St. Louis Browns outfielder/pinch hitter Charles Henry Shorten was born on April 19, 1892 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Better known as "Chick", he would enjoy a 16-year baseball career that would include teammates like Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and George Sisler. He would play for ten different teams, tallying a total of 1492 hits in 1464 games w
St. Louis Browns outfielder/pinch hitter Charles Henry Shorten was born on April 19, 1892 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Better known as "Chick", he would enjoy a 16-year baseball career that would include teammates like Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and George Sisler. He would play for ten different teams, tallying a total of 1492 hits in 1464 games which included a .311 lifetime batting average.
Chick Shorten began his baseball life with his hometown Scranton Miners in 1911, as a 19-year old outfielder prospect. He would go on to play for the Worcester Busters (1912-14), and the Providence Grays (1915). While with the Grays, he led the International League with 175 hits and a .322 batting average. This led the Boston Red Sox to offer Shorten a late-season call up, and he made his MLB debut on September 22, 1915. He would play most of two seasons (1916-17) with the Red Sox, which included going 4-for-7 in Boston's 1916 World Series win over the Cubs.
With the involvement of the United States in World War I, Shorten enlisted in the US Naval Reserve and was assigned to an enrollment office in Boston. He was able to play for the local Navy team, but he missed the entire 1918 season while in the service.
On January 17, 1919, Shorten was involved in a four-player deal that sent him from Boston to the Detroit Tigers. He batted a strong .293 in 303 games with the Tigers over the next three seasons (1919-21).
The Browns acquired Chick Shorten on December 14, 1921, when the Tiger placed him on waivers. The Browns had one of the best outfields in the game (Jacobson-Williams-Tobin) and Shorten excelled in the role of pinch hitter and versatile outfielder. In 31 games in which he played in the Browns' outfield, he started five games in left field, 17 games in centerfield, and nine games in right field. Shorten would serve as a pinch hitter in 25 games in 1922. He would record a total of 36 hits in 152 plate appearances (.275 average), including 12 doubles, five triples, two home runs, while scoring 12 runs and driving in 16. While he proved to be a valuable part of the roster, the Browns' crowded outfield would lead to St. Louis placing Shorten on waivers in February of 1923.
He would be claimed by the Cincinnati Reds, who assigned him to the St. Paul Saints. He refused to report to St. Paul, so his contract was sold to the Nashville Volunteers, which he would also refused to report. These disputes would cause Chick Shorten to miss the entire 1923 season. He eventually played for the Minneapolis MIllers (1924), Cincinnati Reds (1924), Reading Keysones (1925), and Newark Indians (1926), before returning to his hometown team, Scranton Miners (1927-28).
After retiring from baseball, Chick Scranton returned home and joined the rest of his family in the grocery business. He would serve as a regional scout for the Cleveland Indians from 1950-59, but stepped away as the role became too intensive.
There is an interesting footnote on the career of Chick Shorten. It has been written that he was upset with the Boston Red Sox after they replaced him in the outfield with a young Babe Ruth. The story states that he placed a "curse" on the team for this betrayal, and they failed to win another championship until 2004. Whether there is any proof of this "curse" is strictly left to baseball lovers, it is a fun story to pass on.
HEADLINE
"SISLER'S LEGEND GROWNS IN CLASSIC, MONUMENTAL GAME"
1922 - Browns 1B George Sisler scores five times one game vs the Cleveland Indians. He would go 4-for-6, with a single, double, and triple. He would also steal three bases in the Browns' 15-1 blasting of the Indians.
FEATURED GAME
1950 - The Browns would gather 11 hits in their 6-
HEADLINE
"SISLER'S LEGEND GROWNS IN CLASSIC, MONUMENTAL GAME"
1922 - Browns 1B George Sisler scores five times one game vs the Cleveland Indians. He would go 4-for-6, with a single, double, and triple. He would also steal three bases in the Browns' 15-1 blasting of the Indians.
FEATURED GAME
1950 - The Browns would gather 11 hits in their 6-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox. Led by Don Lenhardt (3-for-5 including a home run), Sherm Lollar (2-for-3, home run, two runs, two RBIs), and Dick Kokos (1-for-5, home run, two RBIs), the Browns offense helped Dick Starr earn his first victory of 1950
BROWNS' ALL-TIME RECORD ON THIS DAY
19 WINS, 16 LOSES
1902-09: 3-2
1910-19: 4-2
1920-29: 5-4
1930-39: 2-4
1940-49: 3-2
1950-53: 2-2
DOUBLE-HEADERS
Split with Detroit in 1942
THERE WERE NO TRANSACTIONS ON THIS DATE IN BROWNS HISTORY
DEBUTS
DEBUT: There were TWO debuts in 1923 in the 8-3 loss to the Tigers. OF/PH Herschal Bennett went 0-for-1 as a pinch hitter for Pat Collins in the seventh inning. RHP Hollis Thurston replaces Herschal Bennett and pitches two innings, giving up a run on two hits. 1924 - RHP Ollie Voigt would pitch 2.2 scoreless innings in relief of Urban Shocker, in the Browns 7-4 loss to the Tigers.
1929 - Hall of Fame Catcher Rick Ferrell would pinch hit for Tom Jenkins in the eighth inning of the Browns 5-4 loss to the White Sox.
1931 - Infielder Ed Grimes would pinch hit and reach base on an error, in the bottom of the seventh inning, of the Browns 12-6 loss to the White Sox.
1950 - Leading off and starting at SS, Tom Upton would go 1-for-6 including a walk and a run, in the Browns 6-1 win over the White Sox.
1951 - RHP Bobby Herrera would enter in the 8th inning of the Browns 13-5 loss to the Chicago White Sox. He would only pitch 2/3 of an inning, giving up three hits, three walks, four runs, including hitting Phil Masi.
BROWNS' BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1892 - OF/PH Chick Shorten (1922)
1885 - RHP Roy Mitchell (1910-14)
1915 - OF George. McQuillen (1938,41-42,46-47)
1892 - RHP Joseph "Bugs" Bennett
The 1941 St. Louis Browns werea team looking to make a difference in the new decade. Before the onset of World War II, the Browns were looking to improve on their dismal records of the 1930s. This team made small improvements in their record from the previous season (67 wins in 1940, 70 wins in 1941), and were building towards theire cham
The 1941 St. Louis Browns werea team looking to make a difference in the new decade. Before the onset of World War II, the Browns were looking to improve on their dismal records of the 1930s. This team made small improvements in their record from the previous season (67 wins in 1940, 70 wins in 1941), and were building towards theire championship season of 1944. They brought on manager Luke Sewell midway throught the season, and he made an immediate impact. The team would play .500 ball for the rest of the season (55-55). Their 6th place finish would be their best since the 1929 season.
Browns Starting Lineup: