Some of the Strangest Characters in Baseball in 1944-45

Some of the strangest characters in baseball history emerged during the war. In 1944, the Cincinnati Reds sent 15-year-old Joe Nuxhall to the mound to pitch. He was the youngest player in Major League history and played like it as well. Not lasting even an inning, he gave up five earned runs and faced only nine batters.

Eight years later, he would re-emerge as a very good pitcher and play until 1966.

Probably the most storied case of a has-been or never-should-have-been making it to the majors was that of Pete Gray. Pete was right-handed until he lost his right arm, at age 6, when he slipped while riding on a farmer’s wagon and his right arm was caught in the spokes. The arm had to be amputated above the elbow.

Gray played in the Majors for only one season with the St. Louis Browns, but racked up 51 hits in 234 at-bats. He hit two triples and carried a batting average of .218. Interestingly, he only struck out 11 times all season. In 61 games in the field, he only allowed seven errors.

This Day In Baseball May 14: Babe Beats Browns

May 14, 1919 — Babe Ruth won a game on the mound and at the plate. He hit his first career grand slam as the Boston Red Sox beat the St. Louis Browns 6-4.

Bill McClellan Says "Sometimes doing the obvious is best, even for geniuses"

Bill's column of April 8, 2009 includes a possible suggestion for the Cardinals.

In August 1951, Bill Veeck, who owned the St. Louis Browns, had a promotion called Grandstand Manager Day. Thousands of fans were given signs. On one side, the signs said "Yes," and on the other side, "No." As the game developed, Public Relations Director Bob Fischel would hold up cards - Steal, Bunt, Change Pitcher.

The fans facing the Browns dugout would vote. (The opposing team couldn't see the vote.) Fischel would relay the decision to manager Zack Taylor, who sat in a rocking chair, puffing at a pipe.

Newspaper accounts say the fans called a fine game. The Browns won 5-3 and broke a four-game losing streak.

That's a bit of St. Louis baseball history that probably gives LaRussa nightmares.

Thanks for the reminder, Bill. (Bill McClellan is a writer for the St. Louis Post Dispatch)

Red Sox great Dom DiMaggio, Joe's brother, dies

Dom DiMaggio, who despite having to share an outfield with Ted Williams and a name with his older brother Joe became a diamond standout in his own right, earning All-Star status seven times during 11 seasons with the Red Sox, died at age 92.

DiMaggio died at his home in Marion of complications after a recent bout with pneumonia, the Red Sox said in a statement. (Click on photo to enlarge)

The author David Halberstam described Mr. DiMaggio as “probably the most underrated player of his day.” Playing in the shadow of the era’s two biggest superstars made that inevitable, perhaps. But neither of his great contemporaries failed to appreciate Mr. DiMaggio’s talents. Williams considered him “the best leadoff man in the American League,” and his older brother called him “the best defensive outfielder I’ve ever seen.”

Elected to the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1995, Mr. DiMaggio spent his major league career in Boston, playing for the Sox from 1940 to 1942, then from 1946 to 1953. He lost three seasons to wartime service in the Navy.

Mr. DiMaggio, who stood 5-feet-9-inches tall and wore eyeglasses, was nicknamed “the Little Professor,” a tribute to his intelligence on the field as well as his scholarly mien and slight stature. Along with canniness, Mr. DiMaggio brought quickness and speed to the Red Sox lineup. He led the American League in stolen bases in 1950, with 15 (the lowest figure ever to lead either major league in that category). He also led the league that year in triples, with 11.

Mr. DiMaggio had a lifetime batting average of .298. He scored more than 100 runs seven times, twice leading the American League in that category. He hit safely in 34 consecutive games, a Red Sox record, in 1949. Two years later, he hit safely in 27 consecutive games.

Mr. DiMaggio’s skill as a hitter inadvertently helped create one of the darkest moments in Red Sox history, their defeat at the hands of the St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh and deciding game of the 1946 World Series. In the top of the eight inning, he doubled home two runs to tie the game at 3-3 — but pulled a hamstring on the way to second base.

Leon Culberson replaced him in center field. In the bottom of the eighth, with two outs, the Cardinals’ Enos Slaughter tried to score from first on a single. Culberson was slow to field the ball, then made a mediocre throw to shortstop Johnny Pesky, whose throw home was too little, too late. Slaughter was safe, giving the Cardinals the lead and, half an inning later, the championship.

“If they hadn’t taken DiMaggio out of the game,” Slaughter later said of his daring sprint, “I wouldn’t have tried it.”

Mr. DiMaggio, who had started in baseball as a shortstop, played the outfield like an infielder. He specialized in charging balls hit through the infield and using his powerful throwing arm to cut down advancing runners. (Slaughter had good reason to be leery of Mr. DiMaggio: He threw out three runners in the ’46 Series.) He was also celebrated for his range, using his quickness to get a good jump on the ball and positioning his body to face left field rather than home plate, which he felt saved him a step on balls hit in front of him.

“He was the easiest outfielder I ever played with,” Williams said. “When he yelled ‘Mine!’ you didn’t have to worry about the rest of that play.” Williams was uniquely qualified to comment on Mr. DiMaggio’s fielding ability. It was often said that because of his teammate’s slowness afoot Mr. DiMaggio had responsibility for both his own center-field position and Williams’ in left.

One of Williams’ closest friends, Mr. DiMaggio begrudged the Splendid Splinter neither his interrogations nor his preeminence with the Red Sox. Relations with his brother were more charged. Mr. DiMaggio never suggested he was the superior ballplayer. “I can do two things better than he can,” he would say when asked to compare himself to Joe, “play pinochle and speak Italian.” He did, however, resent those who saw him only in terms of Joltin’ Joe.

The two DiMaggios played the same position (as did an older brother, Vince, who spent 10 seasons playing in the National League). They played for teams that were each other’s fiercest rival. Joe’s most famous achievement was hitting safely in 56 consecutive games. Having hit safely in 34 straight games, Dom found his own streak ended when Joe made the put-out on his final at-bat of what would have been the 35th game.

Without the St. Louis Browns, St. Louis fans would never have seen the likes of Dom and Joe DiMaggio along with the many other stars in baseball.

For more on Dom DiMaggio, visit: http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/05/former_red_sox_1.html

Browns Fan Club Luncheon Video & Photos

Memories and good times came pouring out during the St. Louis Browns Fan Club Luncheon on April 28 honoring two surviving players from the Browns' pennant winning season of 1944. Honorees were Babe Martin and Al LaMacchia.

Other Browns players present included Roy Sievers, Bud Thomas, and Ed Mickelson. Rosanne Delsing, wife of former Brown, Jim Delsing, was also in attendance along with Bud Byerly who pitched for the Cardinals against the Browns during the 1944 World Series.

