St.Louis Browns right-handed pitcher, Jack Gilligan, was born on October 18, 1885 in Chicago, Illinois. He would spend his entire Major League career with the Browns, but would add nine minor league seasons to his professional resume. In his brief time with St. Louis, he would be on a staff with some of the best pitchers in Browns history
St.Louis Browns right-handed pitcher, Jack Gilligan, was born on October 18, 1885 in Chicago, Illinois. He would spend his entire Major League career with the Browns, but would add nine minor league seasons to his professional resume. In his brief time with St. Louis, he would be on a staff with some of the best pitchers in Browns history.
There is little known of the early life of Jack Gilligan. His first contract with the Vancouver Beaver was signed when he was 23 years old. He would go 14-12 in 28 games with the Beavers in the first half of the 1909 season. The Browns purchased Gilligan's contract from Vancouver for $2,000 on August 21, 1909. He would appear in three games in the final weeks of the season, and he would record a complete game in each contest.
Gilligan's MLB debut came in the second game of a doubleheader against the Washington Nationals on September 16. He would scatter five hits and five walks in a 4-2 win. He would go on to reach a 5.48 ERA in 23 innings in his first season. The Browns would bring Gilligan back for the 1910 season, but he would only appear in nine games. His biggest nemesis was being able to consistently hit the strike zone. He would give out 28 walks to just ten strikeouts in his second season. Gilligan's ERA did drop to 3.66 as only 12 of his 21 runs given up were earned runs.
He began to show his diversity as he was used as both a starter and out of the bull pen. The Browns had a pitching staff that included Rube Waddell, Barney Pelty, Joe Lake, and Jack Powell, which limited the amount of playing time for Gilligan. He would eventually be optioned to the Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association.
Gilligan would spend the rest of his career as a successful minor league pitcher. He would play for Milwaukee (1910-11), Minneapolis Millers (1911, 13-14), Portland Beavers (1912), Sacramento Sacts (1912), Salt Lake City Bees (1915), Des Moines Boosters (1915-16), and Seattle Rainiers (1919).
There are no reports of Jack Gilligan's life after baseball. It is known that he settled in Modesto, California, and that he lived to 95 years of age. It could easily be assumed that he entertained several generations of his family with tales of baseball and the St. Louis Browns.
TOP 100 BROWNS COUNTDOWN
This website has the only Top 100 list of famous St Louis Browns players. Please feel free to free to visit the tab about for the complete list. Here is a brief portion of the list that recognizes some of the best players in the history of the St. Louis Browns.
PLAYERS 91-95
TOP 100 BROWNS COUNTDOWN
This website has the only Top 100 list of famous St Louis Browns players. Please feel free to free to visit the tab about for the complete list. Here is a brief portion of the list that recognizes some of the best players in the history of the St. Louis Browns.
PLAYERS 91-95
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BROWNS BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1884 - OF Burt Shotton (1911-17)
1885 - RHP Jack Gilligan (1909-10)
The 1909 St. Louis Browns would begin the season with high expectations coming off a very 1908 campaign. After winning 83 games and capturing the hearts of the St. Louis baseball crowd, the Browns would take a step back toward the lowere end of the American League. They would get off to a very slow start, with a 4-8 record in April and a
The 1909 St. Louis Browns would begin the season with high expectations coming off a very 1908 campaign. After winning 83 games and capturing the hearts of the St. Louis baseball crowd, the Browns would take a step back toward the lowere end of the American League. They would get off to a very slow start, with a 4-8 record in April and a 23-39 record by July 1st. They had several players that had to deal with early season injuries and underperformance, which had a huge impact on the remainder of the season. This team finish with a 61-89 record, which would result in a new manager and a new series of players to start the next decade.
SEASON LINEUP