St.Louis Browns first baseman, Dick Kryhoski, was born on March 24, 1925 in Leonia, New Jersey. After serving in Great Britain during World War II, Kryhoski would go on to enjoy a ten year baseball career. He would spend four years in the minors, with six different teams, before debuting with the Yankees in 1949.
In Major League Baseball
St.Louis Browns first baseman, Dick Kryhoski, was born on March 24, 1925 in Leonia, New Jersey. After serving in Great Britain during World War II, Kryhoski would go on to enjoy a ten year baseball career. He would spend four years in the minors, with six different teams, before debuting with the Yankees in 1949.
In Major League Baseball he would spend time with Yankees (1949), Detroit Tigers (1950-51), and the Kansas City Athletics in 1955.
Although he would platoon at first base while in St. Louis (1952-53), no player would play more at first than Kryhoski over those two seasons. In 1952, Browns manager Rogers Hornsby would force Kryhoski to share the bag with Hank Arft and Gordon Goldsberry. As the season progressed, Marty Marion would replace Hornsby as the manager and Kryhoski would see more playing time. Marion believed in Kryhoski, and he responded by becoming one of the best hitters in the Browns final season. On July 16, 1953, he would hit the second of the three consecutive browns to hit a home run in the first inning of an MLB game. Along with Clint Courtney and Jim Dyck, the three would homer in consecutive at bats against the Yankees' Johnny Sain. After two seasons with St. Louis, Kryhoski would record 177 hits including 31 doubles, three triples, and 27 home runs. He would combine for a .260 batting average, while scoring 73 runs and driving in 92 runs.
Kryhoski would move with the team as they settled in Baltimore for the 1954 season. While in Baltimore he would be in one of the biggest trades in MLB history as the Orioles and Yankees traded 17 players in one deal.
After he retired from baseball, Dick Kryhoski would always make time for Browns (and Tigers) alumni events.
Fun Fact: It was written that he had one of the largest cap sizes in the Major Leagues.
Today's Browns Quote
“Our main object right now is to get a winning ballclub. It’s next to impossible to sell a tailender to the public, nights or afternoons. I’m positive on that point. We’re tailenders now and I doubt that we’d increase our patronage at night in sufficient numbers to meet the cost of installing lights.”
~ Bill DeWitt, Br
Today's Browns Quote
“Our main object right now is to get a winning ballclub. It’s next to impossible to sell a tailender to the public, nights or afternoons. I’m positive on that point. We’re tailenders now and I doubt that we’d increase our patronage at night in sufficient numbers to meet the cost of installing lights.”
~ Bill DeWitt, Browns General Manager, St. Louis Star-Times, June 8, 1939
BROWNS' BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
There are no birthdays on this day
LIGHTS COME ON IN ST. LOUIS
The lights came on in St. Louis on May 24, 1940. The beloved home of the the St. Louis Browns, Sportsman's Park, issued in night baseball to St. Louis. The idea of luminating baseball had begun to spread across Major League Baseball, since the Cincinnati Reds were the first to host a night game on May 24, 1935. Many traditional baseball fans did not believe that night baseball would work. The ticket offices across MLB proved that it would be a huge success. The Browns drew a total of 109,000 fans during the entire 1939 season. The Philadelphia Athletics drew 120,000 fans in their 7 night games during the 1939 season. In January of 1940, the financially strapped Browns board of directors agree to install the necessary light for a cost of $174,000. The agreement included a clause that the Cardinals, who shared Sportsman's Park with the Browns, would pay for half the cost. The Cardinals agreed the next day. Construction took approximately four months, and included eight steel towers with 764 total light bulbs that lit up the St. Louis night. For the opening ceremony, Browns owner Donald Barnes welcomed St. Louis Mayor Berneard Dickman, Americna League President Will Harridge, MLB Commissioner Kennesaw M. Landis, as well as other distinquished guests to participate in the festivities. 25,562 Browns fans filled Sportsman's Park that night, which was the largest crowd to see a Browns game since June of 1928.
The 1933 St. Louis Browns had a record of 55-96, finishing in 8th place in the American League. They finished 43.5 games behind the Washington Nationals, and 9.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox in seventh place.
1933 Season Breakdown
The 1933 St. Louis Browns had a record of 55-96, finishing in 8th place in the American League. They finished 43.5 games behind the Washington Nationals, and 9.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox in seventh place.
1933 Season Breakdown