More than 140 Browns fans enjoyed the baseball history program and look forward to the next. The Fan Club will celebrate its 25th anniversary at a dinner on October 8, 2009. Some "surprise" guests are already booked and more are expected. Mark your calendar.

A short video is available from the lunch at: http://videos.stltoday.com/p/video?id=3940288

The following are photos from the event. (Note: Click on photos to enlarge)

Mark Your Calendar - October 8, 2009

Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the
St. Louis Browns Fan Club . . .
With special guests and surprises.

We have replies from nine former players of the Browns saying they plan to attend. We have already drafted a tentative program that includes an afternoon session talking baseball with some of the players; a cocktail hour followed by dinner. A lineup of first-time speakers talking Browns baseball. Be on the lookout for information about the World’s longest baseball game . . . which involves the Browns. And a full weekend of baseball as an option. All coming in October.

To receive a priority notice for the 25th Anniversary Dinner, send an email to: stlbrowns@swbell.net saying "Add me to the Browns mail list."

For more information, click here to download a pdf flyer.

The Rajah Was A Brownie, Too

Rogers Hornsby was born on April 27, 1896 in Winters (Runnels County, between Abilene and San Angelo). He died Jan. 5, 1963 in Chicago. Nicknamed "The Rajah", was a Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. Hornsby's first name, Rogers, was his mother's maiden name. He spent the majority of his playing career with the St. Louis Cardinals, though he also had stints with the Chicago Cubs, Boston Braves, and New York Giants, He ended his career as the player-manager of the St. Louis Browns.

Hornsby is the greatest hitter who regularly played a position other than outfield or first base, and he is arguably history's best right-handed hitter. He is the only player to win the National League Triple Crown twice. His career batting average of .358 is the highest in National League history, and highest in major league history for any right-handed hitter. His batting average for the 1924 season was .424, a mark that no player since has matched. The Baseball Hall of Fame elected Hornsby in 1942. He has also been given a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame.

Today in Baseball: April 22

1922 - Ken Williams of the St. Louis Browns hit three home runs against Chicago.

The .900-.100 club

When the 10-1 Marlins played the 1-9 Nationals on Sunday, it inspired loyal reader Matt McCall to wonder: Has any team with a .900 winning percentage ever played a team with a .100 winning percentage that many games deep into a season?

So he started searching. Last matchup of a .900 juggernaut versus a .100 disaster: April 29, 1892, when the 10-1 Boston Red Sox met the 1-9 St. Louis Browns -- and the Browns actually won (4-0).

Closest call in the last century: a 1980 duel between the 9-1 Reds and the 1-8 Braves. Definitely the loyal-reader note of the year.

The Browns on TV in 1950?

Were the Browns on television in 1950? Based on this ID card from Harry Schake in Springfield, IL, it appears they were. We will be visiting with Harry during the Browns luncheon on April 28 and will get more details.

Stay tuned.
.

Click on Photo to enlarge.

PETE GRAY BELONGS ON OVERSEAS SQUAD

From the Sporting News, 9/9/43, sent in by Dave McGregor

Although the projected overseas baseball tour presumably is designed for major leaguers only, two former stars and one active minor leaguer have been nominated for the trip. Bill Corum, ace sports columnist of the NY Journal-American, proposes that Babe Ruth and Dizzy Dean, former Big Time luminaries, and Pete Gray, one-armed outfielder of the Memphis Southern Assn. club, be taken along.

There is no doubt that the boys overseas would like to see the fabulous Ruth and the colorful Dean. They are not so well acquainted with Pete Gray, and indeed, it is likely that many of them may never have heard of him, for this is only his second season in Organized Ball, both with minor league teams. However,no player on the squad would attract more attention than the amazing Memphis outfielder, the greatest one-armed player of all time.

All season, Gray has been banging the ball around .300 for Memphis, hauling down flies with uncanny skill, pegging out baserunners and stealing bases with the league's best. On August 29, when he was given a "day" at Memphis, he lashed out five singles in seven trips to the plate, made a unassisted double play, slid home with a run, stole a base and handled seven chances flawlessly. It was a performance of the type that has made the Chicks, with Gray as a star attraction, the best-drawing road club of the loop.

Gray lost his right arm in accident when only 6 years old. That handicap would have seen insurmountable to most youngsters who aspired to a diamond career, but not Pete.

THE SPORTING NEWS heartily seconds the nomination of Pete Gray for a place on the touring major league squad. In the battle zones, where the fighting men have seen so many of their comrades suffer crippling wounds, what greater inspiration could be given than the sight of the Chickasha Eagle, who is triumphing over physical handicaps with skill and courage?

You can follow the Browns on a daily basis as they march to the 1944 Pennant and World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Here is the first win of the season for the Browns on their way to capturing the American League pennant. Attached is the article from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for April 19, 1944. The larger article is on the second game of the season and the smaller article in the middle of the page, "Browns Win 8th Straight Opener," is the recap of the first game of the season.

Real all about it at Baseball Fever at: http://www.baseball-fever.com/. Scroll down to find the forum for the St. L Browns and click on the daily update. You can enlarge the picture here by clicking on the photo.

Browns Fan, Bob Raith, Remembers

From Bob Raith, Longview, TX

When I was real young, I lived one block east of Grand Ave. on Hebert St. near the ballpark. I lived with my grandmother and she ran a boarding house. Some of the browns lived at our home when they were in town. The room rate at the time was on $7 per week. They would keep the rooms for the season. The years were in the late 1930s.

Enclosed is an attachment with the autographs of some of the Browns. My mother was able to get these at the time they were staying at our home. At that time, Gabby Street was the manager. I thought this would be of interest to you and some of the other fans.

(Click on picture enlarge)

==============

Bob would like to get a photo of the Browns 1938 team to go with the autographs. If any fan club member can locate one, please send a copy to us at stlbrowns@swbell.net. We'll post it here for all to share and forward it on to Bob Raith.

Browns Winning the '44 Pennant

Relive the 1944 Pennant Winning Season

Here's your chance to keep up with the Browns on a daily basis during their run for the 1944 pennant. A daily news report and box score is scheduled to be posted on the Baseball Fever website at: http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=89329

You will need to register, but it's FREE and easy. Scroll down to "Relive the glory of the 1944 season" and click to access the .pdf file. You'll find some very interesting reading. The opening day pitcher was Jack Kramer. The first article is from April 18, 1944.

Former Brownie Elected to Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame

National Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder Earl Averill headlines the 2009 Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame class announced today by the League. Frank Demaree, a former St. Louis Browns player, and Johnny Moore, two of the circuit's greatest hitters are also being recognized for their distinguished careers in the PCL.

The 1934 Los Angeles Angels of the PCL are often described as the greatest minor league team of all time and Joseph "Frank" Demaree was a key member of that squad. The 1934 season was also the greatest statistical season for Demaree in his only season with the Angels. He hit .383 with 190 runs, 51 doubles, 45 home runs, and 173 RBI. Not only was he a member of the run-away PCL champions, Demaree was the Triple Crown winner and the Most Valuable Player.

