St. Louis Browns RHP Ray Shore was born on June 9, 1921, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Nicknamed "Snacks" he would build a 50-year professional baseball career that would include 12 minor league seasons, three Major League seasons, and over 20 years as a major league scout and coach.
It was reported that he signed with the Browns prior to being ca
St. Louis Browns RHP Ray Shore was born on June 9, 1921, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Nicknamed "Snacks" he would build a 50-year professional baseball career that would include 12 minor league seasons, three Major League seasons, and over 20 years as a major league scout and coach.
It was reported that he signed with the Browns prior to being called into military service during World War II. After serving in the US Air Force from 1944-46, he returned to the Browns who assigned him to the Springfield Browns. He would appear in 35 games with Springfield while reaching a 12-12 record and an ERA of 3.56.
This would earn a late season call up by the Browns on September 21, 1946. Shore would enter the game in a relief role for RHP Bob Muncrief, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk. The Browns would option him to the Toledo Mud Hens for the 1947 season, but then offer him a opening day roster position for the 1948 season. After a 7.11 ERA over 17 games, the Browns sent Shore to the San Antonio Missions to close out the season. The Browns offered him a second opening day roster spot in 1949, but a 10.80 ERA in 13 games gained him a second trip to San Antonio. He would finish his playing career with Baltimore Orioles (1950), Toronto Maple Leafs (1951-55), and the Portland Beavers (1956-57).
Ray Shore would play his entire MLB career with the Browns. His final statistics include appearing in 62.1 innings over 31 games. He was primarily used out of the bullpen, but was given the opportunity to start four games. He would accumulate 26 strikeouts and reach an ERA of 8.23.
His real impact on Baseball came after he retired from playing, and entered the coaching realm. He would join the Cincinnati Reds as a coach from 1963-67, and then a well respected scout and advisor to the Reds General Manager, Bob Howsam, from 1969-75. He would be responsible for the deal that brought Hall of Famer Joe Morgan from Houston to Cincinnati. He would later scout for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1984-95.
In a cruel piece of baseball irony, Ray Shore would end his career in the city where it all began. He suffered from double pneumonia and passed while on a scouting trip in St. Louis. Many baseball historians will give Shore the credit for helping build the famous "Big Red Machine" of the 1970s.
HEADLINE
"THOMAS SHINES AS BROWNS TAKE 99 MINUTES TO DEFEAT INDIANS"
FEATURED GAMES
1935 - In a classic pitching duel that lasted only 1:39, Browns' RHP Fay Thomas out pitches the future Brown Oral Hildebrand, in a 2-1 St. Louis victory over the Cleveland Indians. Fay Thomas would pitch a complete game scattering five hits, a strikeout and a
HEADLINE
"THOMAS SHINES AS BROWNS TAKE 99 MINUTES TO DEFEAT INDIANS"
FEATURED GAMES
1935 - In a classic pitching duel that lasted only 1:39, Browns' RHP Fay Thomas out pitches the future Brown Oral Hildebrand, in a 2-1 St. Louis victory over the Cleveland Indians. Fay Thomas would pitch a complete game scattering five hits, a strikeout and a walk over the nine innings. His only blemish came in the fourth inning when he gave out a home run to Hal Trotsky. The Browns' RF Ed Coleman would carry the them to victory, buy driving in only two St. Louis runs in the top of the fourth inning. After LF Moose Solters singled, Coleman would drive a home run deep into right field bleachers for a 2-0 Browns lead. Coleman would end up going 3-for-3 with the home run and a double in the seventh inning. CF Sam West and SS Alan Strange would add the only hits for St. Louis. This game would be completed in an amazing 99 minutes - with no pitch clock!!!!
BROWNS' ALL-TIME RECORD ON THIS DAY
23 WINS, 22 LOSSES
(.511 winning percentage)
WINS BY DECADE
1902-09: 2-4
1910-19: 4-4
1920-29: 6-3
1930-39: 3-5
1940-49: 6-5
1950-53: 2-1
DOUBLE-HEADERS ON THIS DAY
TRANSACTIONS
1921 - The Browns send Allen Sothoron to the Cleveland Indians in an unknown transaction. Sothoron had appeared in 162 games for the Browns from 1914-21. After a 1-2 start, the Browns had placed Sothoron on waivers on May 21, where he was picked up by the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox returned Sothoron to the Browns on June 7. The Browns wasted no time in moving his contract to Cleveland two days later.
1932 - Browns send RHP Dick Coffman to the Washington Nationals for Carl Fischer. Dick Coffman would spend five seasons as a member of the Browns staff, winning 67 games and recording 143 strikeouts. Carl Fischer would appear in 24 games with St. Louis in 1932. He would start 11 games and record four complete games, 35 strikeouts, and reach an ERA of 5.57. Ironically, these two player would be traded back to their original clubs on December 13, 1932 - Coffman back to the Browns, Fischer to the Nationals.
DEBUTS
THERE WERE NO DEBUTS ON THIS DAY
BROWNS' BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1921 - RHP Ray Shore (1948-49)
The manager of the 1919 Browns was a career baseball man named Jimmy Burke. Burke would spend 38 seasons as a player, coach, and manager in the minor and major leagues.
After a four-year playing career that took him through four organizations, Burke found himself playing for his hometown team the St. Louis Cardinals. He would be the Cardi
The manager of the 1919 Browns was a career baseball man named Jimmy Burke. Burke would spend 38 seasons as a player, coach, and manager in the minor and major leagues.
After a four-year playing career that took him through four organizations, Burke found himself playing for his hometown team the St. Louis Cardinals. He would be the Cardinals starting 3rd baseman from 1903-05, batting .246 over 357 games. He would serve as the Cardinals player manager in 1905 where he would lead them to a 34-56 record.
He would begin his full time managerial career for the Kansas City Blues of the American Association. He managed throughout the minors until joining the Detroit Tigers coaching staff from 1914-17. He joined the Browns coaching staff in 1918. The Browns shuffled their managerial staff in 1918, when Jimmy Austin replaced Fielder Jones, and Burke replaced Austin on June 28.
Known as "Sunset Jimmy" Burke, he would increase the Browns win totals each season he led the team (1917-19). In 1919, he grew with his young team taking his enthusiastic and optimistic nature and using it to motivate his team. He would manage the Browns to a 172-180 record over three seasons.