St. Louis Browns Shortstop Perry Currin was born on September 27, 1928 in Washington D.C.. There are dozens of players in the history of the Browns that had little to no impact on the course of baseball history. But just the idea of wearing a Major League uniform, and playing in just a handful of games was a dream come true. Perry Currin
St. Louis Browns Shortstop Perry Currin was born on September 27, 1928 in Washington D.C.. There are dozens of players in the history of the Browns that had little to no impact on the course of baseball history. But just the idea of wearing a Major League uniform, and playing in just a handful of games was a dream come true. Perry Currin may not have left n impact on the game, but the game would shape him for the rest of his life.
In 1947, Perry Currin played in just three games for the St. Louis Browns. He was just 18 years old at the time, and he was the third youngest player in the Majors. Prior to this, Currin had a very limited baseball career. He played American legion baseball in 1943, and with a semipro team called the Christian Heinrich Browns from 1946-47. He would spend the next five season playing throughout the Browns farm system, although there is no transaction documentation on file that shows when Currin signed with the Browns.
In 1947 he played for the Browns B-level team, the Springfield Browns, where he had 42 hits in 41 games, including seven doubles, four triples, 18 RBIs, and a .252 batting average. In the middle of the season, Perry Currin was called to join the Major League Browns, still at the age of 18. He would appear in three games between June 29 and September 17. He would debut on June 29 in the second game of a double header against the Detroit Tigers. In the third inning, he would pinch hit for RHP Fred Sanford and ground out to the second baseman. On July 12, he would be a defensive substitution for SS Vern Stephens in the seventh inning, where he would later ground out to the shortstop. His final appearance came on September 17, when he walked as a pinch hitter for RHP Jack Kramer. He would play two innings at shortstop, where he would have a perfect fielding percentage with two putouts and two double plays to his credit.
After his brief stint with the Browns he would return to the minors where he played until 1951. His minor league career included 498 hits in 552 games, including 64 doubles, 19 triples, 21 home runs, and 160 RBIs.
After his playing days were over Perry Currin would settle down in San Antonio, where he and his wife of 52 years raised their family. Currin would serve within the local Knights of Columbus, as well as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Mary's Church. He was described as a man with great humility, who brought a smile to everyone who knew him. He is an example that not all baseball heroes are in the Hall of Fame.
HEADLINES
"INCREDIBLE 'TWIN BILL' SHOWS THE BROWNS CLOSE OUT THE SEASON WITH THUMPING OF YANKEES"
FEATURED GAME
1926 -There are so many amazing storylines out of this double header, played in just 2:07, that cannot be forgotten. The Browns won both games agaisnt the American League Champions, New York Yankees. This double header would be pla
HEADLINES
"INCREDIBLE 'TWIN BILL' SHOWS THE BROWNS CLOSE OUT THE SEASON WITH THUMPING OF YANKEES"
FEATURED GAME
1926 -There are so many amazing storylines out of this double header, played in just 2:07, that cannot be forgotten. The Browns won both games agaisnt the American League Champions, New York Yankees. This double header would be played on the last game of the 1926 season played. The games were played in Sportsman's Park, and the Browns would record 12 runs on 26 hits, and in both games the Browns would take the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning.
GAME 1 - The Browns' balanced offense would have six sluggers record an RBI as they took Game 1, 6-1, in one hour and twelve minutes. Led by CF Harry Rice who would record three hits, score a run, and drive in another. RF Bing Miller, LF Herschel Bennett, and catcher Pinky Hargraves would each get two hits and drive in a run. Not to be outdone, 1B George Sisler and 2B Marty Mcmanus would each record a run scoring triple in the game. The Browns would score four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to seal the game, while LHP Chet Falk would pitch a complete game over Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and the Yankees.
GAME 2 - This nine inning game took 55 minutes play. JUST 55 MINUTES. The Browns offense was fueled by 11 hits, of which six were doubles, and three doubles drove in at least one run. The double parade included Bennett, McManus, catcher Wally Schange, 3B Gene Robertson. 3B Jimmy Austin,and LHP Ernie Wingard. Wingard would earn the win by pitching seven innings, allowing two runs off nine hits. The legendary Geroeg Sisler would pitch the final two innings of the last game of the season. This would come 12 years after he debuted for the Browns as a left handed pitching prospect. Sisler would strikeout three of th seven batters he faced on his way to earning the save. (He would also go 2-for-4 at the plate, with an RBI). This would be the last time George Sisler would pitch for the Browns. It would be fitting tribute to a player that entered the league as a pitching phenom, became one of the best hitters in MLB history, and then shuts down the future American League Champions of 1926.
BROWNS RECORD ON THIS DAY
Overall Record on SEPTEMBER 26
18 Wins, 22 Losses One Tie (.439)
1902-09: 6-2-1
1910-19: 2-3
1920-29: 3-3
1930-39: 1-8
1940-49: 4-3
1950-53: 2-3
DOUBLEADERS
Sweeps: 4
Splits: 6
Swept: 3
TRANSACTIONS
There were no transactions on this day
DEBUTS
There were no debuts on this day
BROWNS BIRTHDAYS ON SEPTEMBER 26
There were no birthdays on this day
Prior to the 1926 season, Browns owner Phil Ball proclaimed that there would be a World Series in St. Louis. He doubled the capacity of Sportsman's Park from 18,500 to 36,000 seats, the idea that he would see a World Series winner with his Browns. He was not incorrect for the National League St. Louis Cardinals won their first World Serie
Prior to the 1926 season, Browns owner Phil Ball proclaimed that there would be a World Series in St. Louis. He doubled the capacity of Sportsman's Park from 18,500 to 36,000 seats, the idea that he would see a World Series winner with his Browns. He was not incorrect for the National League St. Louis Cardinals won their first World Series title in 1926. The Browns would end up in seventh place with a 62-92 record, just 29 games behind the New York Yankees.
The 1926 season was the last season of the great Browns teams of the twenties. The team was not aging well, and many kep pieces had already been moved. RHP Urban Shocker, arguably the best pitcher in team history was traded to the Yankees. St. Louis native, RF Jack Tobin was with the Washington Senators. Browns legends 1B George Sisler and Baby Doll Jacobson were both batting under .300 for the first time in the decade. With such a slow start, Jacobson would be traded to Philadelphia on June 15, for OF Bing Miller. The younger Miller would be a surprise as he would finish the season leading the team in hitting with a .331 batting average. Catcher Wally Schang (.330) and LF Harry Rice (.313) would help lead the Browns Offense.
After Shocker was dealt to the Yankees, the Browns pitching staff had no true leader and began slipping into the bottom of the league. RHP Win Ballou, 11-10, would be only Browns pitcher with a winning record at the end of the season. Seven of the 12 Browns pitcher were under the age of 30, and of those seven only two would pitch more than 100 innings. An example of how inexperienced this staff was can be seen with only two pitchers record more than 20 starts.
George Sisler would not only be the team leader at first base, and field leader as manager, but he would even be forced to pitch during the season (earned a save). This would be the last season that Sisler would manager the team, a role that he never really enjoyed.
The St. Louis Browns teams of the 1920s were exciting, dynamic, and entertaining. It is a shame how they faded by the 1926 season.