He played for Sacramento 1930-1932, Los Angeles 1934, and Portland 1944-1945 in his six seasons in the PCL. His career also included twelve seasons in the American and National Leagues with stops with the Chicago Cubs, New York Giants, Boston Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, and St. Louis Browns.

This Day in Browns Baseball - April

Today in Browns Baseball

April 14

1910 - Chicago's Frank Smith pitched a one-hitter in the season opener to give the White Sox a win over the St. Louis Browns.

1917 - Ed Cicotte of the Chicago White Sox pitched an 11-0 no-hitter over the St. Louis Browns. George Sisler had four errors in the game.


April 18

1945 - In his major league debut, one-armed outfielder Pete Gray got one hit in four at-bats in the St. Louis Browns' 7-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers.

1943 Sporting News Odds & Ends

From the 1943 Sporting News sent in by Dave Macgregor, Milwaukee, WI

8/19/43
Dizzy Dean pitched 3 innings for an Appleton, Wis. team, 8/8, scattering 5 hits for no runs, his team going on to defeat an Oshkosh, Wis. all-star aggregation, 5-1.

8/26/43
CLIFT TRADED-- Clift/Niggeling FOR Clary/John Miller (Rookie P) & $25,000
......Clift had overstayed his top flight usefulness with the Browns, and was badly in need of a change of scene. Ditto, Niggeling, a hard luck pitcher if there ever was one with the SL club.

BROWNS MARK OFF '43, BUILD FOR NEXT YEAR; SWAP WITH NATS FIRST MOVE TO BOLSTER CLUB
.....with the 7th place Browns unlikely to draw much from here on, the tidy sum tossed in by Griff will go a long way toward meeting the 9 pay checks.

ANOTHER STOCKHOLDER DAY
The Browns will stage their second Stockholder Day of the season @ Sportsman's Park 8/28.......Each of the more than 1,200 shareholders receive 6 free tickets for the game.

Attendance (or should I say, lack of)
8/17 v Bost 611
8/18 v Phil 876

9/2/43
OL DIZ KEEPS POURING 'EM ON
Yielding six hits & two runs, while fanning three batters, Dizzy Dean pitched the Honus Wagner Stars against the Victory Bombers, retired after four innings, 8/22, with his team ahead 10-2 @ Pitt. The Stars went on to defeat the Negro team, 13-4. The game was staged in the interest of the War Bond Drive and 8,000 turned out @ Forbes Field.

DEWITT BAND OF BARNSTORMERS
Charles DeWitt, traveling sect. of the St Louis Browns, is gathering together a group of AL & NL players who will make a short tour after the close of the season. One of the dates already arranged is for Erie, PA 10/4.....Other stops scheduled are Davenport & council Bluffs, Iowa.....

9/9/43
Editorial Headline--
PETE GRAY BELONGS ON OVERSEAS SQUAD
Ruth & Dean & major leaguers to play for servicemen overseas. TSN urges to take one minor leaguer-- Pete Gray.

I believe I read in later issues that the trip was cancelled.

From 8/27 thru 9/5 the Browns played 9 games--- all against the Tigers
8/27, 28 & 29 (DH) in St.Louis FRI-SUN
9/2 (DH), 9/3, 9/4, 9/5 in Detroit THUR-SUN

"The 1943 schedule is a wartime arrangement.....On account of transportation difficulties, two days were allowed for all intersectional travel"

Longtime Baseball Executive Richman Dies at 83

Arthur Richman, a longtime baseball writer, fan and friend of the St. Louis Browns who went on to spend four decades as an executive with the New York Mets and Yankees, died this past week (March 25) . He was 83.

A St. Louis Browns fan in his youth, Richman went to work for the New York Daily Mirror as a copy boy in 1942 and worked there until it folded in 1963. He wrote one of New York's most popular baseball columns, "The Armchair Manager."

Art once said, “The Brownies were my religion – then and now. They were always the most important part of my life.” He tried to follow the team after it moved to Baltimore, but he said, “It really just wasn’t the same.” Still he’s maintained the friendships he had established with the old Browns players and always looked forward to the annual reunion. “The Browns are the greatest thing in my life. Induction into the Brownie Hall of Fame is a wonderful honor for me – what more could I ask for?”

“In my will it says that I am to be buried with my 1944 Brownie cap laying on my chest,” said Art with dead seriousness. After a pause, he then chuckled, “But I have told my wife to make sure that no damn collector snatches it before they close the casket.”

===============

(Comment from Emmett McAuliffe, 3/26/09)

As you may know, #1 Brownie fan Art Richman had frequently stated that he was requesting that he be buried with his beloved St. Louis Browns baseball cap. These sorts of requests, which are not legally binding, are frequently shunted aside by next-of-kin or inattentive funeral directors.

I have just confirmed from Seth at Riverside Chapel on W. 70th St., NYC, that he saw the Browns cap on top of the casket and, although he himself was not present for burial, that placing the cap into the casket was what was to be done.

That's good enough for me.

-Emmett McAuliffe

===============

"Arthur Richman made baseball and the New York Yankees an enormous part of his life, and I am grateful for his contributions both personally and professionally," Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said in a statement. "He was a trusted friend and adviser to me, and someone the world of baseball will find impossible to replace."

Richman's biggest contribution to the Yankees came in 1995, when he recommended that the team hire Joe Torre as manager. Richman had worked together with Torre in the 1970s with the Mets.

Mets owner Fred Wilpon called him a "trusted and valued front office executive."

Richman's brother, Milton Richman, was United Press International's sports editor from 1972-85 and a columnist at UPI from 1964 until his death in 1986. He was inducted into the writers' wing of the Hall of Fame in 1981.

He joined the Mets as director of promotions, then became publicity director and was named traveling secretary in 1980. He was replaced as traveling secretary in December 1988. Richman was hired as the Yankees vice president of media relations the following May.

Richman became a senior adviser in 1995 and stopped working following a heart attack in 2006. His family asked that any memorial gifts be sent in Richman's name to the "Catch 25 Foundation," established by Yankees manager Joe Girardi for Alzheimer's Disease research and support.

Browns to Hold Spring Luncheon on April 28, 2009; Make Reservations Early

Lunch to honor 65th Anniversary of St. Louis' Last American League Pennant

St. Louis Browns Baseball Fan Club Recognizing Players from the 1944 pennant winning Season

The St. Louis Browns Fan Club announced their Spring 2009 Luncheon, “Lunch with the Browns,” scheduled for Tuesday, April 28 at the Missouri Athletic Club - West, 1777 Des Peres Rd. in Town & County in West St. Louis County.

