St. Louis Browns catcher Tony Rego was born on October 31, 1897 in Wailuku, Hawaii. Rego was the first MLB player to be born in Wailuku, which would also produce OF Shane Victorino and catcher Kurt Suzuki. He was the second player of the 49 Major Leaguers to be from the Hawaiian Islands.
Tony Rego began playing "Sugarball" on the island
St. Louis Browns catcher Tony Rego was born on October 31, 1897 in Wailuku, Hawaii. Rego was the first MLB player to be born in Wailuku, which would also produce OF Shane Victorino and catcher Kurt Suzuki. He was the second player of the 49 Major Leaguers to be from the Hawaiian Islands.
Tony Rego began playing "Sugarball" on the island of Maui after the US Military introduced baseball to the region. Rego would enlist in the US Navy in 1917, and would later be stationed at San Pedro base in the Los Angeles port district. While stationed in Los Angeles, he continued to play baseball on base against semipro teams from California. After his enlistment was over in 1920, Rego would sign with the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League.
While in Los Angeles, he would appear as a "merry man" in the Douglas Fairbanks' film, "Robin Hood".
Rego would continue playing for the Angels through the 1923 season, when he drew the attention of Browns' scouts and manager George Sisler. There are no transaction records of how the Browns signed Tony Rego, but there is one story that needs to be mentioned. It has been written that Sisler was so impressed by Rego's ability at catcher that he sent RHP Charlie Root, OF Cedric Durst, catcher Josh Billings, UTIL Bill Whaley, and RHP Rasty Wright to the Angels for the the Rego's service. There is no record of this trade, but Sisler was able to bring Rego to the Browns with an undocumented transaction.
Tony Rego would make his MLB debut with the Browns on June 21, 1924, against the Chicago White Sox, when he replaced Pat Collins in the top of the sixth inning. This appearance would make MLB history, as the smallest catcher in the history of the Major Leagues. Standing 5'4", Tony Rego still holds this unique distinction.
He would spend the next two seasons (1924-25) as the backup catcher to Hank Severeid. Rego would see action in 44 games with 26 hits in 96 plate appearances. His statistics included three doubles, a triple, eight RBIs, while scoring ten runs. He would have a difficult time at the plate in his first season (.233 batting average), but surged to a career best (.406 average) in 1925.
Prior to the 1926 season, the Browns would have five catchers on the roster and Rego would be sent to the Tulsa Oilers. He would spend the next eight seasons between five minor league programs, including the Oilers (1926, 32-33), San Francisco Seals (1927), Portland Beavers (1928-30), Pueblo Steelworkers (1929), and the Wichita Aviators (1931).
Rego would remain an important figure in the growth of baseball in Tulsa, after his first retirement in 1932. He would return to baseball as the player/manager of the Big Springs Barons of the West Texas-New Mexico League.
Tony Rego would settle down in Tulsa, where he owned several movie theaters and real estate. When Shane Victorino became a star with the Phillies in the late 2000s, researchers discovered the background of Tony Rego and his career was given the credit it deserved.
TOP 100 Browns Countdown
This website has the only Top 100 list of famous St Louis Browns players. Please feel free to free to visit the tab about for the complete list. Here is a brief portion of the list that recognizes some of the best players in the history of the St. Louis Browns.
Players #51-55
51) Allen Sothoron, P, 1914-
TOP 100 Browns Countdown
This website has the only Top 100 list of famous St Louis Browns players. Please feel free to free to visit the tab about for the complete list. Here is a brief portion of the list that recognizes some of the best players in the history of the St. Louis Browns.
Players #51-55
51) Allen Sothoron, P, 1914-15, 1917-21 - "Dixie", known as the master of "Freak Deliveries" which was banned in 1920, along with the "Wet Ball." He was under the grand-father clause in 1920 because he a career spit-ball pitcher for years prior to the new rule.
· 52) Frank Davis, P, 1920-26 - "Dixie", Played his entire career with the Browns, accomplished two 15-win seasons (1920-21) and two 200-innings pitched seasons (1920-21)
· 53) Steve Sundra, P, 1942-44, 1946 - "Smokey", 1943 - Reached career highs in appearances (32), starts (29), complete games (13), shutouts (3) and innings pitched (208). Served in WW2 from 1944-45
54) Dick Kokos, OF, 1948-50, 1953 - Solid Browns Right-fielder who lead the AL in 1949 in Putouts (276), Assists (18) and Double-Plays (5)
55) Irving Hadley, P, 1932-34 - "Bump", Primarily a fastball pitcher who never developed a solid "Bender". Lead the AL in 1932 giving up 171 BB and 8 HBP. In 1933 he lead in Innings Pitched (316.2), Batters Faced (1365), and giving up 141 BB
BROWNS BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1897 - Catcher Tony Rego (1924-25)
1886 - RHP Alex Malloy (1910)
The 1920 St. Louis Browns marked the beginning of what has been called the "Golden Age" of the franchise history. From 1920 through 1925 the Browns would find themselves in the top half of the American League. This team would finish fourth in American League, above the Red Sox, Tigers, Nationals, and Athletics.
This was the first season
The 1920 St. Louis Browns marked the beginning of what has been called the "Golden Age" of the franchise history. From 1920 through 1925 the Browns would find themselves in the top half of the American League. This team would finish fourth in American League, above the Red Sox, Tigers, Nationals, and Athletics.
This was the first season where the Browns outfield was arguably the best hitting trio in Baseball history. Beginning in 1920, Jack Tobin, Baby Doll Jacobson, and Ken Williams would all hit above .300 for four consecutive seasons (it was almost five seasons, but Tobin hit just .299 in 1924). The Browns offense was loaded with future MVP and Hall of Famer George Sisler leading the way. Hank Severeid, Wally Gerber, Joe Gideon, and Jimmy Austin all added to the thump of the St. Louis bats.
The Browns pitching staff was led by RHP Urban Shocker who won 20 games, and led the team in complete games, shutouts, saves, strikeouts, ERA, and WAR. The would also strong seasons from Dixie Davis(18-12, 3.17 ERA), and Allen Sothoron (eight wins, 218.1 innings pitched, and Carl Weilman (nine wins, 4.47 ERA). Compared to the rest of the league, the Browns fell in the middle of the pack in most categories. They would lead the league in most saves (14) and fewest wild pitches (17).
This would be the final year of manager James Burke leading the team. Often described as a laid back individual, the Browns would bring on Leo Fohl in 1921 to spark the team to the next level. Fohl proved to be the right man for the job in 1921.