On May 6, 1925, Ty Cobb hit his fifth home run in two games. Cobb hit three home runs on May 5th against the St. Louis Browns, going 6-for-6 that day. The next day he hit two more home runs, tying Cap Anson’s 1884 record. The Tigers won 14-8 on May 5th, and then 11-4 on May 6th, over the Browns at Sportsman’s Park.
In a game against the St. Louis Browns on May 5, 1925, Detroit Tigers outfielder Ty Cobb established an American League record with 16 total bases. Cobb collected three homers, two singles, and a double to help the Tigers defeat the Browns, 14-8. The record would stand until 2012, when Rangers’ outfielder Josh Hamilton collected 18 total bases.
Southpaw pitcher Rube Waddell died of tuberculosis at the age of 37 on April 1, 1914. The Hall of Famer compiled a 193-143 (.574) record and a 2.16 ERA during his 13 seasons with the Colonels, A’s, Pirates, and Browns.
William Van Winkle “Jimmy” Wolf was born on May 12, 1862 in Louisville, Kentucky. He was the only player to appear in the American Association in all ten seasons of its existence. All ten of Wolf’s AA seasons were played for his hometown team, first known as the Louisville Eclipse in 1891, then known as the Louisville Colonels from 1882 to 1891. Wolf set a number of career American Association records: most games played (1,195), total bases (1,921), hits (1,438), doubles (214), and triples (109).
When the American Association folded, Wolf went on to play for the St. Louis Browns of the National League in 1892, which ended up being his last season in the majors. He played in just three games for the Browns before being let go. He would then play in the minor leagues until 1894, before retiring from baseball.
To Wolf’s family growing up, he was known as “Willie.” The nickname “Chicken” was supposedly given to him by Eclipse teammate, Pete Browning. According to the story, the Eclipse manager instructed the team to eat lightly before a game, but Wolf succumbed to his appetite and stuffed himself on stewed chicken. He then played poorly in the game, committing several errors. Pete Browning made a connection between the stewed chicken and Wolf’s lackluster play and hung the nickname “Chicken” on him. The name caught on with his teammates and the local press.
About halfway through his professional career, Wolf then became known as “Jimmy” Wolf in the Louisville newspapers. However, the origin or reason for this change remains unknown.
Following the end of his playing career, Wolf returned to Louisville, and in 1894, he joined the Louisville Fire Department. Five years into his firefighting career, while rushing to the scene of a fire, Wolf’s engine collided with a pushcart, and Wolf suffered a serious head injury in the accident. Wolf was declared “mentally unbalanced” and, in 1901, spent time in the Central Asylum for the Insane outside Louisville. Wolf died on May 16, 1903 at City Hospital in Louisville. William Van Winkle Wolf was laid to rest in Louisville’s Cave Hill Cemetery.
In defeating the St. Louis Browns 12-1 on September 8, 1939, Bob Feller became the youngest pitcher ever to record 20 wins in a season. The 20-year-old Indians pitcher would finish the season with a 24-9 record and an ERA of 2.85.
On July 25, 1913, Carl Weilman became the first player ever recorded to strike out six times in a single game. The St. Louis Browns’ 23-year-old lefty entered the game in relief with one out in the first inning, pitching the rest of the contest. Weilman accomplished the dubious strikeout feat over the course of 15 innings at Griffith Stadium against the Senators, and the game ended in an 8-8 tie.
In a game against the St. Louis Browns on July 7, 1909, the Chicago White Sox stole 11 bases as a team, including three steals by third baseman Billy Purtell. The Sox also stole home plate three times, en route to a 15-3 victory at South Side Park.
The doctors all said I’d never play again, but when you’re fighting for something that actually keeps you alive — well, the human will is all you need.
~George Sisler, after missing the 1923 season due to a severe sinus infection
On April 29, 1931, Cleveland Indians pitcher Wes Ferrell pitched a no-hitter against the St. Louis Browns, striking out eight. Ferrell also hit a home run and a double with four RBIs in the 9-0 victory. Ferrell’s brother Rick was the catcher for the Browns that day, going 0-for-3 at the plate. The box score for the game can be found here.
On July 11, 1925, St. Louis Browns first basemen George Sisler hit a triple with the bases loaded in the third inning and then followed it up with a grand slam in the fourth. Sisler’s phenomenal offensive performance led the Browns to a 10-5 victory over the Washington Senators in front of 15,000 fans at Sportsman’s Park.
The full box score from the game can be found here.