Featured speakers include Babe Martin who played with the St. Louis Browns during the 1944 season. Martin was 24 years old when he broke into the big leagues on September 25, 1944. He played four seasons with the Browns and two with the Boston Red Sox during his major league career. Babe will share some of his experiences during his playing days. Babe is one of those colorful baseball figures of the 1940s and 1950s. He was fortunate to get to know some of the finest players in the history of baseball.

Also invited as a featured speaker is Al LaMacchia who pitched 16 seasons of baseball between the major and minor leagues. Al pitched for the Browns and Washington Senators between 1943 and 1946. One of the most knowledgeable men in baseball, LaMacchia has been a baseball scout after his playing days ended. LaMacchia is the only baseball scout ever to be named a Vice President of a ball club, The Toronto Blue Jays named him a Vice President in 1984. Today he scouts for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Also attending the luncheon is Bud Byerly who pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1943 to 1945. Bud played a total of 12 years in the major league with St. Louis, Cincinnati Reds, Washington Senators and the New York Giants.

Reservations are $24 per person. To make a reservation, send your check payable to St. Louis Browns Fan Club and mail to Bud Kane, Treasurer, 443 Fieldcrest Dr., Webster Groves, MO 63119. You can reserve and pay by credit card. See instructions at the top of this page in right hand corner.

Look for a few other players joining us to include:

Don Lenhardt

Roy Seivers

Bud Thomas

Information on the history of the Browns, news, links, Sportsman’s Park and more is available at the organizations’ web site at: http://www.thestlbrowns.com/.

For information, contact Bill Rogers, editor of the Browns newsletter at 314-892-8632 or Bud Kane at 314-961-0527.

St. L Browns 1944 World Series Autographed Baseball For Sale

WOW, what a collectors item.
The ball is owned by its original owner who now lives in Florida. He attended one of the 1944 World Series games with his father. The autographs were obtained at that time. The ball has been in storage all these years. The leather has darkened with age but is in good shape.

The 1944 World Series Autographed Baseball is signed by the following Browns players.

Chet Laabs* LF
George Caster P
Denny Galhouse** P
Milton (Milt) Byrens OF
Frank Mancuso* C
Vem Stephens* SS
Luke Swell, Manager
Robert (Bob) Muncriefl'* P
W eldon (Lefty) West P
Tex Shirley P
Jack Kramer** P
Mark Christman* 3B signed on side of above names
Sam Zoldak P
Don Gutteridge* 2B
Al Hollingworth P
Nelson Potter** P
Fred Hofman, Coach
Floyd Baker, IF
Zack Taylor, Coach
Jack (Sig) Jakucki** P
Ellis Clary IF
Mike Kreevick* CF
Gene Moore* RF
Red Hayworth * C
George McQuinn* IB
Mike Chartak IF

Individuals who did not sign the ball:

Tom Hafey OF
Charlie DeWitte, Traveling Secretary
AI Zarilla OF
Joseph (Joe) Schultz C

*Usually in the starting line-up
* * Five main starting pitchers

Asking price is $2,800. Contact Robert Kitterer at rakitterer@yahoo.com or (941) 966-8154.


...

Hirayama To Be Honored With 2009 Al Radka Award; Signed With Browns

January 30, 2009 -

Satoshi "Fibber" Hirayama has been chosen as the recipient of the prestigious 2009 Al Radka Award, the Fresno Grizzlies announced on Friday. The honor, along with four other awards, will be handed out at the 48th Annual Hot Stove Banquet on Thursday, February 5th at the Holiday Inn Downtown Fresno.

Regarded as perhaps, "pound-for-pound the greatest athlete to ever come out of Fresno State," Fibber Hirayama has been a fixture in the Central Valley for almost 80 years, and is already a member of the Fresno State Baseball Wall of Fame and the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame.

As a 12-year old during World War II, Hirayama was moved with his family to an internment camp in Arizona, where he continued to play baseball and football. After returning to the Valley at the conclusion of the war, he was offered a football scholarship to Fresno State University, but wound up making his mark on the baseball diamond instead. His incredible speed on the basepaths led to two records that stood for more than 40 years: 76 stolen bases in a season and five stolen bases in one game.

After graduation, Hirayama was signed by the St. Louis Browns, one of the first Japanese American to be signed to a professional baseball contract, and ultimately played 10 professional seasons in Japan for the Hiroshima Carp. Following his playing career, Hirayama scouted for the Carp and California Angels, was a Clovis Unified School District teacher and administrator for 30 years, and is currently the head of the Japanese Baseball Development Program in the Dominican Republic.

Surviving Browns Players as of 1/24/09

Name & Birthdate, Plus Age in 2008:

1. George Binks 07/11/14 - 94
2. Virgil Trucks 04/26/17 - 91
3. Marty Marion 12/01/17 - 91
4. Chuck Stevens 07/10/18 - 90
5. Ken Holcombe 08/23/18 - 90

6. Bob Dillinger 09/17/18 - 90
7. Fred Sanford 08/09/19 - 89.
8. Tom Jordan 09/05/19 - 89
9. Babe Martin 03/28/20 - 88
10. Dick Starr 03/02/21 - 87

11. George Elder 03/10/21 - 87
12. Al LaMacchia 07/22/21 - 87
13. Matt Batts 10/16/21 - 87
14. Bob Savage 12/01/21 - 87
15. Neil Berry 01/11/22 - 86

16. Johnny Hetki 05/12/22 - 86
17. Ray Coleman 06/04/22 - 86
18. Jim Rivera 07/22/22 - 86
19. Duane Pillette 07/24/22 - 86
20. Don Lenhardt 10/04/22 - 86

21. Don Lund 05/18/23 - 85
22. Tom Wright 09/22/23 - 85
23. Les Moss 05/14/25 - 83
24. Billy DeMars 08/26/25 - 83
25. Bill Jennings 09/28/25 - 83

26. Ned Garver 12/25/25 - 83
27. Frank Saucier 05/28/26 - 82
28. Johnny Groth 07/23/26 - 82
29. Lou Sleater 09/08/26 - 82
30. Ed Mickelson 09/09/26 - 82

31. Don Johnson 11/12/26 - 82
32. Roy Sievers 11/18/26 - 82
33. Hal Hudson 05/04/27 - 81
34. Jim McDonald 05/17/27 - 81
35. Al Naples 08/29/27 - 81

36. Billy Hunter 06/04/28 - 80
37. Perry Currin 09/27/28 - 80
38. Joe DeMaestri 12/09/28 - 80
39. Bud Thomas 03/10/29 - 79
40. Don Larsen 08/07/29 - 79

41. Bob Turley 09/19/30 - 78
42. J.W. Porter 01/17/33 - 75

Oldest ex-major leaguer Bill Werber, teammate of Babe Ruth, dies at 100

January 22, 2009

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Bill Werber, who was the oldest living ex-major leaguer and a teammate of Babe Ruth, died Thursday. He was 100. Werber, a career .271 hitter who led the American League in stolen bases three times, played with Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx and Lefty Grove in stints with the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.

