St. Louis Browns LHP Wally Hebert was born on August 21, 1907 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He would carry the nickname of "Preacher" from his childhood, when his school classmates thought the hat that he wore was a preacher's hat. He would go on to be a four-sport athlete at Lake Charles High School (baseball, football, basketball, and tra
St. Louis Browns LHP Wally Hebert was born on August 21, 1907 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He would carry the nickname of "Preacher" from his childhood, when his school classmates thought the hat that he wore was a preacher's hat. He would go on to be a four-sport athlete at Lake Charles High School (baseball, football, basketball, and track). Hebert would become a national phenomenon in his rookie campaign, and many believe that he was the first "Cajun" big leader.
Wally Hebert was playing semipro baseball in the Gulf State League when he was discovered by Browns' scout, Ray Cahill. He would sign with St. Louis and be placed with the Springfield Midgets of the Western Association. After a 15-16 season with Springfield, where he pitched in 241 innings over 36 games, many were surprised when he was invited to the Browns spring training in 1931.
The Browns were desperate for left-handed pitching in 1931, they kept Hebert on the roster to throw batting practice. By the end of April, it was apparent that he had the tools to make a strong MLB pitcher. Wally Hebert would make his MLB debut on May 1, 1931, in relief of Dick Coffman.
The next few weeks were magical for the rookie pitcher. On June 11, 1931, he pitched an iconic game against the two-time World Series champions, Philadelphia Athletics. He held the best hitting offense to seven hits and two runs, as the Browns won the game 8-2. Hebert's game was so impressive, the newspapers began to write poems of his accomplishments. The following passage was written by LC Davis, and it appeared in the St. Louis Post Dispatch on July 13, 1931.
Fans, Meet Mr. Hebert.
Young Wallace Hebert,
Brown recruit,
Put on his junior baseball suit,
And neatly trimmed the A’s.
When Wallace gave the Browns a leg,
And moved his playmates up a peg,
The fans were in a daze.
The world-renowned White Elephants
Could do but little with his slants,
And proved an easy mark.
Though Wally was still in his teens,
He spilled the scrapple and the beans,
All over Connie’s park.
The A’s were eating from his mitt,
And as the pill they couldn’t hit,
He had them on the run.
Not only that, the useful ace,
Struck Simmons out with three on base,
A thing that’s seldom done.
Hebert continued to amaze in his rookie season with the Browns. He pitched three consecutive complete game for the Browns over an eight day period from June 21-28, beating the Yankees, Athletics, and Red Sox in order.
As fast as Wally Hebert's career exploded in 1931, it suddenly began to spudder in the last half of the season. He would begin to suffer from arm fatigue that would haunt him the rest of his career. He would win six games with a 5.07 ERA in his rookie season, but would fall to a 1-12 record in 1932, and a 4-6 record in 1933. His 6.48 ERA in 1932 was the highest in the league.
Following the 1933 season, the Browns would trade Hebert to the Hollywood Stars (PCL) along with OF Smead Jolly and SS Jim Levey for SS/3B Alan Strange (December 14, 1933). Hebert would find new success in the Pacific Coast League where he pitched for Hollywood (1934-35), and the San Diego Padres (1936-42). He would return to the Major Leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1944, but decided to refuse any further baseball contracts in order to raise his family.
Wally Hebert would eventually retire from baseball, settling down in Westlake, Louisiana, where worked at the local Firestone plant. He enjoyed telling stories of his playing days, and his children would often brag that their dad struck out Babe Ruth.
HEADLINES OF THE DAY
"NOT YOUR DAY BABE!!! - BROWNS CLOBBER YANKS' PITCHING FOR 19 HITS AND 15 RUNS IN DOUBLE HEADER SWEEP."
BROWNS HISTORY ON THIS DAY...
The Browns played 55 games on this day.
The Browns overall record on this day:
22 Wins 23 Losses One Tie
(.400 Winning Percentage)
Breakdown of the Browns' record
on this day by dec
HEADLINES OF THE DAY
"NOT YOUR DAY BABE!!! - BROWNS CLOBBER YANKS' PITCHING FOR 19 HITS AND 15 RUNS IN DOUBLE HEADER SWEEP."
