St Louis Browns LHP Earl Hamilton was born on July 19, 1891, in Gibson, Illinois. He would enjoy a 20-year professional career that would include five minor league teams, four Major League teams, and one game in the Cuban Winter League. Standing only 5'8", he would be known as one of the most successful "short pitchers" in the history of
St Louis Browns LHP Earl Hamilton was born on July 19, 1891, in Gibson, Illinois. He would enjoy a 20-year professional career that would include five minor league teams, four Major League teams, and one game in the Cuban Winter League. Standing only 5'8", he would be known as one of the most successful "short pitchers" in the history of the game. Earl Hamilton would be the first player in history to achieve a pitching milestone that even the greatest in the game have not reached.
Earl Hamilton began playing organized baseball at the age of 17 with the Springfield Midgets (1909) and later with the Joplin Miners (1910). In those two seasons, he would appear in 469 innings over 60 games, with a record of 32-17. This captured the attention of the Browns who signed him to amateur free agent contract on August 9, 1910.
Hamilton would spend the next seven seasons with the Browns, averaging 33 appearances a season. Although he would have only one winning season with the Browns (13-12 in 1913), he would prove his durability and importance to the St. Louis pitching staff. Hamilton would appear in 1328.2 innings, across 233 games, which included 84 complete games. He would record 513 strikeouts, while walking 478 and allowing 822 earned runs. He would rank in the "top 10" of the American League in complete games (1913-14), shutouts (1913-14), and strikeouts (1912) while with the Browns.
Earl Hamilton will go down in the history MLB history book as being the first pitcher to record a no-hitter without recording a strikeout (see notes below). The game was on August 30, 1912, at Navin Field in Detroit. The most impressive note of this accomplishment was that it was against Ty Cobb and the Tigers. Although he failed to strikeout a Tiger, he did record a walk to Cobb who would later score on an errand throw by 2B Del Pratt. The Browns would win the game, 5-1.
After a strong season in 1914, Hamilton was in a car accident on the Eads Bridge that left him with several injuries that threatened his participation in Spring Training. He proved himself healthy to play, but was then suspended by the Browns for "alleged misbehavior off the field". When he returned to the Browns, he managed a 9-17 record with an ERA of 2.87 in 1915.
After a slow start in 1916, Hamilton's contract was purchased by the Detroit Tigers on May 29, 1916. After just five games with the Tigers, the Browns reacquired Hamilton on June 22 off waivers from after. After a dismal 1917 season, the Browns would send him to the Pittsburgh Pirates prior to the 1918 season. He would go on to play with the Pirates for the next six seasons, before finishing his career with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1924.
After his playing days were over, Hamilton would work in several organizations as a minor league manager and scout. He would move to California where he would own the Ponca City Angels, and the Stockton Fliers minor league baseball clubs. Earl Hamilton appears at #66 on this website list of Top 100 St. Louis Browns.
**** Hamilton is one of four players to pitch a no-hitter without recording a strikeout. All have a St. Louis Connection.
HEADLINES
"McQUINN'S 'CYCLE' LEADS THE BROWNS IN DOUBLE WINS OVER THE BOSOX"
FEATURED GAME
1941 - The Browns will sweep both ends of a double header against the Boston Red Sox, with history being made in game one. GAME 1 - Browns 1B George McQuinn would hit for the cycle in his first four at bats, pummeling Boston pitching. In the first inni
HEADLINES
"McQUINN'S 'CYCLE' LEADS THE BROWNS IN DOUBLE WINS OVER THE BOSOX"
FEATURED GAME
1941 - The Browns will sweep both ends of a double header against the Boston Red Sox, with history being made in game one. GAME 1 - Browns 1B George McQuinn would hit for the cycle in his first four at bats, pummeling Boston pitching. In the first inning, he would drive a ball deep into the right field bleachers for his 11 home run of the year. He would follow with a triple in the third inning, a single in the fourth inning, and a double in the sixth inning. With seven of the Browns players recording an RBI, including two from LF Roy Cullenbine and two from McQuinn, the Browns pounded the Red Sox 9-3. GAME 2 - In a classic pitching duel, the Browns RHP Elden Auker would outlast Bostons Mickey Harris, for a 4-3 complete game victory. Auker would scatter 11 hits and two walks, resulting in three Boston runs. The Browns were led by 2B Don Heffner, who would go 3-for-3 and scoring two runs. CF Wally Judnich, LF Roy Cullenbine, and SS Alan Strange would drive in each of the Browns runs. The winning run would come after Heffner singled in the seventh inning, and 3B Harlond Clift hit into a ground out. Heffner would score in a throwing error by 1B Jimmy Foxx as Heffner raced to third base. The Browns would win 13 of the 22 games against the Red Sox in 1941.
BROWNS RECORD ON THIS DAY
Overall Record on July 18
21 Wins, 29 Losses (.420)
1902-09: 4-2
1910-19: 2-7
1920-29: 3-6
1930-39: 3-7
1940-49: 7-3
1950-53: 2-4
DOUBLE HEADERS
Sweeps: 3
Splits: 2
Swept: 6
TRANSACTIONS
There were no transactions made on this day
DEBUTS
1912 - The Browns would have two debuts in the 10-1 loss to the Washington Nationals. 18-year old Catcher Charlie Snell would go 1-for-4 with two strikeouts. SS John Daley would enter the game as a pinch runner for SS Del Pratt, and would score a run in his two plate appearances.
1947 - CF Willard Brown, the second Negro Baseball player to debut for the Browns in the week, would go hitless in the Browns 1-0 loss to the Boston Red Sox.
1951 - St. Louis native, SS Bill Jennings would drive a two-run double with his first MLB hit to help the Browns defeat the Washington Nationals, 9-7.
BROWNS BIRTHDAYS
1891 - LHP Earl Hamilton (1911-17)
The 1907 St. Louis Browns roster was similar to the team that went 76-73 the year before. The 1907 team would drop to sixth place in the American league with a reocrd of 69-83. The primary players remained the same between the two seasons. The pitching staff returned the entire staff, and the added RHP Bill Dinneen. The Browns would only
The 1907 St. Louis Browns roster was similar to the team that went 76-73 the year before. The 1907 team would drop to sixth place in the American league with a reocrd of 69-83. The primary players remained the same between the two seasons. The pitching staff returned the entire staff, and the added RHP Bill Dinneen. The Browns would only use 15 position players throughout the entire season. They would use four different catchers, and only one first baseman. Six of the Browns players appeared in games at more than one position, including RHP Harry Howell who also played two games in center field. The Browns primary outfield stayed the same through most of the season.
Season Starting Lineup