He hit .370 as the third baseman on the 1940 World Series champion Cincinnati Reds.Until recently, Werber would vividly tell stories of his days playing in baseball's golden era. But Werber had been in deteriorating health for the past month and recently moved into an assisted-care facility in Charlotte, where his daughter, Patricia, lives.

As a collegian, Werber traveled briefly with the storied 1927 New York Yankees. He played for Hall of Fame managers Casey Stengel, Joe McCarthy, Joe Cronin and Bucky Harris, and locked horns in a contract dispute with Connie Mack.

Werber was also the leadoff hitter in the first televised game in 1939.Werber, who would forget dates and times late in life, had no trouble remembering his days as a player — including his first major league plate appearance in 1930 with the Yankees. "Babe Ruth hit a home run and I wanted to show them how fast I could run," Werber said in an interview in June. "So I get into the dugout, and — finally — Babe got into the dugout. He patted me on the head and said, 'Son, you don't have to run like that when the Babe hits one.'"

Sand Gnats Add Two Seasoned Veterans To Front Office

The Savannah Sand Gnats have added two new seasoned veterans to their front office staff as the 2009 season approaches. Ric Sisler, who served as the team's General Manager from 1991-1998, joins the staff as the Director of Sales. Dave Wellenzohn, who most recently served as the General Manager of the Batavia Muckdogs of the New York-Penn League, takes over as the Director of Ticketing.

Sisler brings over 20 years of baseball experience as well as ties to the local Savannah community. His track record of success includes being named the Northern League Executive of the Year in 1999, setting six attendance records in his first stint with the Sand Gnats and winning the 1991 South Atlantic League Merit Award for attendance achievement.

He is the grandson of Hall of Famer George Sisler, a lifetime .340 hitter with the St. Louis Browns, Washington Senators and Boston Braves and the 1922 American League Most Valuable Player. His father, Dick Sisler, also played in the Major Leagues and managed the Cincinnati Reds in the mid-1960s. Ric played three years in the New York Yankees' farm system before moving into the front office.

Players With Unusual Names Includes Browns

After the Cubs signed Milton Bradley to a three-year contract, I started thinking about other baseball players with hilarious names.

Tim Spooneybarger: Spooneybarger, a relief pitcher with the Florida Marlins, started pitching with the Atlanta Braves. He hasn't gotten much playing time. However, with a name like Spooneybarger, he certainly makes my list.

Coco Crisp: Crisp, who's full name is Covelli Loyce Crisp, did take his name from the cereal, although Covelli isn't that much better. He has spent time with both the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, and Kansas City Royals. He is best known for the brawl that he got in with Rays pitcher James Shields after getting hit by a pitch.

Seem Studley: Studley, a pitcher for the Washington Nationals...err...the 1872 Washington Nationals, had a .095 batting average and only played five out of the 11 games in the season (imagine if the season was that short now!)

Rusty Kuntz: Russel Jay Kuntz, was drafted by the White Sox. He had a .236 overall batting average and played for the White Sox, Twins, and finished up his career with the Tigers.

Urban Shocker: A pitcher, who played from 1916-1928, had a 187-117 W/L record. He spent time with the New York Yankees and St. Louis Browns.

Pete LaCock: Not going to even touch that, but his fathers name was Peter (LaCock) Marshall, the original host of Hollywood Squares. LaCock, played for the Cubs (picked 20th in the first round), and finished his career with the Kansas City Royals.

Harry Colliflower: Colliflower, pitched in 1899. He pitched for the Cleveland Spiders, a team that won 20 games and lost 134. He only won one game and lost 11. It's no wonder he only pitched one year. He does have a cool name though.

Heinie Meine: Meine, who was also referred to as the Count of Luxembourg, played most of his career for the late 1920's Pittsburgh Pirates, although in his first year he played for the St. Louis Browns. Meine, won 66 games in his career and had an ERA of 3.99.

Orval Overall: Overall, got drafted by the Reds, but played most of his career with the Cubs. He is the famous pitcher who got the last win to clinch a Cubs World Series Championship back in 1908. (Another interesting statistic? He got traded from the Reds to the Cubs for 2000 dollars and Bob Wicker!)

Creepy Crespi: Crespi, played for five years with the St. Louis Cardinals. He played shortstop and second base. Crespi had a .263 batting average, and helped the Cardinals to their 1942 World Series win.

Interesting huh? Most of these I had never heard of! I know there are plenty I left off the list. I had fun working on this little project though. Lots of interesting names. Special thanks to http://www.baseball-reference.com/ and Leroy Kleimora for help!

Farewells in 2008

The following is a partial list of athletes who left us during 2008. Most names are recognizable, and some are not. All of these came from the world of baseball. They will be missed.

January

Gerry Staley, 87 - All-star pitcher who compiled a 134-111 record from 1947-'61 with the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox.

Johnny Podres, 75 - Left-hander who compiled a 148-116 record in 15 seasons with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers, Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres from 1954-'69.

Don Cardwell, 72 - Pitcher who had a 102-138 record for five major-league teams from 1957-'70. Traded from Philadelphia to the Chicago Cubs in May 1960 and pitched no-hitter against St. Louis two days after the deal. Was traded to the Cardinals in '62 and sent to Pittsburgh a month later without ever pitching for St. Louis.

Steve Ridzik, 78 - Pitcher who was a member of the "Whiz Kids" Philadelphia Phillies that went to the World Series in 1950. Signed as a prospect by the Phillies when he was 16, won 39 games and had a lifetime 3.79 earned run average.

John McHale Sr., 86 - Longtime baseball executive who served as the general manager of the Milwaukee Braves starting in 1959 and oversaw their relocation to Atlanta in '66. Also was a Montreal Expos executive for 23 seasons, including 18 as GM, and served one year as GM of the Detroit Tigers, for whom he played sparingly for five seasons.

FEBRUARY

Ed Vargo, 79 - National League umpire from 1960-'83 who worked the '65, '71, '78 and '83 World Series and four All-Star Games. Was behind the plate when Hank Aaron tied Babe Ruth's career home run mark. Also is the only major-league umpire to call a no-hitter and a perfect game for the same pitcher: Sandy Koufax's no-hitter on June 4, 1964, and his perfect game on Sept. 9, 1965.

Bob Howsam, 89 - Influential in two sports, he co-founded the Denver Broncos in 1959 and helped found the American Football League that same year. Became general manager of the St. Louis Cardinals in their '64 World Series championship season.

Bob Purkey, 78 - Pitcher who appeared in three All-Star Games and one World Series with the Cincinnati Reds. Compiled a 129-115 record with a 3.79 earned run average in 13 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Reds and St. Louis Cardinals, last appearing in a game in 1966.

