St. Louis Browns 1B/PH Ben Taylor was born on September 30, 1927 in Metropolis, Illinois. He would one of three MLB players to come out of Metropolis, which is approximately 130 southeast of St. Louis. One of the other players was his nephew, Hawk Taylor, who played 11 seasons in the majors from 1957-70.
Ben Taylor would play for 18 teams
St. Louis Browns 1B/PH Ben Taylor was born on September 30, 1927 in Metropolis, Illinois. He would one of three MLB players to come out of Metropolis, which is approximately 130 southeast of St. Louis. One of the other players was his nephew, Hawk Taylor, who played 11 seasons in the majors from 1957-70.
Ben Taylor would play for 18 teams over his 13 professional baseball seasons, including time with the Browns, Detroit Tigers (1952), and Milwaukee Braves (1955). Taylor's baseball career began at the age of 16, when he signed an amateur free agent contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
During World War II, it was not uncommon for MLB organizations to sign younger players to maintain their minor league rosters. He would appear for the Newport News Dodgers (1944) and Olean Oilers (1945), before being drafted into the US Army prior to the 1946 season.
Upon return from service he would spend the next five seasons within the Dodgers minor leagues, including time with the Greensville Spinners (1948-49), Mobile Bears (1949-50), and the Fort Worth Cats (1951). The Browns were in need of some more production from their first basemen, so on July 24,1951 they sent INF Johnny Bero, 1B Joe Lutz, and cash to the Dodgers for Taylor.
Ben Taylor would make his triumphant MLB debut with the Browns on July 29, when he hit a home run in his second plate appearance against Washington's Sandy Consuegra. Taylor would remain the Browns primary first basemen for the final 33 games of the 1951 season. His season stats included 14 runs, 24 hits (including two doubles, a triple, and three home runs), while reaching a .258 batting average. Unfortunately, Taylor would record almost as many strikeouts (22) as hits (24) in 104 plate appearances. He was seen as a possible fixture on the Browns roster as plans were made for the following season. The Browns had a chance to bolster their pitching staff on February 14, 1952 when they acquired LHP Gene Beardon, RHP Bob Cain, and 1B Dick Kryhoski from the Detroit Tigers. Taylor was involved in the trade along with catcher Matt Batts, LHP Dick Littlefield, OF Cliff Mapes heading to the Tigers.
Taylor would send the next six years between ten different team throughout the major an minor leagues. He saw major league action with the Tigers (seven games in 1952), and the Milwaukee Braves (12 games in 1955). Most of his baseball career would be in the minor leagues, spending time with teams like the Sacramento Solons, Indianapolis Indians, and Buffalo Bison in 1952, along with the Dallas Eagles (1953-54), and the Austin Senators (1956-57). After his final season with the Little Rock Travelers in 1957, Ben Taylor would retire from baseball. He would record 1285 hits over his 1434 games in professional baseball.
Taylor would settle down in Houston, Texas, where he worked for the local Anheuser-Busch Brewery. Cheers to Ben Taylor!!!!
HEADLINES
"GALEHOUSE SHUTS OUT THE YANKEES, KEEPING THE BROWNS IN FIRST PLACE GOING INTO THE LAST DAY"
FEATURED GAME
1944 - Entering the game tied with the Detroit Tigers for first place in the American League, the Browns' RHP Denny Galehouse would shutout the Yankees en route to a 2-0 victory. Galehouse would pitch a complete game shutout,
HEADLINES
"GALEHOUSE SHUTS OUT THE YANKEES, KEEPING THE BROWNS IN FIRST PLACE GOING INTO THE LAST DAY"
FEATURED GAME
1944 - Entering the game tied with the Detroit Tigers for first place in the American League, the Browns' RHP Denny Galehouse would shutout the Yankees en route to a 2-0 victory. Galehouse would pitch a complete game shutout, allowing just seven Yankees to reach base (five hits, two walks). The Browns scoring began in the first inning after loading the bases, SS Vern Stephens drives in 2B Don Gutteridge with a sacrifice fly. RF Gene Moore would add to the scoring in the sixth inning with a solo home run. LF Chet Laabs would record two hits, while CF Mike Kreevich and C Red Hayworth would each collect a single. The Browns defense would also shine, including the 3B Mark Christman-2B Don Gutteridge-1B George McQuinn double play to end the game. The Browns would remain in a tie for first place entering the final day of the season.
BROWNS RECORD ON THIS DAY
Overall Record on SEPTEMBER 30
11 Wins, 18 Losses One Loss (.366)
1902-09: 3-3-1
1910-19: 2-4
1920-29: 3-3
1930-39: 2-3
1940-49: 1-1
1950-53: 1-1
DOUBLEADERS
Sweeps: 0
Splits: 4
Swept: 3
TRANSACTIONS
1930 - Browns selected CF Frank Waddey from the Memphis Chickasaws (American Association) in the Rule 5 Draft
1931 - Browns selected INF Wes Kingdom from the Chattanooga Lookouts (Southern Association) in the Rule 5 Draft. Returned to Chattanooga on April 2, 1932
1941 - Browns selected LHP Stan Ferens from the St. Louis Cardinals in the Rule 5 Draft
DEBUTS
1910 -St. Louis native 3B Ray Jansen would play in his only MLB game in the 9-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox. He would record four singles in his five plate appearances.
1923 - PH Bill Mizeur would enter the game for RHP Rasty Wright in the seventh inning, and was unable to reach base. He would be replaced by RHP Charlie Root for the eighth inning in the Browns 10-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox
1927 - 1B Wes Sturdy would go 3-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base in the Browns loss to the Cleveland Indians, 5-4. It would be his only plate appearance in 1927.
1937 - RHP Bob Muncrief would pitch the first two innings of the Browns 10-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers. He would give up two runs on three hits and two walks.
BROWNS BIRTHDAYS ON SEPTEMBER 30
1904 - RHP Johnny Allen (1941)
1927 - 1B/PH Ben Taylor (1951)
The 1926 St. Louis Browns offense could have been described as a "feast or famine" style season. The Browns would finish in most cetgories in the middle of the pack, but then appear to finish second or towards the bottom in selected categories. For example, they finished second in home runs, while finishing seventh in runs batted in. They
The 1926 St. Louis Browns offense could have been described as a "feast or famine" style season. The Browns would finish in most cetgories in the middle of the pack, but then appear to finish second or towards the bottom in selected categories. For example, they finished second in home runs, while finishing seventh in runs batted in. They would finish second in strikeouts, while last in base on balls. The Browns still had some of their greatest hitters of the decade on their roster. 1B George Sisler, LF Ken Williams, and 3B Marty McManus would continue to lead the the team in the major hitting categories. In June, the Browns traded away their CF Baby Doll Jacobson for CF Bing Miller. Miller would not miss a beat for he would lead the team in batting average.
Batting Leaders
A.L. rankings in (#)
Team Statistics:
Player Statistics