St. Louis Browns LHP Earl Jones was born on June 11, 1919 in Fresno, California. "Lefty" Jones would enjoy a career that expanded over three decades, with nine years in the Browns organization. He would pitch in over 1100 innings in 189 games before finally debuting with the Browns in 1945.
Jones graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High S
St. Louis Browns LHP Earl Jones was born on June 11, 1919 in Fresno, California. "Lefty" Jones would enjoy a career that expanded over three decades, with nine years in the Browns organization. He would pitch in over 1100 innings in 189 games before finally debuting with the Browns in 1945.
Jones graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in Fresno, California, and signed his first professional contract with the Bisbee Bees of the Arizona-Texas League in 1938. He reached a 6-5 record with a 5.13 ERA that led to the Browns signing the 19-year old, amateur free agent. The Browns assigned him to their Class D level, Beaver Falls Bees in Pennsylvania. He would spend the next six seasons in the Browns organization, playing at every level and showing progress with every team. He saw time with the Springfield Browns (1940-41), Youngstown Browns (1941), Gloverville-Johnstown Glovers (1942), and Toledo Mud Hens (1943, 46-47). He would also spend time with the Oakland Oaks (1943). Jones would appear in over 110 innings each season, and his ERA would remain close to 4.00.
Earl Jones would reach the Major Leagues in 1945, where he would be brought up in the second half of the season for support out of the bull pen. Many believed "Lefty" Jones should have been left spring training with the team, but the Browns had several pitchers coming out of the war industries. It was believed he would get more action with Toledo, a than sitting on the bench in St. Louis.
He made his MLB debut on July 6, 1945 in a relief role for Sam Zoldak in a 6-3 loss to the Washington Nationals. He would appear in 28.1 innings in just ten games with the Browns. Jones would allow 18 hits, issue 18 walks, while striking out 13, and recording a 2.54 ERA. He would not earn an MLB win or a loss, but he did earn a save on August 13 against the Yankees.
After the 1945 season, Jones would return to the minors and play for the San Diego Padres. He would close out his playing career back with Toledo (1946-47), and as a player-coach for the Oakland Oaks (1948-49). Jones would continue to coach with Oakland, the Fresno Cardinals (1951), and later with the Visalia Cubs (1954). Jones would also appear in 19 games with Fresno, and five games with Visalia. His minor league statistics would show a 119-95 record with 590 strikeouts.
While spending spend 50 years in professional as a player, scout and coach, Jones would also spend over 20 years with the Fresno Fire Department.
HEADLINE
"BROWNS AND PRUETT DOMINATE OVER RUTH AND YANKEES"
FEATURED GAMES
1922 - The powerful Browns outfield smashes Yankees pitching in Browns 7-1 rout of New York. The combined totals of RF Jack Tobin, CF Chick Shorton, and LF Ken Williams would show 5-for-9 with five RBIs, on two home runs and two doubles. Williams would also pick up tw
HEADLINE
"BROWNS AND PRUETT DOMINATE OVER RUTH AND YANKEES"
FEATURED GAMES
1922 - The powerful Browns outfield smashes Yankees pitching in Browns 7-1 rout of New York. The combined totals of RF Jack Tobin, CF Chick Shorton, and LF Ken Williams would show 5-for-9 with five RBIs, on two home runs and two doubles. Williams would also pick up two stolen bases of Yankees pitcher Bullet Joe Bush. 2B Marty McManus and C Hank Severeid would account for driving in the final two Browns outs. Browns LHP Hub Pruett would pitch a complete game while only giving up a run on six hits while striking out six. Yankee legends Babe Ruth and Wally Pipp would both go hitless on the day.
BROWNS' ALL-TIME RECORD ON THIS DAY
21 WINS, 23 LOSSES
(.477 winning percentage)
WINS BY DECADE
1902-09: 2-4
1910-19: 4-5
1920-29: 5-2
1930-39: 6-4
1940-49: 4-5
1950-53: 2-1
DOUBLE-HEADERS ON THIS DAY
TRANSACTIONS
1951 - Browns' catcher Clyde Kluttz, was picked off waivers by the Washington Senators. Kluttz was the third-string catcher, and had only seen action in four games to this point of the season. He had five plate appearances, with two hits, a double, an RBI, and a walk. Even though his batting average was .500, the Browns waived the 33-year-old backstop.
DEBUTS
There were no debuts on this day
BROWNS' BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
There were no birthdays on this day
The impact of the 1919 season would be felt as this franchise slides into the 1920s. Most of the starting lineup from 1919 would still be in tact as the 1924 season opened.
The 67-72 record was a bit underwhelming, but the nucleus of this team will continue to grow as the number of wins increases. Catcher Hank Severeid would remain the Br
The impact of the 1919 season would be felt as this franchise slides into the 1920s. Most of the starting lineup from 1919 would still be in tact as the 1924 season opened.
The 67-72 record was a bit underwhelming, but the nucleus of this team will continue to grow as the number of wins increases. Catcher Hank Severeid would remain the Browns "backstop" for the next five seasons. George Sisler would remain a Brownie until 1927. Wally Gerber, Johnny Tobin, Baby Doll Jacobson, Pat Collins, Elam Vangilder, and Dixie Davis would all be calling Sportsman's Park home for the next four-plus seasons.
Manager Jimmy Burke would complete his first season as the Browns manager. Described as a friendly and enthisiastic leader, the players loved playing for him. He would increase the Browns win totals each of his years as the "field commander".
One of the players on this Browns team would find himself on dark side of baseball history. Second baseman Joe Gedeon was a good friend with Chicago White Sox 2B Swede Risberg, and traveled between Chicago and Cincinnati during the 1919 World Series. He became known as the "Ninth Man Out", as he was suspended for life by MLB Commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis for his association with gamblers during the infamous scandal.