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.
On March 28, 1913, the St. Louis Browns traded Buzzy Wares to the Montgomery Rebels in exchange for the rent-free use of the minor league team’s stadium during spring training. The Southern Association Class-A Rebels would return the shortstop to St. Louis at the conclusion of the Class-A season.
On July 28, 1952, the Cincinnati Reds fired manager Luke Sewell. Sewell was then replaced by the recently released skipper of the St. Louis Browns, Rogers Hornsby, who was fired due to a disagreement with Bill Veeck over an incident against the Yankees. The Reds went 27-23 for the rest of the season.
September 28th was the last day of the season in 1902, and in apparent celebration, the Browns and the White Sox decided to use an assortment of seven infielders and outfielders on the mound, rather than relying on their pitching staffs. Chicago outfielder Sam Mertes earned the victory, and the Browns’ left fielder Jesse Burkett suffered the loss in the Sox’s 10-4 victory at Sportsman’s Park. This was the last time the winning and losing pitchers were both position players in the same game until 2012, when Chris Davis of the Orioles and Darnell McDonald of the Red Sox also accomplished the feat in Baltimore’s 17-inning victory at Fenway Park.
Less than two weeks after Larry Doby’s debut with the Indians, Hank Thompson became the second black player to debut in the American League on July 17, 1947. In the game, Thompson went 0-for-4 as the Browns suffered a 16-2 loss to Philadelphia at Sportsman’s Park. Thompson would play in only 27 games for St. Louis because his presence did not significantly raise attendance.
