St. Louis Browns 1B John "Jack" Black, was born on February 23, 1890 in Covington, Kentucky. His story is one of the more mysterious of any in Browns history. There is no record of Black playing college or semi professional baseball. There is no transaction history between him and the Browns or any other baseball team. His entire baseball
St. Louis Browns 1B John "Jack" Black, was born on February 23, 1890 in Covington, Kentucky. His story is one of the more mysterious of any in Browns history. There is no record of Black playing college or semi professional baseball. There is no transaction history between him and the Browns or any other baseball team. His entire baseball career seems to have lasted only two seasons, with just one being at the MLB level. Then he vanished from the Browns roster as fast as he arrived.
John Black began his career with the Harrisburg Senators of the Tri-State League in 1910. In the "B" level league, he recorded 22 hits, including two doubles, two triples, a home run, and a .222 batting average. Black was invited to the Browns spring training and would share duty at first base with seven other players.
Black would see the most action at first base, 53 games, between the group of players through the 1911 season (Joe Kutina - 26 games, Pat Newman - 20, Dave Rowan - 18, Dode Criss - 14, Hap Myers - 11, Ernie Gust - 3, Jim Duggan - 1). Black would make his MLB debut on June 20, 1911, tallying one hit in his four at bats against the Chicago White Sox. He would become a consistent addition to the Browns lineup over the next 55 games, where he started 52 games at first, as a defensive substitute at first for one game, a sub at third base for a game, and a pinch runner once. Black would have 202 plate appearances, scoring 13 runs on 28 hits, while driving in seven players. His batting average was .151 was well below the team average, but his .972 fielding percentage kept him on the roster. Black would record five games of multiple hits, and one game with three hits (First game of a double header on August 22, 1911 vs. the Philadelphia Athletics). His offensive production was probably the reason for him not receiving an invitation to the 1912 Browns spring training.
There is little known of his life after the 1911 season. He would live a long life and eventually settle down in Rutherford, New Jersey. John Black reached his dream as a major league baseball player. As short as this experience was, he was able to reach a pinnacle that many of us will never make.
Today's Browns Quote
"What can I do, I asked myself, that is so spectacular that no one will be able to say he had seen it before? The answer was perfectly obvious. I would send a midget up to bat."
~ Bill Veeck, Brown's Owner, from the book "Veeck--as in Wreck, the Autobiography of Bill Veeck"
BROWNS BRITHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1890 - 1B John Blac
Today's Browns Quote
"What can I do, I asked myself, that is so spectacular that no one will be able to say he had seen it before? The answer was perfectly obvious. I would send a midget up to bat."
~ Bill Veeck, Brown's Owner, from the book "Veeck--as in Wreck, the Autobiography of Bill Veeck"
BROWNS BRITHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1890 - 1B John Black (1911)
HISTORIC MOMENT
There are many events in baseball history that are identified as both comical and unbelievable. One of the most infamous events in the history of the St. Louis Browns occurred on August 19, 1951. This is when the Browns owner Bill Veeck introduced baseball's most famous pinch hitter, Eddie Gaedel. When most baseball fans are asked to name any player from the St. Louis Browns, Eddie Gaedel is on most people's mind.
Ironically, the player who only saw four pitches in his career is one of the most famous Browns' players. Most people know the facts behind this famous event that was created by the baseball showman Bill Veeck.
Here are the basic facts of this iconic baseball moment.
The next day, American League president Will Harridge, pledged to wipe out Gaedel's stats from the record books. He barred the use of midgets, dwarfs, and othe little people from future appearances in MLB games. Gaedel's at bat was returned to the record books in 1953. The famous snap shot Eddie Gaedel standing in the batters box in from Tigers catcher Bob Swift is one of the most famous baseball pictures of all time.
The 1905 Browns had a disappointing season, losing 12 more games from the 1904 season. The same players would makeup for the poor season by winning 22 more games in the 1906 season. The 1905 season featured the American League leader in hits, but also had three pitchers that lost 20+ games.
The 1905 season breakdown looked like this:
The 1905 Browns had a disappointing season, losing 12 more games from the 1904 season. The same players would makeup for the poor season by winning 22 more games in the 1906 season. The 1905 season featured the American League leader in hits, but also had three pitchers that lost 20+ games.
The 1905 season breakdown looked like this: