The St. Louis Browns RHP Julio Bonetti was born on July 14, 1911 in Genoa, Italy. He would be the second Italian-born player to play in the big leagues (First was former Browns RHP Lou Polli). He would have an eight-year professional baseball career, that spanned throughout the minor and major leagues. He would always be known as a pitche
The St. Louis Browns RHP Julio Bonetti was born on July 14, 1911 in Genoa, Italy. He would be the second Italian-born player to play in the big leagues (First was former Browns RHP Lou Polli). He would have an eight-year professional baseball career, that spanned throughout the minor and major leagues. He would always be known as a pitcher that struggled between talent and wildness.
Bonetti would begin his career at 21 year old with the Mission Reds of the Pacific Coast League in 1933. Over the next few seasons, he would play with the Rock Island Islanders (1934-35), the Des Moines Demons (1935-36).
The Browns would sign Bonetti prior to the 1937 season, where he would split time between St. Louis and the San Antonio Missions. The following season (1938) would see him split time between the Browns and the Toledo Mud Hens. Bonetti would make his MLB debut on April 22, 1937, in a relief role for RHP Jack Knott against the Chicago White Sox. He would pitch a scoreless ninth inning, where he recorded a walk but then induced a double play. He would be used as a starter in 1937 (16 GS of 28 games), and then shift to the bull pen in 1938 (zero starts, ten games finished, in ten games). His overall numbers with the Browns would include appearing 45 games, starting 16 of them, with seven complete games. His high ERA of 5.92 reflects his inconsistency on the mound. He was only able to win six games in St. Louis, with 50 strikeouts compared to 73 walks. He finished in the American League top 10 in 1937 in both hit batters (5), and errors by a pitcher (4).
The Cubs would purchase the contract to Julio Bonetti on February 10, 1939, and assign him to the Los Angeles Angels. While playing for Los Angeles, Bonetti would get himself in trouble by associating with known gamblers and bookmakers. Even though he was never charged with an offense, he would be banned from participating in any baseball activities from William Bramham, president of the National Association.
After several attempts to be reinstated in baseball, Bonetti would quietly return to the community of Belmont, California where he would take on several occupations.
He would serve with the 15th Medical Regiment in Texas during World War II. He was the best pitcher in his regiment.
HEADLINES
"ST. LOUIS POUNDS BOSOX PITCHING FOR 16 HITS IN NARROW WIN"
FEATURED GAME
1934 - The Browns would have 16 hits off Boston pitching in the 8-7, late inning victory. The Browns trailed this game 7-6 after the top of the ninth inning, when they scored two runs off Boston closer Johnny Welch. The ninth began with CF Sam West hitting a
HEADLINES
"ST. LOUIS POUNDS BOSOX PITCHING FOR 16 HITS IN NARROW WIN"
FEATURED GAME
1934 - The Browns would have 16 hits off Boston pitching in the 8-7, late inning victory. The Browns trailed this game 7-6 after the top of the ninth inning, when they scored two runs off Boston closer Johnny Welch. The ninth began with CF Sam West hitting a double, and driven in by RF Ray Pepper to tie the score. A few batter later Catcher Rollie Hemsley would single in Pepper for the winning run Pepper would go 3-for-5 in the game with two runs scored and three RBIs. CF Sam West and RF Bruce Campbell would combine for six hits, two doubles, and four runs. The winning batter, Rollie Hemsley would add two hits and two RBIs. The Browns pitching staff would limit the Red Sox batters to just eight hits. RHP Jack Knott would earn his fifth win in relief of RHP Bump Hadley who would go pitch 6.1 innings.
BROWNS RECORD ON THIS DAY
Overall Record on July 14
21 Wins, 22 Losses One Tie (.477)
1902-09: 3-2
1910-19: 4-1-1
1920-29: 7-3
1930-39: 2-7
1940-49: 3-7
1950-53: 2-2
DOUBLE HEADERS
Sweeps: 1
Splits: 1
Swept: 3
TRANSACTIONS
1904 - Browns traded 3B Hunter Hill and LF Frank Huelsman to the Washington Senators for INF Charles Moran. Hill would have 124 in 144 games over two seasons (1903-04). Huelsman would play for four teams in 1904, the Browns were his third team. After registering 15 hits in 20 games he was traded to Washington. Moran would hit .178 over two seasons with the Browns.
1951 - Browns sign the legendary Satchel Paige as a free agent. Easily the most important free agent signing in club history. Paige would dazzle the St. Louis crowds for the final three seasons.
DEBUTS
1913 - RHP Pete Schmidt would pitch the eighth and ninth innings in relief of George Baumgardner. He would earn the save in his debut, allowing just a run on three hits and a walk.
BROWNS BIRTHDAYS
1911 - RHP Julio Bonetti (1937-38)
The manager of the 1923 St. Louis Browns was the unassuming, Lee Fohl. He was entering his third season as the Browns skipper, and his eighth season as an MLB manager. Before coming to the Browns, he managed the Cleveland Indians from 1915-19 before being hired by the St. Louis on January 3, 1921. Fohl led the Browns to a 81-73 record in
The manager of the 1923 St. Louis Browns was the unassuming, Lee Fohl. He was entering his third season as the Browns skipper, and his eighth season as an MLB manager. Before coming to the Browns, he managed the Cleveland Indians from 1915-19 before being hired by the St. Louis on January 3, 1921. Fohl led the Browns to a 81-73 record in 1921, and a 93-61 record in 1922.
The sights were set high for the 1923 season, until the Browns lost their leader, the 1923 American League Most Valuable Player George Sisler. Without Sisler, the team did not perform as everyone was expecting. The result was Fohl being fired after a 12-10 loss to the Yankees on August 7, 1923.
Longtime Browns infielder, Jimmy Austin, would finish the 1923 season as the player-manager. It would be Austin's third stint as the Browns intern player manager (1913, 2-6 / 1918, 7-9 / 1923, 22-29). After managing in 1923, Austin would stay with the Browns as a coach through the 1932 season.