Click on photo to enlarge.

I asked South County resident Bill Rogers, the president of the St. Louis Browns Historical Society, why the fans still love the team.

"I've thought about that many times," Rogers, 75, said. "Anybody can root for the winners, but not everybody can root for the losers. The Browns was a losing team, but the players weren't losers. They played their hearts out every game."

The Browns had some good players, including Hall of Famer George Sisler. Management had to trade many of them for money, Rogers said.

Fans have embraced all of the Browns, no matter how long they were with the team. They still remember John "Bud" Thomas, 83, who played shortstop from Sept. 2 to Sept. 29, 1951. He played for just 27 days, but that's enough for them.

I must confess my own connection to the Browns. My father, William, an excellent catcher at CBC High School, often caught batting practice or warmed up pitchers at Browns home games. My grandparents, Frank and Helen Bandle, were at the famed Aug. 18, 1951, game when Eddie Gaedel, all 3 feet 7 inches of him, came to the plate against Detroit and drew a walk on four pitches.

For many of the fans, there also is a connection to past generations.

South County resident Erik Delucia, 42, stood in line to get autographs from several of the Browns players. He remembered how his father and grandfather told stories about the Browns.

"When my dad was a kid, he'd collect bottles at Sportsman's Park for the deposits," Delucia said. "Can you imagine having glass bottles at Busch Stadium now? I became a big baseball fan and I like to collect autographs and photos. The Browns are one of my favorites."

Not all of the fans had gray hair. Stephen Cole, 11, of St. Charles, got an autograph from St. Louis resident Roy Sievers, the 1949 American League Rookie of the Year.

When asked why he was a Browns fan, Stephen simply replied, "Because I can."

He was influenced by his father, Bill, 54, who remembered how his mother talked about the Browns. "She said that during the 1944 World Series, almost everyone cheered for the Browns," he said. "The Browns taught some life lessons, like that you can't win them all, but you have to try."

Emmett McAuliffe, a member of the society's board of directors, thinks fans stayed loyal because the Browns remained part of St. Louis history. Unlike the Braves, Giants and Dodgers, who took their names to new cities, the Browns are forever linked with St. Louis.

"They kind of represent the Golden Age of baseball to a lot of people," McAuliffe said.

The Browns players themselves are a vanishing breed. Only 32 are alive and 13 of them are in their 90s.

However, they were having fun at the luncheon. The fans' devotion is a mystery that delights them.

"It's just amazing they still know us," said Sievers, 85, who played for the Browns from 1948 to 1952. "I always feel honored when they want my autograph."

Pitcher Ned Garver, 86, threw for St. Louis from 1948 to 1952. He admitted he had no clue about the fans' devotion.

"We weren't good," Garver said. "I don't know why. All of us players get a charge coming here, signing autographs and meeting people."

It was time to start the festivities. The players, some with the help of canes, slowly walked to their places at the head table. It was time to eat, but people began to form lines for more autographs.

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/suburban-journals/metro/life/hour-story-browns-fans-stand-the-test-of-time/article_c5878797-622c-501e-b422-9f2b922c2fac.html#ixzz1zwyXzvdW

STL Browns Fan Club Draws Over 210 Fans to Annual Reunion

If you were there, you were a part of the action. If you could not attend, you missed Hall of Fame Sportscaster, Milo Hamilton's closing remarks and a standing ovation. Here's a few photos of the reunion from June 14, 2012.
Click on photos to enlarge.

Bill Borst, Ned Garver, Denise Rivlin

Ron Paul & Phil Barry

Milo Hamilton, St. Louis Browns Announcer, 1953

Milo Hamilton & Bill Rogers

Click on photos to enlarge

Don Gutteridge Sculpture Underway

Pittsburg, Kansas baseball legend Don Gutteridge would have celebrated his 100th birthday June 19. The Gutteridge Foundation had dreamed of unveiling a lifesize bronze sculpture of Gutteridge (1912-2008) inside the entrance at JayCee Ballpark, nominal home of the Don Gutteridge League and youth baseball in Pittsburg, on his birthday.

