St. Louis Browns' utility infielder, Ed Roetz, was born on August 6, 1905 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He would enjoy a 12-year professional baseall career that included 1032 hits in 984 games while playing for 11 different teams. His career numbers include 2626 doubles, 29 triples, 103 home runs, 300 RBIs, and his batting average never
St. Louis Browns' utility infielder, Ed Roetz, was born on August 6, 1905 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He would enjoy a 12-year professional baseall career that included 1032 hits in 984 games while playing for 11 different teams. His career numbers include 2626 doubles, 29 triples, 103 home runs, 300 RBIs, and his batting average never dropped below .289 at any level. His best seasons may have come at the end of his career, where his story has been retold by the city he played for.
There is little known of Ed Roetz's baseball life before he was signed by the Hanover Raiders of the Blue Ridge League in 1926. The 20-year old would play two seasons with Hanover (1926-27), before hitting 17 home runs for the Wichita Falls Spudders in 1928. This captured the attention of the Browns, who invited Roetz to spring training in 1929.
He would make the St. Louis roster but Browns manager, Dan Howley, did not believe he was Major League ready until the second month of the season. Ed Roetz made his MLB debut on May 26, 1929, against the Cleveland Indians. He would go 1-for-4 at the plate while having three assists and one putout from the shortstop position. He would go on to play just 16 games throughout the entire 1929 season.
Roetz would have challenge some of the Browns best players of the era in order to see time in the lineup. Roetz played five games at first base, two games at second base, eight games at shortstop, and three games at third base. These positions were dominated by Lu Blue (1B), Oscar Melillo (2B), Red Kress (SS), and Frank O'Rourke (3B). Roetz's best game came on June 16, when he went 2-for-4, including a double, two runs scored and an RBI in the Browns' 7-6 win over the Boston Red Sox.
With his limited playing time, Ed Roetz would not be resigned by St. Louis and would play the 1930 season with the Topeka Senators. He would spend the 10 years playing throughout the minor leagues. He saw time with the Richmond Byrds (1931), Albany Senators (1931), Johnstown Johnnies (1934-36), Wilkes-Barre Barons (1937), Baltimore Orioles (1937), and Dover Orioles (1937).
Ed Roetz would play his final two seasons of baseball with the Anniston Rams. He served as the primary offensive power (combined 281 hits, 69 doubles, 17 home runs, 180 RBIs) and team leader across the 1938-39 seasons. His leadership was best describe in his "Big Ben" nickname given to him by his teammates. With all his contributions to the team, Roetz was traded after the 1939 season because the club believed he was too old (33 years old) to help the team any more. He decided to retire from the game.
Ed Roetz returned to Philadelphia, and would enlist in the US Army during World War II in 1943. He served oversees in the 509th military police battalion for two years (1943-45).
Ed Roetz' final statistics with the Browns included 11 hits, four doubles, a triple, five runs batted in, seven runs scored, and six strikeouts in 16 games. It has been written that Ed Roetz may not have received the best look by the Browns, but he never questioned the clubs intentions. He was proud to play for St. Louis, as well as every team he would suit up for.
HEADLINES
"BROWNS POUND WHITE SOX PITCHING FOR 17 HITS IN 16-4 BLOWOUT OVER CHICAGO"
FEATURED GAME
In the first game of a double header, the Browns would exhibit an offensive explosion in the 16-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox. With four multi-run innings in the game, the Browns hit White Sox pitching hard with THREE runs in the first i
HEADLINES
"BROWNS POUND WHITE SOX PITCHING FOR 17 HITS IN 16-4 BLOWOUT OVER CHICAGO"
FEATURED GAME
In the first game of a double header, the Browns would exhibit an offensive explosion in the 16-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox. With four multi-run innings in the game, the Browns hit White Sox pitching hard with THREE runs in the first inning, seven runs in the fifth, four runs in the sixth, and two runs in the eighth inning. The Browns scoring would start in the first inning with runs being driven in by LF Moose Solters, CF Sam West, and 1B Jim Bottomley. The Browns would send 11 batters to the plate in the fifth inning. West would belt a three run home run, Solters would single in two runs, 2B Tom Carey adding a run scoring double, and catcher Tony Giuliani adding an RBI of his own. The White Sox would replace pitcher Vern Kennedy with Bill Shores and the Browns continued the scoring. They would bring in four more runs in the sixth inning, on 3B Harlond Clift's home run, a run scoring double by Sam West, and two runs coming off a single by Tom Carey. The Browns would cap off their barrage in the eighth with back-to-back scoring drives by Bottomley and Carey. These runs gave Browns RHP Ivy Andrews enough support, that he just needed to pitch a solid game. His complete game victory would include giving up 12 hits, but only allowing four runs to score. It would be Andrew's third victory of the season.
BROWNS RECORD ON THIS DAY
Overall Record on August 5
25 Wins, 27 Losses One Tie (.471)
1902-09: 5-3
1910-19: 4-6
1920-29: 6-6
1930-39: 5-2-1
1940-49: 3-7
1950-53: 2-3
DOUBLE HEADERS
Sweeps: 2
Splits: 7
Swept: 3
TRANSACTIONS
There were no transactions on this day
DEBUTS
There were no debuts on this day
BROWNS BIRTHDAYS
1903 - LHP Hal Wiltse (1928)
1904 - RHP Herb Cobb (1929)
1905 - UTIL Ed Roetz (1929)
1926 - RHP Ralph Schwamb (1948)
The 1935 St. Louis Browns offensive statistics are often confusing when looking at the players from the roster. Some of the best hitters in franchise history were on this team. Like most of the Browns' teams of the 1930s, the offense often found themselves behind opposing teams early in games. CF Sam West, 3B Harlond Clift, 1B Jack Burns,
The 1935 St. Louis Browns offensive statistics are often confusing when looking at the players from the roster. Some of the best hitters in franchise history were on this team. Like most of the Browns' teams of the 1930s, the offense often found themselves behind opposing teams early in games. CF Sam West, 3B Harlond Clift, 1B Jack Burns, LF Moose Solters, and UTIL Beau Bell would all have great offensive careers with the Browns. They were just not able to bring it all together in 1935.
Batting Leaders
with A.L. rankings in (#)
Team Statistics:
Player Statistics