St. Louis Browns center fielder, Stan Spence, was born on March 20, 1915 in South Portsmouth, New York. The solid hitting outfielder would reach a career .285 batting average over the 17 professional baseball seasons. The four-time all-star would be the Browns' primary center fielder for the 1949 season. By the time he played for St. Loui
St. Louis Browns center fielder, Stan Spence, was born on March 20, 1915 in South Portsmouth, New York. The solid hitting outfielder would reach a career .285 batting average over the 17 professional baseball seasons. The four-time all-star would be the Browns' primary center fielder for the 1949 season. By the time he played for St. Louis he had already been in the majors for eight seasons, and served his country during World War II.
Stan Spence was 19 when he began playing baseball for an extra dollar a week within the Industrial League of Portsmouth. This is where he was discovered by the Boston Red Sox who signed him and optioned him to the Eau Claire Bears in 1935. He would move up within the BoSox organization, playing with the Rocky Mount Red Sox (1936), Minneapolis Millers (1937-38), and the Louisville Colonels (1939-40).
Spence would make his MLB debut with the Red Sox on June 8, 1940. The Red Sox already had young outfielders like Ted Willimas, Joe Vosmik, and Dom DiMaggio, so Spence was traded to the Washington Nationals prior to the 1942 season. He would become a star with Washington, making the American League All-Star team in 1942, 44, 46-47.
Spence joined the US Navy in March of 1945, and was stationed at Bainbridge Island, near Seattle. He was able to prolong his enlistment due to he was married with two children. He was able to maintain his baseball athleticism while in the service, so he quickly returned to form when he returned to the Nationals in 1946.
After two all-star seasons, Spence returned to the Red Sox in 1948. However after seven dreadful games to start the 1949 season, he was traded to the Browns on May 5th. The Browns sent OF Al Zarilla to Boston for Spence and $10,000. His Browns debut came the following day (May 6th) when he went hitless against his old Washington team. He would continue the slow start to the season, but began to find his groove in mid-June. His best game as a Brown was in the second game of a double-header against the Tigers. He would go 3-for-5, with two home runs, and four RBIs, in the 7-8 loss. He would finish the season with 77 hits over 104 games. He would tally 13 doubles, three triples, 13 home runs, and 45 RBIs. It would be his last season in the Major Leagues.
At the age of 34, the Browns would release him to the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League. He would finish his career with the Springfield Cubs (1951), Lynchburg Cardinals (1952), and Toledo Mud Hens (1952).
Stan Spence retired from baseball and settled down in Kinston, North Carolina. He owned and operated a septic tank company, as well as worked for the Gardner Construction company. He would also operate a boys camp for several years with former teammate, Herb Hash. It has been written that Stan Spence lived a very peaceful life after baseball (probably telling stories of his time as a St. Louis Brown)
Today's Browns Quote
“The only player on the club who has played good ball, aside from some of the pitchers, is Stan Spence.”
~ Shirley Povich's description of the young Stan Spence, The Sporting News, 1944
BROWNS' BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1907 - RHP Vern Kennedy (1939-41)
1925 - RHP Al Widmar (1948, 50-51)
1915 - CF Stan Spence (1949)
THE CULINA
Today's Browns Quote
“The only player on the club who has played good ball, aside from some of the pitchers, is Stan Spence.”
~ Shirley Povich's description of the young Stan Spence, The Sporting News, 1944
BROWNS' BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1907 - RHP Vern Kennedy (1939-41)
1925 - RHP Al Widmar (1948, 50-51)
1915 - CF Stan Spence (1949)
THE CULINARY DELIGHTS OF BASEBALL
Some of the best memories most baseball fans have come from enjoying the delicious foods they have experienced at the ball park. Sitting in the sun with family and friends, on a crisp summer day, enjoying a beverage and treat, while watching their favorite team play, can be one of the best moments anyone can have. Some of the finest foods can now be found in stadiums across the land. Many of these common dishes have been improved over the years, to attract a wider audience. Along with the hot dog, some foods are synonymous with baseball. The top five stadium food are listed below, and each one can make a day at the ball game even better.
Other popular foods include Cotton Candy (originally called "Fairy Floss"), sunflower seeds, and ice cream. No matter what is enjoyed, ballpark food makes the game of baseball more memorable.
The impact of the 1913 St. Louis Browns would come in the promotion of Branch Rickey from a front office position to the on-field manager role. This would be the first baseball leadership role of Rickey, and his career would be one of the finest in baseball history.
Branch Rickey believed in the coaching and player development would build
The impact of the 1913 St. Louis Browns would come in the promotion of Branch Rickey from a front office position to the on-field manager role. This would be the first baseball leadership role of Rickey, and his career would be one of the finest in baseball history.
Branch Rickey believed in the coaching and player development would build a winning organization. His ideas were outlined in the future browns teams, but build in the Cardinals teams of the 1920s and 30s. The Browns team was made up of extremely young pitchers anda set of veteran position players. Most of the players would remain on the team for the rest of the decade. Players like Burt Shotton, Jimmy Austin, and George Baumgardner would stay in baseball to develop the future generations.