St. Louis Browns catcher Tommy Heath was born on August 18, 1913 in Akron, Colorado. He would be the only MLB player from the city of Akron in baseball history. His playing career would include 14 seasons with seven different teams. His real impact on the game would come as an 18-year minor league manager.
Tommy Heath played baseball at V
St. Louis Browns catcher Tommy Heath was born on August 18, 1913 in Akron, Colorado. He would be the only MLB player from the city of Akron in baseball history. His playing career would include 14 seasons with seven different teams. His real impact on the game would come as an 18-year minor league manager.
Tommy Heath played baseball at Ventura High School in California, before the Browns signed him as an 18-year old prospect. He would be assigned to the Rock Island Islanders of the Mississippi Valley League in 1932. After two seasons with the San Antonio Missions (1933-34), Heath would make the 1935 opening day roster of the Browns.
His MLB debut would come on April 23, 1935, against the Cleveland Indians. Heath would enter the game as a pinch hitter for Ivy Andrews in the top of the fifth inning, and struck out against Indians' Mel Harder. Heath would spend most of three seasons (1935, 37-38) as the backup catcher for all-star Rollie Hemsley and Billy Sullivan. In his time with the Browns, Heath would record 403 plate appearances in 134 games, including 76 hits, 16 doubles, two triples, three home runs, and a .230 batting average.
Heath would move on to the Syracuse Chiefs (1939), Toronto Maple Leafs (1939-40), Columbus Red Birds (1941-44), and the Milwaukee Brewers (1946).
Tommy Heath would turn to the coaching ranks after his playing days were over. He would enjoy a successful 18-year managerial career with seven different organizations. After leading the Trenton Giants (1947-48), he would manage both Hoyt Wilhelm and Willie Mays with the Minnesota Millers (1949-51). He would go on to manage future St. Louis baseball players Gene Beardon with the San Fancisco Seals (1952-55), Hal Rice with the Sacramento Solons (1956-57), Duane Pillette with the Portland Beavers (1958-60), and Ray Jablonski with the Hawaii Islanders (1961). After finishing his managing career with the TriCity Braves/Angels, he would join the Los Angeles Angels staff as a minor league scout.
Tommy Heath would enjoy a 32-year baseball career where he impacted the Browns pitching staff, and future superstars of the game. Like many of the best characters in baseball history, Tommy Heath was not a household name, but brought his love to the game every day he entered the stadium.
HEADLINES
"DEALING DAY: BROWNS WOULD MAKE TWO DEALS INVOLVING FRANCHISE LEGENDS"
FEATURED GAME
1943 - The Browns infield enjoys the day, driving in all four runs as the Browns shutout the Athletics, 4-0. Each member of the Browns infield adds to the scoring, while RHP Bob Muncrief silences the Philadelphia lineup. In the bottom of the second
HEADLINES
"DEALING DAY: BROWNS WOULD MAKE TWO DEALS INVOLVING FRANCHISE LEGENDS"
FEATURED GAME
1943 - The Browns infield enjoys the day, driving in all four runs as the Browns shutout the Athletics, 4-0. Each member of the Browns infield adds to the scoring, while RHP Bob Muncrief silences the Philadelphia lineup. In the bottom of the second inning, 3B Mark Cristman (who went 2-for-4) would start the scoring by driving a double to the left-center gap that would score SS Vern Stephens. 1B George McQuinn (2-for-4) would add another run in the fifth, by driving in 2B Don Gutteridge. Gutteridge (3-for-4) would bring in two more runs the following inning with a two-run single to center field, scoring Christman and catcher Rick Ferrell. Bob Muncrief would earn his third complete game shutout of the season, and ninth win, with the victory. He would allow only five hits and a walk, in a game that only lasted an hour and 50 minutes
BROWNS RECORD ON THIS DAY
Overall Record on August 18
21 Wins, 29 Losses Three Ties (.396)
1902-09: 2-7-2
1910-19: 3-4
1920-29: 5-6
1930-39: 5-7
1940-49: 5-3-1
1950-53: 1-2
DOUBLE HEADERS
Sweeps: 0
Splits: 5
Swept:3
TRANSACTIONS
1915 - Browns traded RHP Bill James to the Detroit Tigers for LF William "Baby Doll" Jacobson and $15,000. This can easily be stated as one of the most important trades the Browns made in their early history. Jacobson would out together a Hall of Fame worthy career with the Browns.
1943- Browns traded 3B Harlond Clift and RHP Johnny Niggeling to the Washington Nationals for INF Ellis Clary, RHP Ox Miller, and cash. Clift had spent his best years with the Browns and deserved to enjoy the 1944 season with the team. Apparent personality disagreement with Browns manager, Luke Sewell led to this trade. Clift has the resume and statistics to earn him a membership in Baseball's Hall of Fame.
DEBUTS
There were no trades made on this day.
BROWNS BIRTHDAYS ON AUGUST 18
1891 - SS Wally Gerber (1919-27)
1913 - C Tommy Heath (1935, 37-38)
1917 - LHP Max Lanier (1953)
The manager of the 1927 Browns was "Dapper Dan" Howley, also known as "Howling Dan" Howley. The 1927 season was the first season as the manager of the Browns. Prior to joining the Browns, he was a very successful manager in International League. Howley won 245 games with the Montreal Royals (1914-17), 70 games with the Hartford Senators (
The manager of the 1927 Browns was "Dapper Dan" Howley, also known as "Howling Dan" Howley. The 1927 season was the first season as the manager of the Browns. Prior to joining the Browns, he was a very successful manager in International League. Howley won 245 games with the Montreal Royals (1914-17), 70 games with the Hartford Senators (1920), and 745 games leading the Toronto Maple Leafs (1918, 23-26). That is an overall record of 1060-654 (.618) in ten seasons of minor league leadership.
Each year under his leadership, the Browns went from winning 59 games in 1927, to 82 wins in 1928, to 79 games in 1929. In his three seasons as the manager in St. Louis (1927-29), reaching a total record of 220-239. Only his inaugural season with the Browns was a losing season. Howley was taking over the manager role from the great George Sisler, who unwillingly lead the team from 1924-26. Although there is no documentation for this idea, Howley may have had a difficult time leading this team with Sisler still on the roster. It is a coincidence that after Sisler was traded in December of 1927, the 1928 team would win 23 more games without the former American League Most Valuable Player. Howley appeared to be the right man for this challenging position.