St. Louis Browns SS/OF Mike Balenti was born on July 3, 1886 in Calumet, Oklahoma. He would be the only MLB player to be from Calumet, which is located in the Indian Territory outside of present day Oklahoma City. The son of a Hungarian immigrant and Cheyenne Indian, Balenti was a star football, baseball, and track athlete throughout his
St. Louis Browns SS/OF Mike Balenti was born on July 3, 1886 in Calumet, Oklahoma. He would be the only MLB player to be from Calumet, which is located in the Indian Territory outside of present day Oklahoma City. The son of a Hungarian immigrant and Cheyenne Indian, Balenti was a star football, baseball, and track athlete throughout his life.
Before beginning his baseball career, he attended the Carlisle Indian Industrial School where he was the football teammate of Jim Thorpe. Balenti would play quarterback, leading the offense against some of the best college teams of the era. Balenti would sign his first baseball contract with the Philadelphia Athletics who assigned him to the Dayton Veterans and later Joplin Miners in 1909. After the season, he would go on to play quarterback with the Texas A&M and lead the Aggies to a perfect 7-0-1 record. He returned to baseball in 1910 with the Savannah Indians and the Macon Peaches in 1911.
Balenti would make his MLB debut with the Cincinnati on July 19, 1911, but would only appear in six games for the Reds. After spending the 1912 season with the Chattanooga Lookouts, the Browns acquired Balenti in the Rule 5 Draft on September 16, 1912. He would have memorable spring training in 1913 that led him to a roster spot for the entire Browns season. Unfortunately, his production during the spring would not continue during the regular season. He would appear in just 70 games with the Browns, playing eight games in the outfield and 56 games at shortstop. He would only record 38 hits in his 227 plate appearances with the Browns (.180 batting average). His offensive output would include two doubles, four triples, 11 RBIs, and 17 runs scored. Balenti had a rough season in the field with 23 errors and a .923 field percentage at shortstop.
He would return to the Chattanooga Lookouts for the 1914 season where he became more than just another minor league player. On July 12, 1914, he would be hired as the Athletic Director at the University of Chattanooga. This would give him the opportunity to coach football and baseball at the school. Over the next three years, Balenti played minor league baseball for the San Antonio Missions (1915-16), Galveston Pirates (1916-17), and Tulsa Producers (1917). He would also coach running backs at Baylor University (1915, 1919) for C.P. Mosley, who also played minor league baseball.
On April 14, 1915, George and Mike Balenti submitted a patent for a track and field apparatus that helped measure heights for the pole vault and high jump events. This patent was approved and used in the Southwest Conference in 1916.
Mike Balenti would continue to be involved in organized sports for most of his life, but was not all the skills he possessed. While not on the playing field, he worked his 160 acre farm outside of Altus, Oklahoma. He would receive a second U.S. patent for a commercial pancake machine in 1920. He gave permission for his likeness to be portrayed in the 1950 movie, Jim Thorpe All-American. Mike Balenti led an amazing life that stretched beyond the field at Sportsman's Park. His time with the Browns may not have been memorable, but his contributions to his community were incredible.
BROWNS HISTORY ON THIS DAY...
The Browns played 43 games on this day.
All-Time Record on this Day:
12 wins 31 Losses
Breakdown of the Browns' record
on this day by decade (wins - losses):
1902-09: 2 - 4
1910-19: 4 - 7
1920-29: 2 - 7
1930-39: 2 - 6
1940-41: 1 - 6
1950-53: 1 - 1
The Browns would see action in FIVE double headers on this day.
BROWNS HISTORY ON THIS DAY...
The Browns played 43 games on this day.
All-Time Record on this Day:
12 wins 31 Losses
Breakdown of the Browns' record
on this day by decade (wins - losses):
1902-09: 2 - 4
1910-19: 4 - 7
1920-29: 2 - 7
1930-39: 2 - 6
1940-41: 1 - 6
1950-53: 1 - 1
The Browns would see action in FIVE double headers on this day.
HEADLINE
"FUTURE MVP, HOF EARNS HIS FIRST VICTORY IN DEBUT START"
HIGHLIGHT GAME
1915 - Browns rookie LHP George Sisler would earn a complete game victory in his first MLB start by defeating the Cleveland Indians, 3-1. Sisler was a college pitcher at the University of Michigan, and was originally drafted by the Browns as a pitcher. His first MLB game would come in a relief appearance on June 28 vs, the Chicago White Sox. On this day, Sisler would strike out nine Cleveland batters while walking another nine batters. He would a run on seven hits, including a hit by Shoeless Joe Jackson. Indians pitcher Roy Walker would duel with Sisler, and allow only six hits to the St. Louis batters. CF Tillie Walker and RF Ernie Walker would both record two hits and a run each. Catcher Hank Severeid would also record a hit and a run. The real story was Sisler for as good of a pitcher he was, his future would be playing first base and becoming one of the best hitters in the 20th century.
THERE WEERE NO TRADESMADE ON THIS DAY
THERE WERE NO DEBUTS ON THIS DAY
The 1918 St. Louis Browns offense was George Sisler. The 25-year old, future Hall of Famer, carried the Browns in most offensive categories. He would be ranked in the top five of the American League in most offensive categories. His supporting cast included RF Ray Demmitt, CF Jack Tobin, a seasoned veteran ss Jimmy Austin, and a young cat
The 1918 St. Louis Browns offense was George Sisler. The 25-year old, future Hall of Famer, carried the Browns in most offensive categories. He would be ranked in the top five of the American League in most offensive categories. His supporting cast included RF Ray Demmitt, CF Jack Tobin, a seasoned veteran ss Jimmy Austin, and a young catcher Hank Severeid. The Browns offense ranked in the middle of the pack in the American League. They were not the best, and not the worst.
Batting Leaders from the 1930 season with A.L. rankings in (#)
Team Statistics:
Player Statistics