Tommy Holmes, 91 - Outfielder and two-time all-star who hit in 37 consecutive games in 1945 to set a modern National League record that stood until it was broken by Pete Rose in '78.

MAY

Buzzy Bavasi, 93 - Executive with the Dodgers who helped build teams that won four World Series titles in Brooklyn and Los Angeles, acquiring such players as Hall of Famers Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, Pee Wee Reese, Roy Campanella, Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale.

Herbert H. Hash, 97 - Pitched two seasons for the Boston Red Sox, compiling an 8-7 record with a 4.98 ERA in 38 appearances, including 12 starts, in 1940 and '41. Was oldest former Red Sox pitcher at time of his death.

JUNE

Johnny Buzhardt, 71 - Pitched in the major leagues from 1958-'68, compiling a 71-96 record with a 3.66 earned run average with the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia, the Chicago White Sox, Baltimore and Houston.

Bert Shepard, 87 - World War II fighter pilot who lost his right leg when he was shot down over Germany but went on to pitch for the 1945 Washington Senators, becoming an inspiration for grievously wounded veterans. When he made his only major-league appearance on Aug. 4, 1945, the left-hander was still a lieutenant in the Army Air Forces, commuting to the ballpark from Walter Reed Army Hospital. Summoned from the bullpen against the Boston Red Sox in the fourth inning with the Senators trailing, 14-2, he pitched 5 1/3 innings and gave up one run and three hits. Pitched in the minor leagues for several years after the war and later won the national amputee golf championship in '68 and '71.

Bobby Murcer, 62 - Infielder turned outfielder who made his major-league debut at age 19 in 1965 with the New York Yankees, and was hyped as the heir apparent to the legendary Mickey Mantle. Later became a broadcaster with the Yankees.

Dave Ricketts, 73 - Longtime St. Louis Cardinals coach who first was a reserve catcher with the team in 1963, '65 and from '67-69. Traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in '70, his final season in the majors.

Red Foley, 79 - New York baseball writer who spent 36 years as an official scorer. Starting in 1966, he scored more than 3,000 major-league games, including 10 World Series.

Jerome Holtzman, 82 - Chicago baseball writer who made the Hall of Fame, created the saves rule and later became Major League Baseball's official historian. Won the J.G. Spinks Award and a spot in the Hall of Fame in 1989.

Chuck Stobbs, 79 - Pitcher who gave up Mickey Mantle's 565-foot home run while pitching for Washington in 1953. That shot is credited with being the longest homer ever hit even as some later questioned the measurement. Had career record of 107-130 with an ERA of 4.29 with the Red Sox, White Sox, Senators, Cubs and Twins from '47-'61.

AUGUST

Skip Caray, 68 - Atlanta Braves broadcaster for 33 seasons and the son of the late Harry Caray, legendary announcer for the Chicago Cubs and White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals.

Dottie Collins, 84 - A star pitcher in women's professional baseball in the 1940s. Pitching for six seasons in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. In the summer of '48, she pitched until she was four months pregnant. She won more than 20 games in each of her first four seasons. She threw 17 shutouts and had a league-leading 293 strikeouts in '45 for the Fort Wayne Daisies.

SEPTEMBER

Don Gutteridge, 96 - Manager of the Chicago White Sox in 1969 and '70. Played 12 seasons in the majors, beginning in September 1936 with the St. Louis Cardinals. Playing second and third base, also played with the St. Louis Browns, Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox, batting .256 with 39 home runs and 391 RBI.

Joe Lutz, 83 – Played with the St. Louis Browns in 1951 and coached the Cleveland Indians from 1971 to 1973 and was the first Caucasian manager of a major league baseball team in Japan.

NOVEMBER

Elwin Charles "Preacher" Roe, 92 - Cunning left-handed pitcher best known as a member of the "Boys of Summer" Brooklyn Dodgers teams of the late 1940s and early '50s. Went 127-84 in a 12-year career with the Dodgers, Pittsburgh and St. Louis. Best year came in '51, when he was 22-3 for the Dodgers, setting a team record that still stands for the highest winning percentage for a 20-game winner.

Herb Score, 75 - Cleveland Indians pitcher and former broadcaster whose promise on the mound was shattered by a line drive when Gil McDougald of the New York Yankees lined a ball off Score's right eye, breaking his nose and a number of bones in his face. Hard-throwing left-hander pitched for the Indians from 1955-'59 and rookie of the year in '55 after going 16-10.

DECEMBER

Dock Ellis, 63 - Former major-league pitcher who spent 12 years in the majors with Pittsburgh, the New York Yankees, Oakland, Texas and the New York Mets. Best remembered for his flamboyance and social

Order the Official Voice of the St. Louis Browns Today

Subscribe Today to Pop Flies . . . the official voice of the St. Louis Browns.

We need your help to preserve the history and memory of the St. Louis Browns.

Give a donation and subscribe to "Pop Flies" with membership in the St. Louis Browns Historical Society. Help preserve a critical part of St. Louis sports history. Order today to receive the Fall 2008 issue PLUS the Spring and Fall 2009 issues.

The current issue is loaded with dozen of short articles about Babe Ruth’s playing days against the St. Louis Browns in the 20 page issue.

You can order and pay on-line by clicking on the BUY NOW button in the upper right hand corner of this website. Your donation of $25 will have the current issue in the mail to you usually within 24 hours.

Here are a few featured items in the current newsletter.

* Babe Ruth's Last Visit to Sportsman's Park - 60 Years Ago this year

* Babe Ruth and the St. Louis Browns

* Babe Martin, Last of the Pennant Winning 1944 St. Louis Browns

* Fan's Memories of the Browns

* Browns Speakers Bureau Now Available

* Feats Exclusive to the Browns

* Brownie Trivia

* The Good Old Days of Baseball

* The Day the Trolleys Stopped . . . and a lot more.

Look for our announcement due out soon about the Spring 2009 Luncheon. We will be honoring Babe Martin as the last surviving member of the 1944 Browns. A number for former Browns players will be on hand. The exact date is April 28, 2009.

Mark your calendar.

MLB Network Programming for Jan. Features World Series Highlights to Classic Years

With 5 days to go before the MLB Network launches, many have wondered what type of archival footage and special programming will be available. Digging through MLBNetwork.com's schedule lineup for January reveals some nuggets.

January 28 –
(11:00pm ET) – World Series Highlights, featuring the 1944 World Series matchup between the St. Louis Cardinals vs. St. Louis Browns.

More programs at http://www.mlbnetwork.com/.

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Who was Ernie Nevers? With the Browns?

Some of the best athletes in the region annually tread the flawless artificial turf and composite track at Santa Rosa High’s Ernie Nevers Field. And it’s no slap in the face to state that none of them has a chance of matching the sporting exploits of the man whose name graces the scoreboard.

