St. Louis Browns catcher Josh Billings was born on November 30, 1891 in Grantsville, Kansas. His unheralded and lengthy baseball career extended from a college standout, to 17 professional baseball organizations, to the Hall of Fame. He would be the only player in baseball history to come from Grantville, Kansas, and the first major leagu
St. Louis Browns catcher Josh Billings was born on November 30, 1891 in Grantsville, Kansas. His unheralded and lengthy baseball career extended from a college standout, to 17 professional baseball organizations, to the Hall of Fame. He would be the only player in baseball history to come from Grantville, Kansas, and the first major league player to play at Oklahoma State University (1911-12).
Josh Billings began his 24-year baseball playing career with the Topeka Jayhawks in 1912. He would go on to appear with the Manhattan Elks (1912) and the Quincy Gems (1913) before making his MLB debut on September 9, 1912 with the Cleveland Naps. Over the next five seasons Billings would stay in the Cleveland organization (1913-18). He would see action in 110 games with the Naps/Indians, while playing 115 with the Cleveland Bearcats (1914-15) and 49 games with the Louisville Colonels (1916).
He would see his role increase when he was traded to the Browns on February 11, 1919, for catcher Les Nunamaker. From 1919-23, Josh Billings would be the primary backup catcher to the Browns legendary backstop Hank Severeid. His best season came in 1920 when he enjoyed career highs in games played (66), runs scored (19), hits (43), doubles (5), triples (2), RBIs (11), and hit by pitches (7). His .277 batting averaged matched Severeid's in the same season. His best game game on May 4th when he recorded four singles against the Chicago White Sox. Billings was just as strong behind the plate, as he threw out 51.5% of base runners in 1919 (second in the American League).
After five seasons with the Browns in a backup role, Billings would extend his career another ten years in the minor leagues. He would go on to play for the Kansas City Blues (1924), Los Angeles Angels (1924), Dallas Steers (1925-29), Monroe Twins (1931), and the Vicksburg Hill Billies(1931). In this time Josh Billings began his coaching and managerial career as a player-manager for the Alexandria Reds (1930), Baton Rouge Senators/Solons (1932-34), Lake Charles Skippers (1935), Columbus Senators (1936), and Clifton Gems (1940-41).
This experience would lead him to baseball history as Billings would become the first manager of the Kenosha Comets of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Although he only managed the team for one season, he helped establish the team and the league.
There is little written of Josh Billings' life after the 1940s. It is safe to say that he continued to coach in some fashion, as he settled down Santa Monica, California. He lived a long life and was honored in 2020 as he was enshrined in the Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame.
"THE 1944 WORLD SERIES WAS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK"
This new look at the St. Louis series in 1944 includes original film footage, and expert break down of the players and teams involved. Please enjoy this original program from the YouTube channel, SPORTS REWIND. Please click on the link below:
The 1944 World Series Was Closer Than You Think!
"THE 1944 WORLD SERIES WAS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK"
This new look at the St. Louis series in 1944 includes original film footage, and expert break down of the players and teams involved. Please enjoy this original program from the YouTube channel, SPORTS REWIND. Please click on the link below:
The 1944 World Series Was Closer Than You Think!
https://youtu.be/sp4si6Evjkk
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TOP 100 Browns Countdown
This website has the only Top 100 list of famous St Louis Browns players. Please feel free to free to visit the tab about for the complete list. Here is a brief portion of the list that recognizes some of the best players in the history of the St. Louis Browns.
Players #13-14
13) Hank Severeid, C, 1915-25 - Top 10 in AL MVP voting (1924), Known as the. "Dean of Catchers", Led the AL in Fielding Percentage (1919, 23, 24) and Caught Stealing (1917, 22, 24), Only Catcher in History to catch No-Hitters on consecutive games (5/5 -6/1917)
14) Wally Judnich, OF, 1940-42, 1946-47 - Missed 3 years of MLB career to serve in World War II, lead the AL in Fielding (1940, 42, 46), Rookie season - 24 HR, 89 RBIs, and 97 R
The 1950 St. Louis Browns were a young team that struggled to find some consistency and production from its inexperienced roster. The oldest player in their starting lineup was OF Ray Coleman, and he had less than two years of experience in the Major Leagues. They had an All-Star catcher in Sherm Lollar who was in his second full-time sea
The 1950 St. Louis Browns were a young team that struggled to find some consistency and production from its inexperienced roster. The oldest player in their starting lineup was OF Ray Coleman, and he had less than two years of experience in the Major Leagues. They had an All-Star catcher in Sherm Lollar who was in his second full-time season as a Major Leaguer. Lollar shared the catcher role with Snuffy Stirnweiss, who was the oldest position player on the team at 31. The pitching staff was had very little experience in 1950. Three of the four starting pitchers were under the age of 26,with LHP Stubby Overmire serving as the seasoned veteran.
The inexperience definitely lead to the Browns 58-96 season. They finished last in the league in team total hits and batting average, while the pitching staff lead the league in allowing the most hits and runs.
This is not to say the team was not talented, but thy were all at the beginning of their MLB careers and needed more time to develop. Catchers Les Moss and Shern Lollar, OF Dick Kokos, and RHP Ned Garver, would all become solid players later in ther careers.
SEASON LINEUP