The Gutteridge Foundation chose three sculpture options for donors: 1) Gutteridge, bat in his right hand, kneeling on his first day as a St. Louis Cardinal; 2) Gutteridge swinging later in his career; 3) fan-submitted photos.

The 5-foot-10, 165-pound infielder made his Major League debut Sept. 7, 1936 and his 12-year career at second base, third base and shortstop ended on May 9, 1948.

Gutteridge made stops with the St. Louis Browns (1942-1945), the St. Louis Cardinals (1936-1940), the Boston Red Sox (1946-1947) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (1948) — finishing his career with a .256 batting average, 200 doubles, 64 triples, 39 home runs, 391 RBI and 95 stolen bases.

Three times over his 12-year career, Gutteridge finished in the Top 20 of the American League MVP race — 17th in 1942, 18th in 1943 and 19th in 1944, all years he played on the Browns.

He played in the 1944 and 1946 World Series, 1944 with the Browns and 1946 with the Red Sox, both against his former team of the St. Louis Cardinals. Gutteridge batted .192 (5-for-26) with one double and one RBI and was the first batter in the all-St. Louis World Series of 1944.

Gutteridge played alongside 12 Hall-of-Famers during his career: Walter Alston, Dizzy Dean, Bobby Doerr, Leo Durocher, Rick Ferrell, Frankie Frisch, Jesse Haines, Ralph Kiner, Joe Medwick, Johnny Mize, Enos Slaughter and Ted Williams.

He later managed the Chicago White Sox during the 1969 and 1970 seasons after coaching in the White Sox organization for nearly 20 years. Gutteridge worked as a scout for the Kansas City Royals, the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers, finishing his baseball career with six World Series rings.

Through it all, he never forgot his true home was Pittsburg, Kansas. For more information, please check out http://www.gutteridgefoundation.org.

Browns Fans Already Signing Up for 2013 Players-Fans Reunion

One day after the 2012 St. Louis Browns Fans and Player Reunion, Ken Potter was on the phone making his reservation for the 2013 luncheon. When informed the 2013 reunion had not yet been scheduled, Ken replied, "That's all right. I will be there regardless of the date and location. I just want to be first in line." Ken was one of 209 other fans who attended the recent reunion at the Holiday Inn Viking in St. Louis County.

Pictured below is Bill Borst, founder of the STL Browns Historical Society; Ned Garver, former Browns pitcher and Denise Rivlin, Browns Fan Club Member. Click to enlarge photo.

Bill Rogers, President of the Fan Club, said he was already fielding questions as to how the fan club will top this year's program. Rogers said, "This has become a common question ever since we had Mike Veeck, son of Bill Veeck, the last owner of the Browns as our speaker in 2009. This was followed in 2010 with Tommy Lasorda and Bob Costas as speakers and then followed with Whitey Herzog, Bob Turley and Ned Garver last year.

This year's speakers included Milo Hamilton, broadcaster for the Houston Astros who started his baseball broadcast career with the St. Louis Browns in 1953 broadcasting televised games. Hamilton is one of six living members of the Broadcaster's Wing of the baseball Hall of Fame. He has called some 9,000 games and worked for six major league clubs. He has called many famous events with the most famous play-by-play call of all time - Hank Aaron's number 715.

Ned Garver, with his stories and yarns, is an annual favorite. Ned pitched for the Browns from 1948 to 1952. He was a 20-game winner in 1951 when the team lost 100 games and finished in last place.

Who would you like to see at a future Fans & Browns reunion?  Drop us a note and we'll do our best to see if the former Brownie can make our reunion gathering. Send to stlbrowns@swbell.net.

Browns Fans Stand the Test of Time

Adam Whitaker opened his car trunk and pulled out a large video camera. He handed a tripod to his 13-year-old brother, Nick, then headed to the door of the Holiday Inn in Sunset Hills.

The two brothers had driven from Springfield, Mo., to tape a documentary about Thursday's annual 2012 St. Louis Browns Luncheon. Whitaker, 29, a freelance filmmaker, wanted to know why a team that left St. Louis in 1954 still attracted more than 200 people.

"Actually, I'm a Cardinals fan myself," he said with a smile. "I think this is really interesting, though. Browns fans are pretty passionate."

Logically, the Browns, or "Brownies," should not inspire much loyalty. From 1902 to 1953, the cash-strapped team had a collective record of 3,414 wins and 4,465 losses. It won one pennant in 1944, only to lose to the Cardinals in the World Series. Then, the franchise moved to Baltimore and became the Orioles.

Pictured above L-R is Bill Rogers, President of the St. Louis Browns Fan Club with Ned Garver, pitcher for the Browns from 1948-1952.

Read moreof this story at:
http://www.stltoday.com/suburban-journals/metro/life/hour-story-browns-fans-stand-the-test-of-time/article_c5878797-622c-501e-b422-9f2b922c2fac.html#ixzz1yBGnGppc

Local St. Louis Baseball Legends At STL Browns Fans-Players Reunion

St. Louis, MO  June 15, 2012 - How many baseball Rookie's of the Year prior to 1950 are still around? There's only one and he lives here in St. Louis. That's Roy Sievers, American League Rookie of the Year in 1949 with the St. Louis Browns.

How many pitchers are still around who won 20 games in a year while his team lost 100 games and finished in last place? There's only one and it's Ned Garver who achieved this distinction in 1951 with the St. Louis Browns.
How many sports broadcasters who called games for the St. Louis Browns are still around? Just one and is Milo Hamilton. Milo broadcast Browns games on television in 1953 over channel 54 WTVI in Belleville, IL.

All three of these greats along with other former Browns players gathered at a Fans-Players Reunion on June 14 at the Holiday Inn in Sunset Hills in St. Louis County.  Other Browns players present included Don Lenhardt, JW Porter and Bud Thomas. Over 210 fans were in attendance to hear stories of baseball past.

The program included a video history of the Browns narrated by Bob Costas. The Browns played in St. Louis from 1902 through the 1953 season before moving to Baltimore. They play today as the Baltimore Orioles.

The Browns were the predominant team in St. Louis until the mid 20s when the Cardinals took over this role. The Browns built St. Louis' first major stadium in St. Louis, Sportsman's Park, in North St. Louis and rented it to the Cardinals. The two teams shared the same ballpark for more than 30 years.  It's believed more major league baseball games were played here than any other stadium in the country.

The Browns won only one pennant in their history and played the Cardinals in an all-St. Louis World Series in 1944. A video of the 1944 World Series is available from the Browns Historical Society.

Roy Sievers is a 5-time all star, 1949 Rookie of the Year, 1957 AL home run champion and the 1957 AL RBI champion. Sievers also played for the Washington Senators, Chicago White Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies during his career.

Ned Garver was with the Browns from 1948 to 1952. He was the starting pitcher in the 1951 All Star game. He also played with the Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Athletics and the Los Angeles Angels.

Milo Hamilton started his major league broadcast career with the Browns in 1953. It’s easy to speak of Milo Hamilton in terms of baseball history. The voice of the Houston Astros today is one of six living members of the Broadcaster’s Wing of the baseball Hall of Fame. Hamilton has called some 9,000 games, worked for six major league clubs and has, arguably, the most famous play-by-play call of all-time - Hank Aaron’s number 715.

 If you were there, you were a part of the action. If you could not attend, you missed Milo's closing remarks and a standing ovation.

