St. Louis Browns UTIL Gerald Lipscomb was born on this day February 24, 1911 in Rutherfordton, North Carolina. He only played one season with the Browns, which was also his entire Major League career. He did enjoy a 13-year professional baseball career that took him to 11 different minor league clubs.
He had one of the more inappropriate
St. Louis Browns UTIL Gerald Lipscomb was born on this day February 24, 1911 in Rutherfordton, North Carolina. He only played one season with the Browns, which was also his entire Major League career. He did enjoy a 13-year professional baseball career that took him to 11 different minor league clubs.
He had one of the more inappropriate nicknames in baseball history, "Nig". The name was not uncommon in baseball, nor was it always used in a derogatory manner. Just a bad name.
Lipscomb began his career with the Charlotte Hornets of the Piedmont League at the age of 22. There is no record of him playing in college or semipro baseball before 1933 with the Hornets. After two years with Charlotte (1933-34), and two years with the Atlanta Crackers (1935-36), Lipscomb tallied 555 hits along with a .289 batting average.
The Browns acquired him from the Atlanta Crackers of the Southern Association on September 29, 1936. His MLB debut came on April 23, 1937 vs the Cleveland Indians. He came in as a defensive replacement for 2B Rogers Hornsby, going 0-2 in his only two at bats. During the 1937 season he would appear in 36 Games, ripping out a batting average of .323. He would have only 110 plate appearances, but gather 31 hits, 11 runs, and eight RBIs.
Showing off his versatility, Lipscomb would have his pitching debut on August 14, 1937 in both sides of a double header vs Detroit. His total pitching statistics came to 9.2 innings pitched, giving up nine runs on 13 hits, with a 6.32 ERA. Lipscomb would also see action with the New Orleans Pelicans in 1937, where he played 72 games in the "Big Easy". On December 3, 1937, the Browns sent the contract of Gerald Lipscomb to the Boston Red Sox.
Even though he would not play for the Red Sox, Lipscomb would continue to play until 1947. He would spend time with ten teams after leaving the Browns, including the Greenwood Crackers (1939-40), Buffalo Bison (1945), and Greensboro Patriots (1946). He would also serve as a player/manager in his last two years, with the Williamsport Grays (1946) and Concord Weavers (1947). He would miss two seasons during the war years of 1942-43. There is no documentation that he fought in the war, but served in the war industry.
There is little written history of Lipscomb's life after his playing career was over. He returned to his home state of North Carlina, where he settled down and raised his family in Huntersville.
Today's Browns Quote
“There are things a manager should be held accountable for, and I am willing to get my share of criticism, but unforeseen accidents and a steady run of ill luck are not among the causes for criticism.”
~ Browns Manager, Jimmy McAleer
BROWNS BRITHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1911 - 2B Gerald Lipscomb (1937)
SPORTSMAN'S PARK - PART 2
Th
Today's Browns Quote
“There are things a manager should be held accountable for, and I am willing to get my share of criticism, but unforeseen accidents and a steady run of ill luck are not among the causes for criticism.”
~ Browns Manager, Jimmy McAleer
BROWNS BRITHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1911 - 2B Gerald Lipscomb (1937)
SPORTSMAN'S PARK - PART 2
This is the second look at the St. Louis browns home ballpark, the beloved Sportsman's Park. The home stadium of the St. Louis Browns was located at the corner of Dozier St. and Grand Blvd. in the middle of the St. Louis baseball world. The steel and concrete stadium was the first with an electronic scoreboard and public address system. The Browns called it home during their entire existence in St Louis. They shared it with their National League cousins (Cardinals) from 1920 through 1953.
After the Browns left in 1953, the Cardinals would purchase the stadium for only $800,000. The dimensions of the ball park were as follows:
World Series at Sportsman's Park
Hosted 3 All-Star Games
The manager of the 1905 St. Louis Browns was former outfielder, Jimmy McAleer. He was entering his fourth season as Browns manager and coming off a 65-87 record in 1904.
As the Milwaukee Brewers were moving to become the St. Louis Browns, McAleer was hand selected by American League President Ban Johnson to lead the Browns. Jimmy McAleer
The manager of the 1905 St. Louis Browns was former outfielder, Jimmy McAleer. He was entering his fourth season as Browns manager and coming off a 65-87 record in 1904.
As the Milwaukee Brewers were moving to become the St. Louis Browns, McAleer was hand selected by American League President Ban Johnson to lead the Browns. Jimmy McAleer was known as one of the best baseball minds in the game.
He enjoyed a ten-year playing career, primarily with the Cleveland Spiders of the National League. He was widely known as one of the greatest players of the decade. He was described as "perhaps the most graceful outfielders known to the game", by sports writer Franklin Lewis. As good a he was in the field, his offensive skills were not as developed. He was often described as a "weak" hitter whose importance came in the field.
As a manager, McAleer spent one season in Cleveland before leading the Browns. In his eight years as Browns manager, he accumulated a recorded of 551-632. His best season came in 1902, as the Browns came close to winning the American League pennant.
Even though he failed to have a winning record in St. Louis, many considered him the best baseball mind in the game. He would spend two seasons leading the Washington Senators, before becoming part owner of the Boston Red Sox. Boston would win the World Series in his first year with the team.