Nevers was not your typical Golden Age sports star. His exploits read like tall tales spun around campfires and cold beers. (In this 1932 photo, Ernie Nevers, left, is shown with legendary football coach Glenn "Pop" Warner.)

Imagine a man who:

Outgained all “Four Horsemen” of Notre Dame while playing on two broken ankles.

Played 1,714 out of a possible 1,740 minutes of football with the NFL’s barnstorming Duluth Eskimos in 1926.

Owns the oldest mark still standing in the NFL record book.

Surrendered two home runs to Babe Ruth while with the Browns the year the Babe hit 60.

Brought down a Japanese Zero during World War II by hitting the plane with a football.

That last one isn’t real, or at least not verified. But that’s the thing about Ernie Nevers. The more you learn about his life, the more you are willing to believe. In a different era, people were awestruck just to make his acquaintance.

During Ernie Nevers’ junior year of high school, he and his parents left Superior, Wis., for Santa Rosa. George Nevers, Ernie’s father, bought a prune ranch opposite the brass foundry near the current intersection of Mission Boulevard and Highway 12.

It was the spring of 1919, and Ernie’s arrival was good news for the Santa Rosa High football team, which had formed the previous fall and stumbled through a winless season.

Nevers helped design plays, and carried or passed the ball on nearly every snap from the fullback position. He anchored the defense and kicked field goals and extra points, too.

“This lad seems to have an educated toe, for when he kicks his goals he never fails to make them,” The Press Democrat reported on Oct. 17, 1920.

A former Santa Rosa classmate, Raymond Clar, once wrote of trying to tackle the 187-pound Nevers in a scrimmage.

“I remember no particular pain,” Clar wrote. “I did exhibit, with some pride I must confess, a bit of flexiblity in my nose which healed itself about the time Ernie began to appear bigger than lifesize on huge roadside billboards as ‘America’s Greatest Athlete.’”

Riding Nevers’ broad shoulders — he scored 108 of 170 points, not including his touchdown passes — Santa Rosa finished 7-3 and won the Northwest Section of the California Interscholastic Federation before getting drubbed by a much deeper and stronger Berkeley High team in a playoff game.

Nevers immediately turned his attention to basketball, and dominated so thoroughly that he was named California high school basketball player of the year for 1920-21. Pretty impressive when you consider he played less than half the season.

After three league games, capped by a 32-point performance against Petaluma — the school yearbook, The Echo, called it “the most sensational scoring ever seen on any court in the country” — Nevers got an urgent message from his former coach in Wisconsin. The old team needed him desperately. So he abandoned Santa Rosa and traveled east, playing for Superior’s Central High the night he arrived.

But Nevers returned after graduation. He was a player-coach on Santa Rosa Junior College’s first football team in 1921, taking units at the JC to help him get into Stanford.

But football wasn’t his only pursuit. Nevers pitched three seasons for the St. Louis Browns, dishing up those two dingers to Ruth in a mostly lackluster career that saw him finish 6-12.

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There's a lot more interesting facts about Ernie Nevers, a former Browns player, at:
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20081224/SPORTS/812240203?Title=Who_was_Ernie_Nevers_

Stephens ahead of his time at short

Long before Cal Ripken Jr. and Alex Rodriguez picked up a bat, Vern Stephens held the honor as the greatest power-hitting shortstop in baseball history.

He played 15 seasons for the St. Louis Browns/Baltimore Orioles (1941-47, '53-55), Boston Red Sox (1948-52) and Chicago White Sox (1953, '55). An eight-time All-Star, Stephens smacked 247 home runs with 1,174 RBIs, batting .286 with 1,859 hits. Cooperstown hasn't forgotten his power prowess.

Stephens will be considered for the Class of 2009 at the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. Any player receiving at least 75 percent of the vote from the Veterans Committee, which consists of the 64 living Hall of Famers, will be enshrined at Cooperstown.

FOR SALE: Browns Memorabilia

I have a couple of Browns items in which your readers may be interested.

I have a 1953 schedule that is in perfect condition.

I also have a score card from a June 5 or 6, 1953 game: Browns vs Yankees. In the Yankee line-up are Mickey Mantle,Joe Collins, Billy Martin,Gil McDougald, Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto and Casey is the manager. The scorecard is 12 pages.

For the Browns: Johnny Groth, Vic Wertz, Clint Courtney, plus other assorted no-names and Marty Marion is the manager. Both of these items are in perfect condition.

Asking $50. Contact Mike Cleary at mikenbon@charter.net . (Click on photos to enlarge)
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Browns Tip O'Neill One of 12 Not In Hall of Fame

Tip O'Neill is one of only 12 different players in the history of MLB to hit for the triple crown. He was the first to do it, and he remains as the ONLY player in the history of MLB to do it and NOT be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Hitting for the triple crown is "known" as a sure way to get in the Hall of Fame, and many assume that hitting for the crown puts you in, for sure. It's true, except for O'Neill.

He hit for the triple crown, but so did 11 others. Here's a fact about O'Neill that no one else can say: O'Neill still remains as the only player in the history of MLB to lead the league in 2B, 3B, and HR during the same season, the only player ever. Many historians believe that accomplishment will never be duplicated.

His 1887 season was incredible. He had a .435 BA that season and that .435 BA still ranks second on the all-time single season BA list. His 167 R that season still ranks fourth on the all time single season R list. They were both MLB records at the time. Here are his stats for that 1887 season.

1887: .435 BA, .490 OB%, .691 SLG%, 30 SB, 167 R, 52 2B, 19 3B, 14 HR and 123 RBI.

Not a bad season, he not only led the league in BA, HR and RBI to hit for the triple crown. He also led the league in OB%, SLG%, R, 2B, 3B and hits. That's at least nine categories he led the league in.

I don't even know what the hell you call that. The Octagonagle crown, I don't even think that's enough. The only major categories that he didn't lead the league in were FA and SB and he had 30 SB, not bad.

(There is more to this story at: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/83523-tip-oneill-hit-for-the-triple-crown-still-not-in-the-hall-of-fame/poll_results#poll
or
http://tiny.cc/TipOneill

Browns Spring 2009 Luncheon Set for April

Back by popular demand, we are scheduling a St. Louis Browns Fan Club Spring 2009 luncheon tentatively set for April 28, 2009. The location is the Missouri Athletic Club West in West County at 1777 Des Peres Road St. Louis, MO 63131 (same location as the 2008 luncheon).

If you are not a member of the St. Louis Browns Fan Club, you can join with a donation of $25 to help preserve the memory and history of the Browns. Send your check payable to the St. Louis Brown's Fan Club to:

Bud Kane, Treasurer
443 Fieldcrest Dr.
Webster Groves, MO 63119.

