St. Louis Browns OF/PH Joe Gallagher was born on March 7, 1914, in Buffalo, New York. The history of "Muscles" Gallagher would extend seven years in the baseball, four years at war, and would be influential in the career of a pioneer in Major League Baseball. Every step of his career may not have drawn headlines, but he witnessed some of
St. Louis Browns OF/PH Joe Gallagher was born on March 7, 1914, in Buffalo, New York. The history of "Muscles" Gallagher would extend seven years in the baseball, four years at war, and would be influential in the career of a pioneer in Major League Baseball. Every step of his career may not have drawn headlines, but he witnessed some of the biggest moments of the era.
Joe Gallagher came out of South Park High School in Buffalo, New York. He would go on to attend and play at Manhattan University where he was discovered by the New York Yankees. He continued his education at Manhattan, while playing in the minor and major leagues. He began his career as a Yankees prospect with the Norfork Tars in 1936. He rise up through the Yankee organization, playing for the Newark Bears (1937, 39), Binghampton Triplets (1937), and the Kansas City Blues (1938). He would make his MLB debut on April 20, 1939, going 0-for-3 in a 2-0 Yankees win over the Red Sox.
The Browns would acquire Joe Gallagher on June 30, 1939 for INF Roy Hughes and cash from New York. He would become the primary left fielder for the Browns in 1939, hitting .282 in 71 games. He would have 11 multi-hit games, and his best day came on July 4, 1939, when he went 4-for-4 with two runs scored, a walk, and an RBI. Gallagher's total numbers with St. Louis would inlulde 94 hits in 94 games played. He 20 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs, 48 RBIs, and a .280 batting average.
The Browns would eventually trade Gallagher to the Brooklyn Dodgers for catcher Roy Cullenbine on May 27, 1940. He would play out the rest of the 1940 campaign with the Dodgers, before putting his baseball career on hold to enlist in the US military.
Joe Gallagher is considered one of the first baseball players to enlist in service as World War II (1941-45) began to involve American interests.
After returning from war in 1945, he attempted a comeback with the Dodgers minor league affiliate, Montreal Royals, in 1946. Although he only saw action in six games, he was the season-long roommate of Jackie Robinson. Joe
Gallagher retired from playing baseball and pursued his educational opportunities. He graduated from Stephen F. Austin in 1947, the University of Houston in 1950, and later attended Cornell University, where he is considered the last "Big Red" student to reach the Major Leagues. He served as the head baseball coach for the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks from 1947-49. He continued to coach in college and minor leagues before becoming the head coach at Rice University in 1962.
Gallagher would eventually settle down in Houston, Texas, where he worked in the insurance business, and was happy to tell stories of the Browns, the War, and his connections with Jackie Robinson.
Today's Browns Quote
“He went to games and he always went to Cooperstown every year and old-timers games, he went to everything he was invited to. He loved it because it was his life.”
~ Sue McCaw, daughter of MLB Hall of Famer and leader of the 1928 Browns, Heinie Manush
BROWNS' BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1914 - OF Joe Gallagher (1939-40)
TRANSAC
Today's Browns Quote
“He went to games and he always went to Cooperstown every year and old-timers games, he went to everything he was invited to. He loved it because it was his life.”
~ Sue McCaw, daughter of MLB Hall of Famer and leader of the 1928 Browns, Heinie Manush
BROWNS' BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1914 - OF Joe Gallagher (1939-40)
TRANSACTIONS
1953 - The Chicago White Sox acquired the rights to Browns RHP Earl Harrist. Harrist was only with the Browns for the 1952 season, where he pitched in 36 games. He recorded a 4.01 ERA while going 2-8, with 49 strikeouts and 47 walks. He served several roles with he Browns. In his 36 games, Harrist started nine games and completed one of them. He also recorded nine saves in the same season. Harrist did lead the American League in one dubious category in 1952 by hitting 10 batters over the course of the season. Once he was trade to the White Sox, he would continue his up-and-down path from the minors to the major leagues. he would eventually carve out a 19 year career from 1938-58.
The 1928 St. Louis Browns team was a team involved in a complete and successful rebuilding period. Coming after a dismal 1927 season that saw the Browns win only 59 games and finish 50.5 games behind the famous New York Yankees "Murderers Row" team for 7th place in the American League (Thank goodness for the Red Sox who lost 8 more games
The 1928 St. Louis Browns team was a team involved in a complete and successful rebuilding period. Coming after a dismal 1927 season that saw the Browns win only 59 games and finish 50.5 games behind the famous New York Yankees "Murderers Row" team for 7th place in the American League (Thank goodness for the Red Sox who lost 8 more games than the Browns).
The Browns were also dealing with the fact that the Cardinals had become one of the best organizations in baseball. Not only were the Cardinals coming off their first World Championship in 1926, they missed a second pennant to the Pirates by only 1.5 games.
The Browns had enjoyed over two decades in St. Louis where they felt they were the best team in the city. Those days were passing them by. They were also contending with an older team in 1927. Browns owner Phil Ball believed that the powerful bats of George Sisler and Ken Williams were starting to show their age. He felt as if the team had lost the attention of the St. Louis baseball fans, and a shake up was needed to spark interest back in his team. George Sisler was traded to Washington, and Ken Williams was sent to lowly Boston. Ball countered these trades by bringing in Heinie Manush to play left field, and Lu Blue to replace Sisler at first base. Manush would hit .378 and just miss the batting title by .001 to Washington's Goose Goslin. Unforetunately, he was the only Browns batter to hit over .300. Blue was a respectful to first base addition, hitting .281 with 154 hits and 105 walks.
The Browns pitching was led by General Alvin Crowder and Sam Gray. Crowder would enjoy his best season to date, going 21-5 with a 3.69 ERA. Combine that with 20 wins from Sam Gray, 15 wins from Jack Ogden, and 10 wins from George Blaeholder, the Browns would show improvement in every pitching category from 1927.
St. Louis would finish in 3rd place with an 82-72 record in 1928 - 23 games better than the previous season