BROWNS HISTORY ON THIS DAY...
The Browns played 55 games on this day.
The Browns overall record on this day:
22 Wins 23 Losses One Tie
(.400 Winning Percentage)
Breakdown of the Browns' record
on this day by decade (wins - losses):
1902-09: 2 - 4 - 1
1910-19: 2 - 5
1920-29: 7 - 5
1930-39: 3 - 6
1940-41: 6 - 8
1950-53: 2 - 4
The Browns would tie the Philadelphia Athletics, 1-1, in 1906. The game would be called after 90 minutes, and seven innings played. There is no documentation for the stoppage of play, but it could only be assumed that it started to rain.
The Browns would see action in ELEVEN double headers on this day.
HIGHLIGHT GAME
GAME 1921- The Browns would score 15 runs in a double header sweep over the Babe Ruth led Yankees. GAME 1 - Jacobson drives in Sisler with the winning run in the Browns 5-4 victory in Game 1. RHP Urban Shocker would pitch a complete game masterpiece, allowing just two earned run over nine innings. he would gain his 19th win of the season by scattering eight hits, six walks, an intentional walk, nine strikeouts, and a hit batter. He also was able to pick off Babe Ruth while Ruth was leading off first base. The Browns offense was led by St. louis native, RF Jack Tobin, who drove in three runs with an fifth inning home run. 1B George Sisler would add a runs scoring double in the fourth inning, and CF Baby Doll Jacobson would drive in Sisler for the winning run in the 6th inning. GAME 2 - The Browns outfield showed thatthey were one of the best in baseball as they led the Browns to a 10-0 blowout. The three outfielders combined 9-for-15 with five RBIs, five runs scored, two stolen bases, and 12 total bases. LF Ken Williams would hit his 18th home run of the season to deep right field. The two-run homer, along with the RBI single in the third inning, would give Williams three RBIs on the day. RF Jack Tobin would go 4-for 5, scoring two and dring in one. CF Baby Doll Jacobson would add three hits, two runs, and an RBI. George Sisler, catcher Hank Severeid, and 2B Marty McManus would all tally an RBI in the contest. LHP Billy Bayne would pitch a complete game shutout, allowing just four hits while striking out ten Yankees. He would strikeout Babe Ruth twice.
TRANSACTIONS
1909 - Browns purchase the contract of RHP Jack Gilligan from the Vancouver Beavers for $2,000. Gilligan would appear in 12 games over two seasons with a 1-5 record and an ERA of 4.33
1917 - Browns sell the contract of catcher Muddy Ruel to the Yankees. The St. Louis native, who saw brief action with the Browns in 1915, was playing in the minors at the time of the transaction. He would spend time away from baseball while serving in the military in World War I before reporting to the Yankees.
1951 - Browns voided the contract of PH Eddie Gaedel after his famous at bat on September 19, 1951
THERE WERE NO DEBUTS ON THIS DAY
The St. Louis Browns were not the best hitting team in the American League in 1934. They did not have the big hitters that the teams in Detroit and New York had, but they did have young dynamic ball players that were getting ready to hit their stride. The most established player of the roster, CF Sam West, was one of the best contact hitt
The St. Louis Browns were not the best hitting team in the American League in 1934. They did not have the big hitters that the teams in Detroit and New York had, but they did have young dynamic ball players that were getting ready to hit their stride. The most established player of the roster, CF Sam West, was one of the best contact hitters in the game. It was West's second year playing with Browns, and his second season as the Browns representative in the MLB All-Star game. He would lead the Browns for the second season in a row with a .326 batting average. He also lead the team in on base percentage (.403), slugging (.469), and OPS+ (118). The Browns also had accomlished hitters like catcher Rollie Hemsley, 1B Jack Burns, and RF Bruce Campbell. The Browns would also welcome their thrid baseman of the future, Harlond Clift, who would have a quiet Hall of Fame worthy career. The Browns did not rceive any credit from the rest of the league. No one on the lineup would strike fear into the opposing pitchers. The Browns only received ten intentional walks during the entire 1934 season.
1934 Batting Leaders with A.L. rankings in (#)
Team Statistics:
Player Statistics