Our Spring luncheon will honor Babe Martin, the last surviving member of the 1944 pennant winning Browns. The Browns played their only World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Mark your calendar now to take in this outstanding program. Pictured below are John (Sandy) Buchheit on left with Jim Christen (right) at the Spring 2008 Brown's Fan Club Luncheon.
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Kansas City Goes Major League in '54 Following Browns in '53

The announcement in November 1954 that Arnold Johnson had bought the Philadelphia Athletics was “really big news” in Kansas City. Accompanying the announcement of the purchase came the added tidbit that Johnson planned to relocate the team to Kansas City. This was a decision that carried great import beyond the obvious sense that Kansas City had finally “arrived” with its belated entry into Big League professional sports.

The makeup of Major League Baseball began to change in 1952 when the Boston Braves indicated they would move their franchise to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The following year the American League St. Louis Browns announced removal to Baltimore where they would be known as the Baltimore Orioles. In 1954, it was Kansas City’s turn. Pride exuded from Main Street to Bannister Road, newly annexed into the city itself.

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Once the move of the A’s to Kansas City was announced, city officials purchased Ruppert Stadium, added the upper deck to expand seating to 33,000, and made arrangements for everything but parking. This photo now graces the information kiosk at the site of the old stadium at 22nd & Brooklyn. (Click on photo to enlarge)

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For close to 60 years, Kansas City had been home to a minor league franchise in what evolved into the American Association. The Kansas City Blues were white Kansas City’s pride and joy. When the owner of the New York Yankees purchased the franchise in 1939, renovated Muehlebach Field into “Ruppert Stadium” [modestly named for himself], and sent the New York team’s best farm players this way, it seemed we had reached the pinnacle.

Of course, there was another tenant at Muehlebach Field that continued to pay rent to play in Ruppert Stadium. The Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro National League usually performed more successfully on the field although their attendance numbers often fell short of those attracted by the white Blues team. Interestingly, the Monarchs games featured integrated seating in the Stadium while the Blues required seating to be segregated by race.

During the years of the Blues and Monarchs co-occupancy of Muehlebach Field and then Ruppert Stadium, a number of current and future stars played for the teams. In their later Yankee-connected years, Mickey Mantle, Hank Bauer and Whitey Ford spent parts of their careers toiling at 22nd & Brooklyn for the Blues. The Monarchs featured the likes of Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson and, of course, Buck O’Neil.

One player actually played for both the Monarchs and the Blues in the early 1950s—Elston Howard. A gifted catcher, Howard eventually became the backup, and then successor, to Yogi Berra in the Yankees lineup, but he made his debut playing for the Monarchs. Later, he signed with the Yankees who, in turn assigned him to the Blues to gain more experience before joining the major league team. He went on to a solid career in the Yankees organization.

1922 Browns Second Best Team Ever to Not Win a Pennant

Wow. The 1922 St. L Browns were named the second best team ever to not win a pennant . . . according to a study by Chris Jaffe of The Hardball Times.

Read his analysis at: http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/october-countrys-refugees-part-2-of-2/. Here are some of his remarks . . .

"I asked one of the classic questions of baseball sports fans: who was the best team to never make the World Series? More importantly, I had a way to try to answer this question; ask SG from the Replacement Level Yankee Weblog to run 1,000 Diamondmind season sims with a computer program he set up to do just that. In part one, I went over the 28 teams I had SG enter into the sims. My guidelines for choosing teams were: 1) minimal (ideally no) overlap with a real pennant winners, 2) no overlap with another team in the mix, 3) try to represent all eras, 4) avoid really recent teams because they just might win a pennant still, and 6) if possible, try to avoid one-year wonders.

Read his entire report here -
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/october-countrys-refugees-part-2-of-2/

Browns Players Still Hold Team Records After 55 Years

Team records for the Baltimore Orioles are mostly held by players from its earlier history as the St. Louis Browns. Here's a quick rundown on some key areas.

Single Season Records
Home Runs: Brady Anderson 50, 1996
Runs Batted In: Ken Williams 155, 1922 (Browns)
Batting Average: George Sisler .420, 1922 (Browns)
Hits: George Sisler 257, 1920 (Browns)
Runs: Harlond Clift 145, 1936 (Browns)
Doubles: Beau Bell 51, 1937 (Browns)
Triples: Heinie Manush 20, 1928 (Browns)
Stolen Bases: Luis Aparicio 57, 1964
Hitting Streak:
Walks: Lu Blue 126, 1929 (Browns)
Wins: Urban Shocker 27, 1921 (Browns)
Saves: Randy Myers 45, 1997
Strikeouts: [[Rube Waddell 232, 1908 (Browns)
Earned Run Average: Barney Pelty 1.59, 1906 (Browns)

Ritenour selects Scheffing for Hall of Fame

Robert Scheffing, an alumni of Ritenour High School in St. Louis, MO, has been selected for the Ritenour High School Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame was established in 1997 to honor Ritenour graduates for professional achievements, civic involvement and community service.

Bob Scheffing, Class of 1930 was the most successful Ritenour athlete of his era. Scheffing was Ritenour's first major league baseball player and first graduate to become both a major league manager and general manager. He played catcher for the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals; coached for the St. Louis Browns, Cubs and Milwaukee Braves; managed the Cubs and Detroit Tigers; and was general manger of the New York Mets.

Babe Ruth Feats

Three home runs in a World Series game twice...

The Babe hit 340 solo home runs, 252 two-run shots, and 98 three-run taters. He also slugged 16 Grand Slams...

51% of his homers came with a man or men on base...

He hit 16 homers in extra-innings, 10 inside-the-park variety, and one as a pinch-hitter (in 1916 with the Red Sox)...

459 of his career regular season homers came against right-handed pitchers, or 64%. 219 times he blasted a circuit blow off a lefty...

In six seasons with the Red Sox he hit 49 homers, 11 in Fenway Park, 38 on the road. With the Yankees in 15 seasons, he slugged 659 long blows, 334 at home, 325 on the road...

Ruth hit at least one home run in 12 different ballparks...

72 times, Ruth slugged a pair of homers in a game, a major league record that still stands. He connected for three homers on May 21, 1930, with New York, and with the Braves on May 25, 1935, including the final homer of his career, off Pirate Guy Bush...

His 686 home runs as an outfielder are the most by any player at any position. He hit 15 long balls as a pitcher...

Collected RBI in 11 consecutive games in 1931...

Stole home 10 times...

Won two legs of the Triple Crown seven times (1919, 1920-1921, 1923-1924, 1926, 1928)...

First player to hit three home runs in a single game in the AL and NL... 11 consecutive games with at least one extra-base hit (August 28 to September 8, 1921) the second longest streak in major league history...

Holds the all-time single season record for most total bases (457 in 1921) and times reached base (375 in 1923)...

Three times he had 4 extra-base hits in a game...

Ruth had six five-hit games in his career...

Scored five runs in a game twice...

On April 20, 1926, he drove in eight runs, his career high...

Collected more RBI than games played in six seasons. (1921-27-29-30-31-32).