St. Louis Browns catcher, Darrell Johnson, was born on August 25, 1928 in Horace, Nebraska. He is the only major league player born in Horace, raised in California, and then return to his home state to attend the University of Nebraska, Kearney (later attended by RHP Joba Chamberlain). He would build a 50-year professional baseball career
St. Louis Browns catcher, Darrell Johnson, was born on August 25, 1928 in Horace, Nebraska. He is the only major league player born in Horace, raised in California, and then return to his home state to attend the University of Nebraska, Kearney (later attended by RHP Joba Chamberlain). He would build a 50-year professional baseball career as a player, coach, manager, scout, and special assistant in the Major Leagues. This impressive career began as a member of the St Louis Browns.
Darrell Johnson was discovered by Browns scout, Tony Robello, after playing in a California state amateur tournament in 1949. He would spend the first four years in the Browns minor leagues, playing fir the Reding Browns (1949), Marshal Browns (1950), and San Antonio Missions (1951-52).
Johnson would make the Browns opening day roster in 1952, and his MLB debut on April 20 against the Chicago White Sox. He would enter the game as a pinch hitter for Earl Harrist in the seventh inning, and stay in the game at catcher. The Browns already had Les Moss and Clint Courtney behind the plate, and Johnson only saw action in 29 games. His best game came on June 15, when he went 4-for-5 including and RBI against the Philadelphia Athletics. Johnson would be traded on June 28, 1952 with OF Jim Riverato the White Sox for OF Ray Coleman and C/OF Jay Porter. His final stats with the Browns included 22 hits in 89 plate appearances, with two doubles, a triple, nine runs batted in, and a .282 average.
Johnson's time with the ChiSox would not last long (22 games) before being traded back to the Browns on June 13, 1953 along with RHP Lou Kretlow and $75,000 for 3B/RF Bob Elliot and RHP Virgil Trucks. He would not see any time with the major league team for he was allowed to remain with the White Sox affiliate, Memphis Chicasaws.
Johnson would spend the next ten year bouncing between the major and minor leagues. He played for the Richmond Virginians (1954, 59), Denver Bears (1955-56), and the Rohester Red Wings (1965). He would also see action in "The Show" with the New York Yankees (1957-58), Philadelphia Phillies (1961), Cincinnati Reds (1961-62), as well as a player-coach with the St. Louis Cardinals (1960) and Baltimore Orioles (1962). This experience would prove to be valuable in his second career in baseball, as a developer of baseball talent.
He began his managerial career in the Orioles organization, winning league championships in 1964 and 1965. After two years in the Yankees' farm system (1966-67), he joined the Red Sox organization under legendary coach Dick Williams in 1968. He worked his way up through the organization until he became the manager of the Boston Red Sox (1974-76). After a 220-188 record in Boston, he moved on to become the first leader of the expansion Seattle Mariners in 1977. He built a 226-362 record in Seattle before being let go drring the 1980 season. He returned to Boston where he coached and served as an interm manager in 1982. Darrell Johnson would the join the New York Mets in 1983, where he remained the rest of his career. He served as a scout, coach, and special assistant to the General Manager until 1999.
There is nothing that Darrell Johnson did not accomplish in baseball. He played in a World Series (1958), led the Red Sox to the World Series (1975), and helped the Mets win their crown in 1986. This all started with the foundation he gained with the St. Louis Browns.
HEADLINES
"ZOLDAK PITCHES GEM AS BROWNS BLANK DETROIT"
FEATURED GAME
1947 - In a classic pitching duel , Sam Zoldak out pitches Ray Scarborogh in the Browns 1-0 victory over the Nationals. LHP Zoldak would only allow four hits and three walks to the Tigers lineup. The only extra base hit he gave up was to 2B Jerry Priddy who was left strande
HEADLINES
"ZOLDAK PITCHES GEM AS BROWNS BLANK DETROIT"
FEATURED GAME
1947 - In a classic pitching duel , Sam Zoldak out pitches Ray Scarborogh in the Browns 1-0 victory over the Nationals. LHP Zoldak would only allow four hits and three walks to the Tigers lineup. The only extra base hit he gave up was to 2B Jerry Priddy who was left stranded in the fifth inning. The Browns would only record three hits against the RHP Scarborough. 3B Bob Dillenger would triple in the third inning, and 1B Wally Judnich would double in the fourth inning. Both would be left stranded. The Browns only run came in the second inning. LF Jeff Heath earaned a walk, moved to second on a ground out by SS Vern Stephens, and scored on a single by 2B Billy Hitchcock. The duel between Zoldak and Scarborogh would silence both lineups the rest of the game. The game only took 95 minutes to complete.
BROWNS RECORD ON THIS DAY
Overall Record on August 25
23 Wins, 33 Losses One Tie (.403)
1902-09: 3-5
1910-19: 4-6
1920-29: 5-5
1930-39: 4-10
1940-49: 7-5-1
1950-53: 0-2
DOUBLE HEADERS
Sweeps: 2
Splits: 5
Swept: 2
TRANSACTIONS
There were no transactions on this day
DEBUTS
1913 - 1B Sam Covington would enter the game for George Stovall and go 1-for-3 in the Browns 3-0 loss to the Philadelphia Athletics
BROWNS BIRTHDAYS ON AUGUST 25
1928 - Catcher Darrell Johnson (1952)
1927 - RHP Jim Suchecki (1951)
The manager of the 1934 St. Louis Browns was the legendary Rogers Hornsby. He had seven years of managerial experience prior to leading the Browns. He led the St. Louis Cardinals to their first World Championship in 1926, spent a season with the New York Giants (1927), and the Boston Braves (1928). His overall managerial record prior to j
The manager of the 1934 St. Louis Browns was the legendary Rogers Hornsby. He had seven years of managerial experience prior to leading the Browns. He led the St. Louis Cardinals to their first World Championship in 1926, spent a season with the New York Giants (1927), and the Boston Braves (1928). His overall managerial record prior to joining the Browns was 355 - 325, including finishing in the top three in the National League five times.
Hornsby took over the leadership role for the Browns in 1933, and was 19-33-2 over the final 54 games of the season. Hornsby was leading as the Player-Manager for the Browns, as he was for every team that he had managed to that point. His incredible statistics as a player granted him many opportunities to manage at the MLB level.
Like most great players, he was not the most understanding managers in the game. By 1934, he knew what he wantedout of his players, and was determined to get that out of them. However, Hornsby had a difficult time relating to players who could not perform on the field as well as he did. It would be difficult to include all of the adjectives that described his personality.
As a coach and manager, he was often rough with his players, including a robust use of profanity and a strong hand in building baseball skills. Off the field, he would have trouble with gambling and bad investments.
The 1934 team would be another example of a Hornsby team that under performed and did not enjoy playing for their leader. Whether it was a poor manager not being able to relate to his players, or a poor team not being to live up to the spirit of the proven manager, the St. Louis Browns under performed in 1934.
"I played my best ball for him, but he was mean . . . I played my greatest time for him, but everyone hated him."
- Harlond Clift