St. Louis Browns outfielder Ray Coleman was born on June 4, 1922, in Dunsmuir, California. He would play for 15 different teams over his 14-year professional baseball career. He was one of the more reliable outfielders in the last seasons of the Browns in St. Louis. Over a five-year period Ray Coleman would appear in 355 games with St. Lo
St. Louis Browns outfielder Ray Coleman was born on June 4, 1922, in Dunsmuir, California. He would play for 15 different teams over his 14-year professional baseball career. He was one of the more reliable outfielders in the last seasons of the Browns in St. Louis. Over a five-year period Ray Coleman would appear in 355 games with St. Louis, even though he was involved in five different transactions in that time.
Ray Coleman was signed by the Browns as an amateur free agent prior to the 1940 season. He would move through the minor leagues, playing for the Paragould Browns (1940), Springfield Browns (1940, 42), and Mayfield Browns (1941). He would enlist in the US Navy in December of 1942, and not play another baseball game for the next three years.
He would return for service in 1946, and spend an amazing season with the San Antonio Missions where he recorded 148 hits in 136 games. Ray Coleman would make his MLB debut on April 22, 1947 against the Cleveland Indians. His rookie season included 89 hits in 110 games, with a .259 average, which was the best among Browns' outfielders. His sophomore season started slow with just a .172 average in just 17 games before being traded on June 5 to the Philadelphia Athletics for OF/1B George Binks and $20,000.
After time with the Athletics (1948) and Buffalo Bisons (1949), Ray Coleman was involved in a six-player deal that returned him to St. Louis in December of 1949. He retuned to the Browns outfield where he played in 208 games from 1950-51. He would bat over .270 in each season, and his 200 hits included 41 doubles, 11 triples, 13 home runs, and 110 RBIs. His 1951 season was so good, that the struggling Browns placed him on waivers on July 31, 1951. This was one of th more confusing moves of the Bill Veeck era, for the Browns didn't recieve any body while releasing one of their best young players.
He would bat .215 in 85 games with the White Sox in 1952, before being traded back to the Browns with Jay Porter for Darrell Johnson and Jim Rivera on July 28. It would be his third stint with St. Louis, but it would last only 20 games before being involved in his fifth transaction. The Browns would send Coleman, Bob Mahoney, and Stan Rojek to the Brooklyn Dodgers for future all-star, Billy Hunter on October 14, 1952.
Ray Coleman's career statistics with the Browns would in include 355 games, with 303 hits, 53 doubles, 15 home runs, 143 RIs, and a batting average of .265. He was an excellent right fielder, finishing in the top ten of the American League in assists (1948), and leading the league in double plays (1947, 52). Ray Coleman would finish up his career playing for seven minor league over four seasons. He would see action swith the St. Paul Saints (1953), Fort Worth Cats (1954), Havana Sugar Kings (1954), Mayfield Clothiers (1955), Omaha Cardinals (1956), Mobile Bears (1956), and the Birmingham Barons (1956).
Ray Coleman was a true" Brownie" in the last few seasons of the franchise in St. Louis. After retiring fom the game, he would work in the tobacco, construction, and medical fields. He was a close friends of St. Louis legends Stan Musial, Marty Marion, and Red Schoendienst, and would often be found telling baseball stories with the St. Louis Browns Historical Society.
HEADLINE
"BARARDINO'S HEROICS IN THE SEVENTH LEADS THE BROWNS' COMBACK OVER NATIONALS"
FEATURED GAMES
1941 - Browns SS Johnny Berardino drives in three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, to lead St. Louis over the Washington Nationals, 7-4. Browns starting pitcher Fritz Ostermueller gave up seven hits and four runs to the Washington h
HEADLINE
"BARARDINO'S HEROICS IN THE SEVENTH LEADS THE BROWNS' COMBACK OVER NATIONALS"
FEATURED GAMES
1941 - Browns SS Johnny Berardino drives in three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, to lead St. Louis over the Washington Nationals, 7-4. Browns starting pitcher Fritz Ostermueller gave up seven hits and four runs to the Washington hitters over the first six innings, The Browns were only able to cross the plate three times even though they had runner on base every inning. 1B George McQuinn started the bottom of the seventh inning off with a walks, followed by a fielders choice that allowed LF Roy Cullenbine on base. 3B Harlond Clift would drive in McQuinn, followed by RF Joe Grace being intentionally walked. Johnny Berardino, batting .303 at this point of the season, steps upto the plate with the bases loaded. He would take a Red Anderson pitch and drive the ball in to left field, scoring Cullenbine, Clift and Grace. Browns RHP Jack Kramer would closeout the game earning his first win of the 1941 season. This Browns/Nationals game would only attract 375 fans to Sportsman's Pack.
BROWNS' ALL-TIME RECORD ON THIS DAY
20 WINS, 28 LOSSES
(.416 winning percentage)
WINS BY DECADE
1902-09: 4-4
1910-19: 1-6
1920-29: 4-3
1930-39: 6-5
1940-49: 4-7
1950-53: 1-3
DOUBLE-HEADERS ON THIS DAY
TRANSACTIONS
THERE WERE NO TANSACTIONS ON THIS DAY
DEBUTS
THERE WERE DEBUTS ON THIS DAY.
BROWNS' BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1928 - SS Billy Hunter (1953)
1922 - RF Ray Coleman (47-48, 50-52)
1889 - UTIL Lee Magee (1917)
The 1946 St. Louis Browns were counting on their pitching staff to be the backbone of the teams run to top of the American League. Many of the Browns proven pitchers would have disappointing seasons. Some were coming off of wartime service and appeared to be rusty over the entire season. They would have five pitchers return from the 1945
The 1946 St. Louis Browns were counting on their pitching staff to be the backbone of the teams run to top of the American League. Many of the Browns proven pitchers would have disappointing seasons. Some were coming off of wartime service and appeared to be rusty over the entire season. They would have five pitchers return from the 1945 staff, and only one of them would have a winning record (Jack Kramer - 13-11). They would get some length from their starting pitchers, with each one working through 139 innings. The team would have good pitching control with only nine opposing batters hit by a pitch (Compared to the Athletics who plunked 80 opposing batters in 2025)
Team Pitching Statistics
(American League Rankings)
Player Statistics