St. Louis Browns RF/3B Larry Bettencourt was born on September 22, 1905 in Newark, California. Bettencourt would be a two-sport athlete at St. Mary's College of California, where he played baseball with future Browns teammate, Len Dondero. He would sign the largest contract for a rookie out of college in MLB history, when the Browns award
St. Louis Browns RF/3B Larry Bettencourt was born on September 22, 1905 in Newark, California. Bettencourt would be a two-sport athlete at St. Mary's College of California, where he played baseball with future Browns teammate, Len Dondero. He would sign the largest contract for a rookie out of college in MLB history, when the Browns awarded him $6,000 to play in St. Louis.
Larry Bettencourt would join the Browns after graduation, and debut against Washington on June 2, 1928. He went 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. He would finish his rookie season batting .283, while recording more hits (45) than strikeouts (19). With four third basemen on the St. Louis roster, Bettencourt was forced to the minors for the next two seasons. He would play for the Milwaukee Brewers (1929), Buffalo Bison (1929), and the Wichita Falls Spudders (1929-30).
Bettencourt would rejoin the Browns in 1931 and have his best MLB season, when he batted .257 in 74 games. He would record 53 hits, score 27 runs, and drive in another 26 runs. In his second stint with the Browns, shift to focusing on playing the outfield. He would see action in three games in left and 55 games in right field. The 1932 season did not fair as well for Bettencourt. His average dropped to .133 after only posting four hits in 27 games.
Bettencourt would be added to a deal the Browns made with the Milwaukee Brewers on October 22, 1932. St. Louis would send Bettencourt and Ed Grimes as "players to be named later" from a deal that was made on September 15, 1932. Bettencourt would spend the remaining ten years of his career in the minor leagues. He would appear for Milwaukee (1933), San Antonio Missions (1933-37), New Orleans Pelicans (1937), Trenton Senators (1938), Williamsport Grays (1938-39), Springfield Nationals (1940), Grand Fork Chiefs (1941), and the Minneapolis Millers (1944).
He would step away from baseball after he was drafted in to service during World War II (1942-43).
Larry Bettencourt was an All-American football player while at St. Mary's while also playing baseball. He would continue to play football in 1932-33 as he saw action with the Green Bay Packers. He would eventually be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Larry Bettencourt would eventually settle down in New Orleans where he enjoyed the food, the music, and the soul of the city
HEADLINES
"BROWNS' FINAL WIN AS LARSON AND PAIGE DEFEAT DETROIT"
FEATURED GAME
1953 - In what would be the final win in the history of the St. Louis Browns, Satchel Paige and Don Larsen take care of the Detroit batters, while 1B Ed Mickelson and CF Johnny Groth lead the Browns offense in the 7-3 decision. The browns would record nine hits wh
HEADLINES
"BROWNS' FINAL WIN AS LARSON AND PAIGE DEFEAT DETROIT"
FEATURED GAME
1953 - In what would be the final win in the history of the St. Louis Browns, Satchel Paige and Don Larsen take care of the Detroit batters, while 1B Ed Mickelson and CF Johnny Groth lead the Browns offense in the 7-3 decision. The browns would record nine hits while every player in the lineup reached base.
FIRST INNING - With two outs, RF Jim Dyck reached second base on a throwing error by Tigers' 2B Reno Bertoia. LF Don Lenhardt singles the left field, driving in Dyck (Browns 1-0).
FOURTH INNING - After a Tiger home run in the bottom of the first, Johnny Groth hit a home run to deep left field in the top of the fourth inning, putting the Browns back on top (Browns 2-1).
FIFTH INNING - SS Billy Hunter starts a three-run rally with a walk, followed by an Ed Mickelson double that scores Hunter. The next batter would be Jim Dyck who would also double, driving in Mickelson. Don Lenhardt would then single which moved Dyck to third base. He would later score on a Johnny Groth RBI ground out (Browns 5-1). The bottom of the eighth saw the Tigers bring home two runs, for a Browns 5-3 lead.
NINTH INNING - 2B Bobby Young and RHP Don Larsen both single to start the inning, and after PH Don Kryhoski walks the bases loaded. Don Lenhardt come to bat, and a pass ball scores Don Larsen. Lenhardt eventually walks to load the bases. Johnny Groth follows with a walk, bringing in Kryhoski. The Browns last win was a 7-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers, at Detroit's home park of Briggs Stadium in front of 20,072 fans
BROWNS RECORD ON THIS DAY
Overall Record on SEPTEMBER 22
22 Wins, 24 Losses (.478)
1902-09: 3-2
1910-19: 6-3
1920-29: 4-6
1930-39: 2-6
1940-49: 5-6
1950-53: 2-1
DOUBLE HEADERS
Sweeps: 3
Splits: 4
Swept: 4
TRANSACTIONS
There were no transactions made on this day
DEBUTS
1913 - RF Tod Sloan would double and later score a run in the Browns 7-5 win over the Washington Nationals
1924 - RHP Walter "Boom Boom" Beck pitches a scoreless eighth inning allowing two hits, a walk, in the 9-7 Browns loss to the Philadelphia Athletics
1934 - RHP Jim Walkup would relieve Ivy Andrews in the eighth inning. He would pitch the final two frames, allowing two runs on a hit, four walks, while striking out two Tigers, in the 8-3 loss to Detroit
BROWNS BIRTHDAYS ON SEPTEMBER 22
1890 - RHP Urban Shocker (1918-24)
1905 - RF/3B Larry Bettencourt (1928,31-32)
1923 - PH/OF Tom Wright (1952)
The 1948 St. Louis Browns were led by Zack Taylor, who was beginning his second tour as the skipper in St. Louis. After a 16 year MLB season (1920-35), Taylor started coaching in the minors with the Reading Brooks (1936), before finding his way to the Browns organization. He coached with the San Antonio Missions (1937-39) and the Toledo M
The 1948 St. Louis Browns were led by Zack Taylor, who was beginning his second tour as the skipper in St. Louis. After a 16 year MLB season (1920-35), Taylor started coaching in the minors with the Reading Brooks (1936), before finding his way to the Browns organization. He coached with the San Antonio Missions (1937-39) and the Toledo Mud Hens (1940-41), before joining the Browns Major League staff in 1941.
His first stint as Browns manager came in 1946 as he took over for Luke Sewell, where he finish the season with a 13-17 record. In 1947, the open managerial position would go to St. Louis native Muddy Ruel, while many believed that Taylor deserved the job. Taylor would coach in Pittsburgh as Ruel led the team to a dismal 59-95 record. Rule was out, and Taylor was called back to work some miracles with the Browns.
The Browns management had sold off most of the team's proven quality players, and Taylor had difficult time making a lineup that could compete with some of the great teams of the era. In 1947, the Browns would win 59 games, and no one pointed the finger at Taylor for his work. Taylor would manage the Browns for four seasons, and his 1948 team was his best team.