St. Louis Browns OF/PH Herschel Bennett was born on September 21, 1896 in Elwood, Missouri. He is the only Major League player to come out of Elwood, which is just west of Springfield, Missouri. Prior to beginning his professional baseball career, Bennett played baseball and graduated from Drury University in Springfield. He was the first
St. Louis Browns OF/PH Herschel Bennett was born on September 21, 1896 in Elwood, Missouri. He is the only Major League player to come out of Elwood, which is just west of Springfield, Missouri. Prior to beginning his professional baseball career, Bennett played baseball and graduated from Drury University in Springfield. He was the first Drury graduate to play in the Major Leagues.
Herschel Bennett began his baseball career in 1920 with his hometown Springfield Merchants. He would later go on to the Muskogee Mets (1921), and the Tulsa Oilers (1921-23) before signing with the Browns prior to the 1923 season.
He would spend his entire MLB career with the Browns. For five seasons (1923-27), Herschel Bennett would appear in 312 games for St. Louis, 200 games in the outfield, 109 as a pinch hitter, and seven as a pinch runner. His best season came in 1925, when he batted .279 in 93 games. His totals with the Browns also included 242 hits, including 41 doubles, 13 triples, seven home runs, and 102 RBIs.
There was a report that in 1927 Bennett crashed into a wall at a game in Philadelphia's Shibe Park. He fell into a 36 hour coma, which would a lasting impact on the rest of his professional career.
In 1928, the Browns dealt him to the Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association. It would be the first of seven teams Bennett would play for over the final five seasons of his career. Though under contract with the Browns, but playing for numerous minor league teams, Bennett believed that St. Louis was preventing him from excelling with another MLB franchise. This fueled an ongoing dispute between Browns owner, Phil Ball, and the Commissioner of Baseball, Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Landis believed that players under contract with a major league team should keep those players on the major league roster. One federal judge ruled in favor of Landis stating that a baseball contract is not a controlling document that links a player to a team. A second judge would over turn the original ruling stating that the Baseball farm system was a legitimate training program, and Landis' ruling was defeated. Herschel Bennett's final season came in 1932 with the Quincy Indians. Although his Major League batting average was .276, he would bat .308 in the minor leagues.
After his playing career, Bennett would return to Springfield where he raised his family, and served as the city Commissioner of Revenue.
HEADLINES
"SATCHEL PAIGE CLOSES OUT WASHINGTON BY PITCHING THE FINAL THREE INNINGS IN BROWNS VICTORY "
FEATURED GAME
1951 - The Browns would score three unanswered runs late against the Washington Nationals as Satchel Paige closes out the game, 4-3. The Browns would combine for 13 hits from nine players in the lineup. CF Cliff Mapes would st
HEADLINES
"SATCHEL PAIGE CLOSES OUT WASHINGTON BY PITCHING THE FINAL THREE INNINGS IN BROWNS VICTORY "
FEATURED GAME
1951 - The Browns would score three unanswered runs late against the Washington Nationals as Satchel Paige closes out the game, 4-3. The Browns would combine for 13 hits from nine players in the lineup. CF Cliff Mapes would start the scoring with a first inning homer to right field. After Washington takes a 3-1 lead, the Browns would score two runs in the seventh when pinch hitter Ben Taylor hits a triple, driving in LF Ken Wood. Frank Saucier would pinch run for Taylor, and would score on pinch hitter Tommy Byrne's single. The Browns would take the lead in the eighth innings when RF Earl Rapp acores on a single by catcher Sherm Lollar. Satchel Paige would strikeout five batters in the final three innings.
BROWNS RECORD ON THIS DAY
Overall Record on SEPTEMBER 20
26 Wins, 28 Losses One Tie (.472)
1902-09: 5-3-1
1910-19: 4-5
1920-29: 4-8
1930-39: 6-6
1940-49: 4-3
1950-53: 3-3
DOUBLE HEADERS
Sweeps: 2
Splits: 5
Swept: 5
TRANSACTIONS
1917 - Browns selected RHP Byron Houck from the Portland Beavers in the Rule 5 Draft
DEBUTS
1915 - RHP Johnny Tillman would enter the game in relief for RHP Allen Sothoron in the fourth inning. He would pitch 1.2 innings, allowing one run, on one hit, and a walk in the Browns 6-0 loss to the Washington Nationals.
1919 - LHP Bill Bayne earns the start against the Philadelphia A's, going three innings, giving up seven hits, a walk, leading to three runs. Bayne would go single in the Browns loss, 7-2, to the Philadelphia Athletics.
1939 - RHP Loy Hanning would be the second pitcher used in a 16 inning win over the Boston Red Sox. Pitching just the sixth and seventh innings, he would give up a hit, a walk, while striking out one batter.
1940 - RHP Maury Newlin would earn a win after pitching the first six innings of the 7-6 victory over the Chicago White Sox. While striking out three batters, he would allow two walks, four hits, and four runs.
BROWNS BIRTHDAYS ON SEPTEMBER 20
There are no birthdays on this day
The 1948 St. Louis Browns finished the season sixth in the American League with a 59-94 record. They would finish 37 games behind the World Series Champions, Cleveland Indians. They also finshed 18.5 games behind the fifth place Detroit Tigers, and 7.5 games in front of the last place Chicago White Sox. The team was made up of young, inex
The 1948 St. Louis Browns finished the season sixth in the American League with a 59-94 record. They would finish 37 games behind the World Series Champions, Cleveland Indians. They also finshed 18.5 games behind the fifth place Detroit Tigers, and 7.5 games in front of the last place Chicago White Sox. The team was made up of young, inexperiened players who were just getting their MLB careers started. Many of the experienced players from the previous season were traded in order to reduce payroll, increase the number of prospects, and help keep the financial books in a positive light. The average age of this team was 27.2 years, with the pitching staff at 26.2 years old. Future stars like OF Dick Kokos, Ken Wood, and RHP Ned Garver would be rookies in 1948. Even with this youth movement, the Browns would still trade seven players by the end of the season.
SEASON LINEUP