St. Louis browns RHP Frank "Ribs" Raney was born on February 16, 1923, in Detroit, Michigan. His birth name was Frank Robert Donald Raniszewski, which makes "Ribs" Raney easier to remember. His slender build at 6'4" and 190 pounds may have been the contributing factor to his "Ribs" nickname.
He attended Western Michigan University beginnin
St. Louis browns RHP Frank "Ribs" Raney was born on February 16, 1923, in Detroit, Michigan. His birth name was Frank Robert Donald Raniszewski, which makes "Ribs" Raney easier to remember. His slender build at 6'4" and 190 pounds may have been the contributing factor to his "Ribs" nickname.
He attended Western Michigan University beginning in 1942, and continued to take classes through the 1949 season. After six seasons in the minor leagues, he would spend his entire MLB career with the Browns (1949-50).
Raney's entire professional baseball career would span nine minor league teams over ten seasons. Before appearing for the Browns, he had stops with teams in every level of the Browns organization including with the Paragould Browns (1941), Huntington Jewels (1942), Toledo Mud Hens (1943), and Elmore Pioneers (1943). While pitching for Huntington, he would league the Mountain State League in 1942 with 146 strikeouts.
Raney would serve two years with the US Navy during World War II (1944-45). When Raney returned from war, he returned to the minors and spent time with Toledo (1946-48), Little Rock Travelers (1946), and the Elmira Pioneers (1949).
Raney would enjoy two quick visits to the Browns in 1949 and 1950. His MLB debut came as a starting pitcher on September 18, 1949 against the Philadelphia Athletics. He would only last just one out in the first inning, after giving up five earned runs on 10 hits, one home run, and six walks. The amazing stat of his debut comes in his 162.00 ERA for that one-third of an inning. It is undocumented that this exploded ERA is in the record books, but it would be tough to come back from this outing. But "Ribs" Raney did come back in a flurry. After a seven inning outing on September 23rd versus the Chicago White Sox, his only Major League win came in a 8-6 complete game victory over the Chicago White Sox on October 1, 1949.
The Browns would keep Raney around for spring training of the 1950 season. He would appear in just two innings on April 23, in relief of starting pitcher, Ed Albrecht. Raney would give up two runs on two hits and two walks in a 9-6 loss to the Cleveland Indians. The Browns would option Raney to minors with the Baltimore Orioles (1950), Toronto Maple Leafs (1951), Birmingham Barons (1951), and the Oklahoma City Indians (1951).
"Ribs" Raney would finish his Major League career with a 1-3 record, including seven strikeouts, 14 walks, and an ERA of 7.36. Across his minor league career his stats line would include 79 victories, 51 complete games, 718 strikeouts, and six seasons with an ERA under 5.00.
After his baseball career, Raney would return to Michigan and begin a career with General Motors. He would be a lifelong employee of the auto maker before his retirement.
Today's Browns Quote
“If all pitchers were like you, no one would have heard of me.”
~ Babe Ruth speaking to Browns pitcher Hub Pruett, published in the Sporting News, March 9, 1955
BROWNS' BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1923 - RHP Frank "Ribs" Raney (1949-50)
TRANSACTIONS
1925 - Browns sold the player rights of LHP Hub Pruett to the Oakland Oaks of
Today's Browns Quote
“If all pitchers were like you, no one would have heard of me.”
~ Babe Ruth speaking to Browns pitcher Hub Pruett, published in the Sporting News, March 9, 1955
BROWNS' BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1923 - RHP Frank "Ribs" Raney (1949-50)
TRANSACTIONS
1925 - Browns sold the player rights of LHP Hub Pruett to the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League. "Shucks" Pruett was from Malden, Missouri located in the southeast portion of the state. He went to college at St. Louis University, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, and the University of Missouri. He would play three season with St. Louis from 1922 to 1924. In that time, he would record a 14-18 record in 289 innings pitched, striking out 156 batters and walking 165. The Browns sent Pruett to Oakland for an undisclosed amount of money. He turned his game around while playing for Oakland. In the two seasons pitching within the PCL, he rolled through 486 innings in 88 games. He recorded a 32-28 record, and gained the attention of the Philadelphia Phillies who brought him back to the Majors in 1927. Hub Pruett would return to St. Louis after his playing days, and become one of the most trusted doctors in the city.
The 1936 St. Louis Browns had a record of 57-95, finishing in seventh place in the American League, 44.5 games behind the New York Yankees. The Browns failed to reach a winning record against any American League team, although they would have a 11-11 mark over the Detroit Tigers. They would have a dismal start to the season, with a 21-42
The 1936 St. Louis Browns had a record of 57-95, finishing in seventh place in the American League, 44.5 games behind the New York Yankees. The Browns failed to reach a winning record against any American League team, although they would have a 11-11 mark over the Detroit Tigers. They would have a dismal start to the season, with a 21-42 record over the first three months. This would be a recurring story for the Browns during the years of the Great Depression.
Season Breakdown: