St. Louis Browns catcher, Wally Mayer, was orn on July 8, 1890 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (There is a second birth certficate that stated he may have been born on August 3, 1889) Without any high school or semipro baseball experience, Mayer would put together an 18-year professional baseball career. This would include 13 seasons with nine minor
St. Louis Browns catcher, Wally Mayer, was orn on July 8, 1890 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (There is a second birth certficate that stated he may have been born on August 3, 1889) Without any high school or semipro baseball experience, Mayer would put together an 18-year professional baseball career. This would include 13 seasons with nine minor league teams and seven seasons with three major league clubs.
Mayer was 20-years old when he began his career with the Paris Bourbonities of the Blue Grass League in 1911. After hitting .352, he quickly grabbed the attention of the Chicago White Soxwhee he made his MLB debut on September 28, 1911. He would play with the Sox from 1911 through 1915, except for a seasons with the Birmingham Barons in 1913.
Unable to make the Chicago team in 1916, he would spend the next two seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers (1916), St. Paul Saints (1916), and Providence Grays (1917). Mayer was given a second chance in the Majors when the Boston Red Sox signed him at the end of the 1917 season. He appeared in 26 games with Boston in 1918 before being drafted into military service in prepration for World War I. Mayer would never see any active duty during the war.
With many if its players also in the service, the Browns purchased Wally Mayer's contract from Boston on February 28, 1919. Mayer would only appear in 30 games while sharing catching duties with Hank Severied (112 Games), Josh Billings (38 Games), and Pat Collins (11 games). His best game came on May 15, 1919, when he had two doubles, four total bases, and one RBI in the Browns 2-0 win over the Philadelphia Athletics. He would total 14 hits, including four doubles, a triple, while scoring two runs and driving in five in his 1919 season.
Wally Mayer would fail to make the Browns team in 1920, and was signed by the Washington Nationals. The Nationals would then send his contract to the Minneapolis Millers, where he would spend the next five seasons (1920-24). He would finish his baseball career playing for the Little Rock Travelers (1925-26), Greenville Spinners (1926-28), and Spartanburg Spartans (1928).
Mayer returned to Minneapolis after retiring from baseball. He worked in a cigar shop, while still listing his occupation as "ball player" in the 1930 census. He would contract tubrculosis and pass in November of 1951. It was said that he always loved talking about his baseball life and his experiences in the game. His time with the Browns, his last team, was always celebrated.
HEADLINES
"BROWNS CAPITALIZE ON BOSTON BLUNDERS AS ST. LOUIS STEALS GAME, 4-1"
FEATURED GAME
1933 - In an classic pitching duel between the Browns LHP Ed Wells and the Red Sox RHP Hank Johnson, St. Louis would defeat Boston, 4-1. Ed Wells would earn his fourth win of the season with the complete game victory. He would scatter eight hits and
HEADLINES
"BROWNS CAPITALIZE ON BOSTON BLUNDERS AS ST. LOUIS STEALS GAME, 4-1"
FEATURED GAME
1933 - In an classic pitching duel between the Browns LHP Ed Wells and the Red Sox RHP Hank Johnson, St. Louis would defeat Boston, 4-1. Ed Wells would earn his fourth win of the season with the complete game victory. He would scatter eight hits and two walks, which resulted in just one Red Sox run. Johnson would itch just a clean for the Red Sox, giving up just nine hits and three walks in his eight innings of work. The big difference in the game were the three erros committed by the Boston fielders. Each error led to a Browns score. Browns leadoff hitter 3B Art Scharein, would go 2-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. His RBI came after an error by Boston's CF Dusty Cook in the second inning. Jack Burns would drive in run in the opening inning, immediately after 2B Johnny Hodapp's fielding error. In the fifth inning, Oscar Melillo would drive in a run after SS Rabbit Warstler's throwing error. The only earned run by the Boston pitching staff came in the seventh inning as LF Deb Garms drives in a run on a ground ball out drove in Scharein. A classic game where clean fielding earned the browns a victory.
BROWNS RECORD ON THIS DAY
Overall Record on July 8
25 Wins, 18 Losses (.581)
1902-09: 7-1
1910-19: 3-4
1920-29: 6-5
1930-39: 4-4
1940-49: 3-2
1950-53: 2-2
DOUBLE HEADERS
Sweeps: 3
Splits: 3
Swept: 0
TRANSACTIONS
There were no transactions made on this day
DEBUTS
The Browns had two rookies make their debuts in the Browns 12-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers. RF Dick Kokos would start the game and go 1-for-4 with two strikeouts. LHP Joe Ostrowski would enter the game in the seventh inning, in relief of Frank Buscan. He would face nine batters, giving up five hits, two walks, and four runs. His ERA would only get improve from this point.
BROWNS BIRTHDAYS
1906? - RHP Satchel Paige (1951-53)
1893 - OF Dutch Wetzel (1920-21)
The 1918 St. Louis Browns offense was George Sisler. The 25 year old, future Hall of Famer, carried the Browns in most offensive categories. He would be ranked in the top 5 of the American League in most offensive categories. His supoprting cast included RF Ray Demmitt, CF Jack Tobin, a seasoned veteran ss Jimmy Austin, and a young catche
The 1918 St. Louis Browns offense was George Sisler. The 25 year old, future Hall of Famer, carried the Browns in most offensive categories. He would be ranked in the top 5 of the American League in most offensive categories. His supoprting cast included RF Ray Demmitt, CF Jack Tobin, a seasoned veteran ss Jimmy Austin, and a young catcher Hank Severeid. The Browns offense ranked in the middle of the pack in the American League. They were not the best, and not the worst.
Batting Leaders
with A.L. rankings in (#)
Team Statistics:
Player Statistics