St. Louis Browns pinch hitter and right fielder, Earl Pruess, was born on April 2, 1895 in Chicago, Illinois. There is little known about the life and career of Pruess, except that he lived his entire MLB dream in just two-plus innings on September 15, 1920. He would play along side some of the greatest names in franchise history, includi
St. Louis Browns pinch hitter and right fielder, Earl Pruess, was born on April 2, 1895 in Chicago, Illinois. There is little known about the life and career of Pruess, except that he lived his entire MLB dream in just two-plus innings on September 15, 1920. He would play along side some of the greatest names in franchise history, including Georg Sisler, Baby Doll Jacobson, and Hank Severeid.
Pruess was 25 years old when he began playing professional baseball with the Cedar Rapids Rabbits. There is no record of him playing high school, college, or semipro baseball, but it is assumed that he played some form of baseball before joining the Rabbits. He would record 33 hits in 55 games for Cedar Rapids, including seven doubles, three triples, a home run, and a .186 average.
There is no apparent reason for the Browns to welcome up Earl Pruess for a late season game, but he would make his MLB debut on September 15, against the Boston Red Sox. The Browns would be up 15-3, when Puess would pinch hit for Browns right fielder Jack Tobin. Tobin had already gone 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored, when Pruess entered the game in the seventh inning. With one out and Browns' LF Lyman Lamb on first base, Earl Pruess earned a walk off Boston's Waite Hoyt. He would steal second base, and reach third on a ground ball out by Carl Weilman. Earl Pruess would score as the next batter, SS Wally Gerber ripped a single to center field. He would stay in the game and catch a fly ball from Boston's Ossie Vitt in the eighth inning, and Mike McNally in the nineth inning. Earl Pruess' final MLB statistics would include one plate appearance, one walk, one steal, one run scored, and two putouts in the field. With these stats, Pruess faded into the rests of his adult life. There is no record of him playing organized baseball after his single MLB game.
It could easily be assumed that he participated in other semipro or recreational leagues, but that is not the rest of his story. Earl Pruess would settle down in the small town of Itasca, Illinois, where he served as the town trustee. He would also become a boxing champion, and one of the top bowlers of his era.
The St. Louis Browns have plenty of players that had brief careers in the Majors. Earl Pruess could be the best example of the Browns' "Moonlight Graham" in their history. A player who only had a small taste of the big leagues, but made the most of that opportunity. Players like Pruess are just as important to the history of the Browns as the all-stars and legends.
FUN DAILY FACT
Today's Browns' player focus is on Earl Pruess. His nickname was "Gibby", and is the only player in MLB history to have the "Gibby" moniker without the Gibson name.
BROWNS' BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1878 - RHP Jack Harper (1902)
1875 - LHP Ed Siever (1903-04)
1895 - PH/RF Earl Pruess (1920)
TRANSACTIONS
1946 - Browns trade St. Louis n
FUN DAILY FACT
Today's Browns' player focus is on Earl Pruess. His nickname was "Gibby", and is the only player in MLB history to have the "Gibby" moniker without the Gibson name.
BROWNS' BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1878 - RHP Jack Harper (1902)
1875 - LHP Ed Siever (1903-04)
1895 - PH/RF Earl Pruess (1920)
TRANSACTIONS
1946 - Browns trade St. Louis native Milt Byrnes to the New York Yankees for catcher/first baseman Ken Sears and cash. Milt Byrnes was one of thise encouraging stories that took place during the World War II era in baseball. He earned a spot on the Browns roster after many of their veterans had been drafted into service. He made the most of his opportunity. He was a 3 year starter in the outfield, playing center field in 1943 and moving to left field in 1944-45. In 390 games, he hit 16 home runs, 154 RBIs, and batted .274. After the trade, "Skippy" Byrnes would be sent to the minors where he would play out the rest of his career. The Browns received Ken "Ziggy" Sears from the Yankees. He had played in 60 games with the Yankees in 1943, batted .278, and won a World Series ring. He would send the 1944-45 seasons serving in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was traded to the Browns just four months after being discharged from the service. The Browns started him with the San Antonio Missions where he hit .295 in 50 games. He would finish the 1946 season with the Browns, hitting .333 in just seven games. He would return to the minor leagues in 1947, splitting time between San Antonio and Little Rock for the 1947
The 1940 St. Louis Browns pitching staff was in transition from one of the worst in the 1930s, to showing definate inprovements as the new decade began. The team added two strong veterans, which would also bring leadership to a staff in need of improving. RHP Eldon Auker would take on the leadership position among a staff that wold improv
The 1940 St. Louis Browns pitching staff was in transition from one of the worst in the 1930s, to showing definate inprovements as the new decade began. The team added two strong veterans, which would also bring leadership to a staff in need of improving. RHP Eldon Auker would take on the leadership position among a staff that wold improve its team ERA by over 1 run from the previous season.
Team Pitching Statistics
(American League Rankings)
Player Statistics