St. Louis native, Frank Huelsman was born on June, 5, 1874. The left fielder would build a 19-year professional baseball career, spending three seasons in the Majors, 15 years the minors, and two seasons with independent teams. Huelsman's brief MLB career brought him to both St. Louis Browns teams. He would play two games for the National
St. Louis native, Frank Huelsman was born on June, 5, 1874. The left fielder would build a 19-year professional baseball career, spending three seasons in the Majors, 15 years the minors, and two seasons with independent teams. Huelsman's brief MLB career brought him to both St. Louis Browns teams. He would play two games for the National League St. Louis Browns (two games, three hits on seven at bats), and 20 games with the American League Browns in 1904.
Frank Huelsman began his career at the age of 23, when he signed with the St. Louis Browns in 1897. After taking a year off, he would go on to play for Quincy of the Western League (1899), Peoria Distillers (1900, Danville Champions (1900), Shreveport Giants (1901-03), Spokane Indians (1903), and the Portland Browns (1903). He would hit over .340 with each of these steps in the minors.
Huelsman would be the first player in Major League history to play for four teams in one season. In 1904 he played for the White Sox (twice), Tigers, Browns, and the Senators. The Browns would acquire Huelsman on June 16, 1904, when they purchased his contract from the White Sox.
He would only spend a month in St. Louis before moving on. In that month, he would record 15 hits, including two doubles, and a triple. In 68 at bats he hit .221, and drove in just one run. On July 14, 1904, he was traded with 3B Hunter Hill to Washington for UTIL Charles Moran.
The rest of his MLB career was fairly quiet, but that was not the case in his second stint in the minors. From 1906 - 16, he would become one of the strongest hitters in both the Union League, and Tri-State League. He would lead the leagues in 22 batting categories in 10 years. He would hold six home run titles , five batting titles, three RBI titles, and lead the league in doubles and triples three times each. He would record two Triple Crowns titles, and miss a third by only .002. He achieved this by primarily playing for the Salt Lake City Skyscapers (1913-14) and Great Fall Electrics (1911-12). He would also see time with the Omaha Rourkes and Albuquerque Dukes in 1915.
After he retired from baseball, he return to St. Louis where he settled down in Affton.
HEADLINE
"DONAHUE'S HOMER LEADS BROWNS OVER ORIOLES"
FEATURED GAMES
1902 - The Browns would hold off a late charge by the 'original' Baltimore Orioles, while Jiggs Donahue homers in the Browns 7-6 win. Catcher Donahue would hit his only home run as a Browns off Tom Hughes, driving in two runs. 3B Barry McCormick would go 3-for-5 with a doubl
HEADLINE
"DONAHUE'S HOMER LEADS BROWNS OVER ORIOLES"
FEATURED GAMES
1902 - The Browns would hold off a late charge by the 'original' Baltimore Orioles, while Jiggs Donahue homers in the Browns 7-6 win. Catcher Donahue would hit his only home run as a Browns off Tom Hughes, driving in two runs. 3B Barry McCormick would go 3-for-5 with a double and RBI. SS Bobby Wallace would double and score a run. Hall of Famer LF Jesse Burkett would go 2-for-4 and drive in a run. Browns starting pitcher Bill Reidy would go 8.1 innings, scattering ten hits, six runs, and striking out three. Jack Powell would come in and face the final four batters of the game, issuing a hit, a walk, and two strikeouts.
BROWNS' ALL-TIME RECORD ON THIS DAY
25 WINS, 16 LOSSES, ONE TIE
(.609 winning percentage)
WINS BY DECADE
1902-09: 5-0
1910-19: 5-4
1920-29: 4-5
1930-39: 4-4
1940-49: 6-2-1
1950-53: 1-1
DOUBLE-HEADERS ON THIS DAY
TRANSACTIONS
THERE WERE NO TANSACTIONS ON THIS DAY
DEBUTS
1949 - PH Frankie Pack makes his MLB debut as a pinch hitter for Sherm Lollar, in a 6-4 loss to the Yankees. It would be his only at bat and strikeout in his MLB career.
BROWNS' BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1874 - LF Frank Huelsman (1904)
The impact of the 1946 Browns was more off the field than on the field. The Browns ownership had just changed from Donald Barnes to Frank Muckerman.
Muckerman brought new spirit and money into a team that was just two years away from the American League championship. However, Muckerman was not a baseball man who understood the situations
The impact of the 1946 Browns was more off the field than on the field. The Browns ownership had just changed from Donald Barnes to Frank Muckerman.
Muckerman brought new spirit and money into a team that was just two years away from the American League championship. However, Muckerman was not a baseball man who understood the situations and the times he was involved. With World War II ending, and the baseball soldiers returning, Muckerman believed that the 1946 team would have all the tools they needed.
He took a hard stance on contract signings, and then spent lavishly on training facilities. The on-field leadership was also changing. Luke Sewell, who guided the team to their World Series was in his sixth year as manager, and Muckerman gave him all the support at the beginning of the season. However, when the season looked dismal, Sewell was removed and Zack Taylor took over the team. The team under performed all season. Only one pitcher would have a winning record, most players experienced below average production, and the players that came back from the war needed more time to regain their skills.
The team would go 66-88, which was far below their expectations. It would also be the Browns best record over their remaining time in St. Louis.