St. Louis native and Browns outfielder, Jim Pisoni, was born on August 14, 1929 in St. Louis Missouri, He may be the answer to some of the greatest trivia questions on the history of the St. Louis Browns. Even though his professional baseball career spanned 12 seasons, Jim Pisoni would only play three games with the Browns. But each game
St. Louis native and Browns outfielder, Jim Pisoni, was born on August 14, 1929 in St. Louis Missouri, He may be the answer to some of the greatest trivia questions on the history of the St. Louis Browns. Even though his professional baseball career spanned 12 seasons, Jim Pisoni would only play three games with the Browns. But each game would hold significance in the final month of the team's era in St. Louis.
Jim Pisoni grew up on "The Hill", the Italian-American neighborhood in St. Louis. As he was growing up, he became well known on the sandlots of St. Louis. He played along side baseball legends Yogi Berra and Joe Garagiola in the neighborhood ball fields.
He was signed as an amateur free agent by the Browns prior to the 1949 season. The Browns would assign him to the Mayfield Clothiers in 1949, and the Pittsburgh Browns in 1950.
Pisoni would take the next two seasons off as he joined the US Army during the Korean War. It was recorded that he did not have the opportunity to play any baseball in the service. When he return from war, his baseball skills had diminished and needed time to get back to baseball shape.
Jim Pisoni would play for four different teams in 1953. He started with the York White Roses, before moving on to the Anderson Rebels, and the Wichita Indians. Jim Pisoni would finish the 1953 season as a member of the St. Louis Browns. The Browns had already been sold to a group in Baltimore, and the last series in franchise history was against the Chicago White Sox.
Game 152 - September 25 - Pisoni would make his MLB debut in game. He would be the last player to make their debut with the Browns in team history.
Game 153 - September 26 - Pisoni would hit a home run in the bottom of the sixth inning off ChiSox pitcher Connie Johnson. This would be his only hit with the Browns, making him the only player in Browns history to hit a home run in their only hit as a Brown.
Game 154 (Last day of the season) - September 27 - Jim Pisoni played the entire game in right field, which would make him one of the last players to ever wear a Browns uniform.
Over the next eight seasons, Pisoni would bounce between the major and minor leagues. He would play for the San Antonio Missions (1954-55), Vancouver Mounties (1956), Denver Bears (1957-58), Richmond Virginians (1959-61), and the San Diego Padres (1962). He would return to the Majors with the Kansas City Athletics (1956-57), Milwaukee Braves (1959) and the New York Yankees (1959-60). Jim Pisoni would retire from baseball and settle down in Dallas, Texas, in 1951.
After his passing in 2007, Pisoni's family worked with other Italian-American families from "The Hill" to honor those players that best represented the Italian-American values. A mural was erected with Jim Pisoni,Yogi Berra, Joe Garagiola, and Frank Crespi (played for the Cardinals from 1938-42) to show the pride families from "The Hill" had in baseball. The monument currently sits in a public park between Manzoni and San Rocco streets.
HEADLINES
"BROWNS' TEX SHIRLEY WOULD USE HIS ARMS AND HIS BAT TO DEFEAT THE YANKEES"
FEATURED GAME
1945 - In a game where the Browns had 15 hits against New York pitching, the Browns pound the Yankees, 10-5. The Browns pitching staff of starter RHP Tex Shirley and LHP Earl Jones would combine to limit the Yankees to four runs, on four hits,
HEADLINES
"BROWNS' TEX SHIRLEY WOULD USE HIS ARMS AND HIS BAT TO DEFEAT THE YANKEES"
FEATURED GAME
1945 - In a game where the Browns had 15 hits against New York pitching, the Browns pound the Yankees, 10-5. The Browns pitching staff of starter RHP Tex Shirley and LHP Earl Jones would combine to limit the Yankees to four runs, on four hits, nine walks, and six strikeouts. The pitching pair would also go 3-for-4 at the plate with the only extra base hit of the game (Earl Jones double to lead off the eighth inning). Shirley would drive in SS Vern Stephens three times throughout the game. The Browns lineup would be led by 1B George McQuinn and catcher Frank Mancuso, who both went 2-for-3, with a run and two driven in. Browns CF Pete Gray would add two more runs driven in plus the games only stolen base. 2B Don Gutteridge would account for the last two RBIs.
BROWNS RECORD ON THIS DAY
Overall Record on August 15
15 Wins, 25 Losses (.400)
1902-09: 0-5
1910-19: 4-3
1920-29: 6-4
1930-39: 2-4
1940-49: 3-7
1950-53: 0-2
DOUBLE HEADERS
Sweeps: 0
Splits: 2
Swept: 2
TRANSACTIONS
1919 - Browns purchased the contract of C/PH Pat Collins and LHP Rolla Mapel from the Joplin Miners. Collins would play six years with the Browns as a backup to Hank Severeid, hitting .238 with 124 hits in 272 games. Mapel would appear in 20 innings over four games with a 0-3 record and a 4.50 ERA.
1922 - Browns select Eddie Foster off waivers from the Boston Red Sox. Foster would bat .264 in 64 games in two seasons with the Browns (1922-23)
DEBUTS
1912 - CF Bill Brown, at 18 years old he would be a defensive replacement for Burt Shotton in the 6th inning. He would finish going 0-for-2 in the Browns loss to the Red Sox
BROWNS BIRTHDAYS ON AUGUST 15
1891 - RF Tim Bowden (1914)
The 1927 St. Louis Browns would be the last team from the glory days the Browns experienced in the 1920s. This was a team that fought for the American League pennant early in the decade. This was a team with the best outfield in baseball, the best hitter in the game, and the first American League MVP. By the time the 1927 season evolved,
The 1927 St. Louis Browns would be the last team from the glory days the Browns experienced in the 1920s. This was a team that fought for the American League pennant early in the decade. This was a team with the best outfield in baseball, the best hitter in the game, and the first American League MVP. By the time the 1927 season evolved, this once potent offense gave way to time, injuries, and opposing dynasties.
1927 was the year of the famed New York Yankees, "Murderers Row", team. That year the Yankees would set the record of 110 wins in a season. The Browns would post a 1-21 record against New York that season. This would be the last season that two icons would play for the Browns. 1B George Sisler gave up his player-manager status to just focus on playing the game. He would still bat .327 and collect 201 hits. Many believed his best days were past, his contract was sold to the Washington nationals on December 14, 1927. LF Ken Williams, who hit the most home runs in the decade (190), was also dealt away after the season. He led the team in home runs (17) and WAR (3.6), but was also seen as older and on the slide. His contract was sold to the Bsoton Red Sox on December 15, 1927. He would only hit over .300 in each of his last two seasons in baseball. The Browns also dealt RF Harry Rice and pitchers Milt Gaston and Elam Vangilder after the season. The 1927 team would end up with a 59-94 record, finishing seventh in the league, 50.5 games behind the Yankees (thank goodness for the Red Sox who finished 59 games back).
Before the changing of the guards with the Browns there were some bright moments, but they were few and far between.