The High School Kid Who Hit it Out of The Park

We know this may be impossible to read, but you can click anywhere on the letter to enlarge it. It's a great piece of history. It's not too often we come across a document of note that is 90 years old. You can also read a featured article about how Lou Gehrig was almost a member of the St. Louis Browns. It's part of the Fall 2010 of Pop Flies, the official publication of the St. Louis Browns Historical Society. You can join by clicking on the BUY NOW bar in the upper right hand corner of the first page of this blog. We will rush a copy to you.

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St. Louis Auction Featured Browns Memorabilia

Members of the St. Louis Browns Historical Society were on hand at a recent auction for one of the last living World War II-era St. Louis sportswriters/reporter who covered the Browns. Jon Hagar (about age 90) saved every scorecard from the Cardinals and Browns games that he covered. He worked for the St. Louis Star-Times 1943/44 to 1946 and had some assignments from William DeWitt (Browns). 

Here are a few of the photos of memorabilia at the auction.  (Click on photos to enlarge)

Pictured above (L-R) Dwayne Isgrigg, John Hagar and Emmett McAuliffe (Browns Fan Club)

(Click on photos to enlarge)

Orioles Break Franchise Record for Consecutive Last-Place Finishes

The 2010 Orioles have broken the franchise record for consecutive last-place finishes, with three. The previous record was two consecutive seasons, posted by the 1910 and 1911 St. Louis Browns.

Despite their reputation as “St. Louis, First in Shoes, First in Booze, and last in the American League”, the Browns in their 52-year history avoided finishing in the cellar two years in a row, except for that one instance in their first decade.

It is to be noted:

  1. the Orioles play in a five-team division whereas the Browns played in an eight-team league.

  2. There is an expansion team in the division, however, the Tampa Bay Rays.

  3. If it were not for the Devil Rays, the Orioles would have finished in last place 12 out of the last 13 seasons.

In order to avoid a fourth-straight last place finish in 2011, the Orioles will have to make up at least 19 games between them and their 4th-place rival.

But there is great hope for the Orioles to do exactly that, under new manager Buck Showalter. Go O’s!

Hall of Fame hitters who played for the Browns but never played in a World Series

Not every ball player who is in the Baseball Hall of Fame played in the World Series. Here are two Browns' hitters whose skills with the bat and glove earned them membership in the Hall of Fame, but who never played in the World Series.

Rick Ferrell

Rick Ferrell was an excellent defensive catcher who played from 1929 through 1945, and returned again in 1947. Ferrell played for the St. Louis Browns, Washington Senators, and Boston Red Sox. Ferrell had a .281 lifetime batting average and struck out just 277 times in 7072 plate appearances. Rick Ferrell was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1964.

George Sisler

First Baseman George Sisler spent 15 years in the big leagues from 1915 through 1930, missing the 1923 season. Most of his career was spent with the St. Louis Browns, but he also played for the Washington Senators and Boston Braves. Sisler could hit for average and drive in runs, and was swift on the base paths with 375 career stolen bases. Sisler put up some incredible numbers. In 1920, Sisler won the first of two American League batting titles with a .407 average; he also hit 19 home runs and drove in 122, plus he stole 42 bases. His 257 base hits was the major league record single season record until 2004, when it was broken by Ichiro Suzuki(notes). In 1922, Sisler hit .420, drove in over 100 runs, and stole 51 bases. Sisler had a lifetime batting average of .340. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1939.