GO BROWNS, er GO BALTIMORE

Browns Fan Club Announces Reunion Lunch for 2012

Browns Broadcaster Hamilton, First Time Ever at Brownie Reunion Luncheon: Tickets Going Fast for June 14 at the Viking 

The St. Louis Browns Fan Club annual reunion luncheon is fast approaching. It is Flag Day, June 14, 2012.  The location is the Holiday Inn St. Louis Southwest - Viking Conference Center (in Sunset Hills). (This is the same location as the two previous lunches).  As usual, all living Brownie players (of which there are currently only 32) are invited back to say a few words to the club.  A special guest speaker this year however, making his first appearance at the luncheon, will be Browns play-by-play announcer and Hall of Fame sportscaster Milo Hamilton.  Milo started his major league broadcasting career with the Browns in 1953, broadcasting games on WTVI-TV (now known as KTVI-TV/Fox 2 St. Louis).  


To make a reservation for the luncheon, click on the PayPal link above. 

Club President, Bill Rogers commented, "This location is almost ideal as it is near two major interstate highways, offers free parking and the main ballroom is on the main floor, just a short distance from the entrance. While banquet type lunches are growing in cost, the Holiday Inn offers a very competitive venue. We've had some exciting and entertaining speakers the past several years and hope to achieve this status again this year. We will be announcing speakers scheduled in a couple of weeks."

Keynote speakers in recent years included Whitey Herzog, Bob Turley, Ned Garver, Tommy Lasorda, Bob Costas, Mike Veeck, Roland Hemon and many former Browns players.

Last year's program drew over 280 fans. Rogers said, "We plan to offer some interesting team displays along with an autograph session this year."  A mailing will be made to all fan club members with a reservation form and more details. Check back to this Internet site for information in the weeks ahead.

Quotes From Yogi Berra, a St. Louis Favorite

"All pitchers are liars or crybabies."

"A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore." Source: Baseball Digest (June 1987)

"Baseball is ninety percent mental. The other half is physical."

"Bill Dickey is learning me his experience."  [Bill Dickey was a Hal of Fame Yankee catcher from an earlier era.]

"He hits from both sides of the plate. He's amphibious."

"How can a you hit and think at the same time?"

"I always thought that record would stand until it was broken."

"I can see how he (Sandy Koufax) won twenty-five games. What I don't understand is how he lost five."

"I don't know (if they were men or women fans running naked across the field). They had bags over their heads."

"If people don't want to come out to the ballpark, how are you going to stop them?"

"I'm a lucky guy and I'm happy to be with the Yankees. And I want to thank everyone for making this night necessary."

"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did."

"In baseball, you don't know nothing."

"I never blame myself when I'm not hitting. I just blame the bat and if it keeps up, I change bats. After all, if I know it isn't my fault that I'm not hitting, how can I get mad at myself?"

"I never said most of the things I said."

"It ain't the heat, it's the humility."

"It gets late early out there."

"I think Little League is wonderful. It keeps the kids out of the house."

"It's like deja vu all over again."

"I wish everybody had the drive he (Joe DiMaggio) had.  He never did anything wrong on the field.  I'd never seen him dive for a ball, everything was a chest-high catch, and he never walked off the field."

"Little League baseball is a very good thing because it keeps the parents off the streets." Source: Catcher in the Wry (Bob Uecker)

"Ninety percent of this game is half mental." Source: Sports Illustrated (May 14, 1979)

"Nobody goes there anymore because it's too crowded."

"So I'm ugly.  I never saw anyone hit with his face."

"Take it with a grin of salt."

"The game's isn't over until it's over."

"The towels were so thick there I could hardly close my suitcase."

"You can observe a lot just by watching."

"You should always go to other people's funerals, otherwise, they won't come to yours."

"You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going because you might not get there."

"We made too many wrong mistakes."

"When you come to a fork in the road, take it."

Yogi Berra was named to American League All-Star teams during fifteen consecutive seasons.  Do you remember which seasons they were?

Did you know that Yogi Berra was one of the few catchers ever awarded the Most Valuable Player Award and he won it three times — 1951, 1954 and 1955.