St. Louis Browns RHP Don Larsen was born on August 7, 1929 in Michigan City, Indiana. This would be the same Don Larsen that would reach baseball immortality as the first pitcher to throw a perfect game in the 1956 World Series. This is the same Don Larsen that would be considered a New York Yankee legend, and celebrated for years in Yank
St. Louis Browns RHP Don Larsen was born on August 7, 1929 in Michigan City, Indiana. This would be the same Don Larsen that would reach baseball immortality as the first pitcher to throw a perfect game in the 1956 World Series. This is the same Don Larsen that would be considered a New York Yankee legend, and celebrated for years in Yankee Stadium. Many modern day baseball fans do not realize before his postseason accomplishments, he was a prospect for the St. Louis Browns.
Don Larsen and his family would relocate to San Diego in his teenage years, and he would become a multi-sport athlete at Point Loma High School. After receiving several college scholarship offers to play basketball, Larsen was discovered by Browns scout, Art Schwartz, who signed him for just $850.
The Browns would first assign the 17-year old prospect to the Aberdeen Pheasants of the Northern League, where he would spend two seasons (1947-48). After a 17-11 record in 1948, Larsen would split the following seasons between the Globe-Miami Browns (Arizona-Texas League) and the Springfield Browns (Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League). After tallying 50 strikeouts in 72 innings with a 4.38 ERA with Springfield, the Browns promoted him to the Class A Wichita Indians in 1950.
Larsen would put his baseball career on hold when he was drafted into the US Army in the early days of the Korean Conflict. He was originally assigned to Fort Ord in Hawaii, but when it was discovered that he was a professional baseball player he was reassigned to Fort Shafter in Honolulu. He would be able to maintain his development while pitching for the Special Services team from 1951-52.
Upon release from the service, Larsen joined the Browns prior to the beginning of 1953 season. Don Larsen would make the Brwosn opening day roster and make his MLB debut on April 18, 1953 against the Detroit Tigers. He would start the first game of a double header, and allow three runs on nine hits and a walk, while striking out three Tigers. He would gain his first MLB win on May 12, against the Philadelphia Athletics, pitching 7.2 innings in a 7-3 Browns victory. Don Larsen would go on to appear in 38 games for the Browns in 1953, including 22 starts, seven complete games, and two shutouts. He would also finish 14 games, and earn two saves. He would record 96 strikeouts, issue 64 walks, give up 201 hits, on his way to an ERA of 4.16 in 192.2 innings. His 7-12 record made him a bright prospect for the team as they moved on to become the Baltimore Orioles.
After a season a 3-21 season in Baltimore, Don Larsen's baseball immortality began on November 17, 1954, when he was involved in a 16-player deal between the Orioles and the New York Yankees. In 1956, Don Larsen recorded a career high 11-win campaign for the Yankees and was scheduled to start Game 2 of the World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers. After being bounced from the game in the second inning, no one could have foreseen the outcome of his next game.
On October 8, 1956, Don Larsen would pitch a perfect game for the Yankees in Game 5 of the World Series. described as the one of the most memorable pitching performances in baseball history, Larsen's accomplishment would forever be celebrated in New York and Cooperstown.
Don Larsen would later go on and pitch for five years with the Yankees (1955-59), then later the Kansas City Athletics (1960-61), Chicago White Sox (1961), San Francisco Giants (1962-64), Houston Colt 45s (1964-65), Baltimore Orioles (1965), and Chicago Cubs (1967). His last season in baseball was with the San Antonio Missions in 1968.
For the next 50 years, Don Larsen would attend St. Louis Browns luncheons and celebrations. He was always courteous, kind, humble, and appreciative of his fans. I was lucky to have met him in 2018, where we spoke for a few minutes and he signed a baseball for my collection. Don Larsen may be considered a New York Yankee legend, but he will always have his roots with the St. Louis Browns.
HEADLINES
"KEN WILLIAMS BECOMES THE FIRST MLB PLAYER TO HIT TWO HOME RUNS IN THE SAME INNING"
FEATURED GAME
1922 - In the biggest offensive explosion of the season, the Browns pummeled the Washington Nationals, 16-1 at Sportsman's Park. The Browns' bats were all hitting on this day, but none more prominent that CF Ken Williams. Williams woul
HEADLINES
"KEN WILLIAMS BECOMES THE FIRST MLB PLAYER TO HIT TWO HOME RUNS IN THE SAME INNING"
FEATURED GAME
1922 - In the biggest offensive explosion of the season, the Browns pummeled the Washington Nationals, 16-1 at Sportsman's Park. The Browns' bats were all hitting on this day, but none more prominent that CF Ken Williams. Williams would become the first player in the history of Major league Baseball to hit two home runs in the same inning. In the bottom of the sixth inning, he would hit the first homer off of LHP George Mogridge and the second off RHP Eric Erickson. Williams was not the only star of this game. Every member of the Browns lineup contributed to this colossal victory.
The lineup card would look like this at the end of the game:
Rasty Wright would pitch a complete game, giving up just eight hits and a walk. He would also strikeout four, while allowing just one run.
This explosion of runs would be equaled on September 9 against the Tigers, but this game would place Ken Williams in the MLB record books. Another reason he should be in the MLB Hall of Fame.
BROWNS RECORD ON THIS DAY
Overall Record on August 7
22 Wins, 25 Losses Two Ties (.448)
1902-09: 3-3
1910-19: 6-7
1920-29: 6-2
1930-39: 3-6
1940-49: 3-5-1
1950-53: 1-2
DOUBLE HEADERS
Sweeps: 1
Splits: 5
Swept: 2
TRANSACTIONS
There were no transactions on this day
DEBUTS
There were no debuts on this day
BROWNS BIRTHDAYS ON AUGUST 7
1929 - RHP Don Larsen (1953)
The 1935 St. Louis Browns fell into the same fate as most our the franchises teams in the 1930s. The American Great Depression had a huge impact on the team.
Since the death of Browns' owner Phil Ball, the Browns management was not willing to spend money during the rough times of the decade. At the same time, the Browns were competing for
The 1935 St. Louis Browns fell into the same fate as most our the franchises teams in the 1930s. The American Great Depression had a huge impact on the team.
Since the death of Browns' owner Phil Ball, the Browns management was not willing to spend money during the rough times of the decade. At the same time, the Browns were competing for the St. Louis baseball fan's hard-earned dollar with the World Series Champion Cardinals. Redbird players like Dizzy Dean, Joe Medwick, Pepper Martin, and Terry Moore captured the attention of the baseball world.
The Browns would win only 65 games, and draw an average of just over 1000 fans per game. With a team that was a not producing, an in-city rival winning everything, and a limited amount of money coming into the stadium, the Browns management needed a new ownership.
In stepped Donald Barnes, who was recruited for the opportunity by one-time Browns General Manager Branch Rickey. The General Manager of the Cardinals, helped gather the support of Barnes and the ownership group he represented. Barnes would lead the Browns into the 1940s, and enjoy the only American League Championship in team history in 1944.