St Louis Browns RHP Bill Harper was born on June14, 1889, in Bertrand, Missouri. He is the only MLB player in the history of the game to be from this small rural community in southeast Missouri, approximately 150 miles from St. Louis. Although his professional baseball career was brief, the impact he had on his community was memorable and
St Louis Browns RHP Bill Harper was born on June14, 1889, in Bertrand, Missouri. He is the only MLB player in the history of the game to be from this small rural community in southeast Missouri, approximately 150 miles from St. Louis. Although his professional baseball career was brief, the impact he had on his community was memorable and impressive.
The history of his colorful nickname is not readily available, but references to his "blue collar" upbringing could easily be made. Harper went to the University of Missouri, where he majored in agriculture and law while pitching the Tigers. There is no transaction documentation for Bill Harper, but it is known that he began his baseball career at the age of 22, when he appeared with the Browns.
He was signed by Browns scout and cousin, Blake Harper. Without any time in the minor leagues, Bill Harper the would jump right into a Browns uniform in 1911 where he played in a handful of games. Bill Harper made his MLB debut with the Browns on June 10, 1911, when he pitched four innings of relief in the Browns 14-5 loss to the Philadelphia Athletics. Harper would enter the game for Earl Hamilton, allowing seven hits, seven runs, and three walks, while striking out two batters.
Harper's second game would come ten days later, when he appeared in second game of double header against the Chicago White Sox. This time entered the game in relief of Roy Mitchell in the sixth inning, and would strikeout four batters while allowing two runs in the final four innings. His total numbers in these two game included nine runs on nine hits, four walks, six strikeouts, a wild pitch, a hit-batter, and an ERA of 6.75. It is not clear if he remained with the Browns for the rest of the 1911 season, but these are the only games Harper would appear.
Bill Harper would pitch for the Decatur of the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League from 1912-14. He would tally a 22-31 record in 79 games for the Commodores. He would later pitch for the Cedar Rapids Rabbits (1914), and the Augusta Tourists (1915). His best season came while playing for Cedar Rapids when he went 13-5, striking out 118 in 173 innings with an ERA of 2.55.
After he stepped away from the game following the 1915 season, he had posted a career record of 36-41, record with an WHIP of 1.313.
After retiring from baseball after the 1915 season, Bill Harper would become a leader in the cotton and agricultural organizations in the Mid-South region. He settled down in Covington, Tennessee, where he helped establish the Arkansas Cotton Cooperation Association, and later the Mid-South Cotton Growers Association.
Harper would maintain his love for baseball where he helped organize and promote the local boy's baseball team. It was recorded that his former players served as his pallbearers. Bill Harper's baseball career may have only lasted five years, but it is clear the impact he made on his community is how he shall be honored and remembered.
HEADLINE
"BROWNS EXPLODE FOR EARLY RUNS AS OSTROWSKI SILENCES WASHINGTON HITTERS"
FEATURED GAMES
1949 - The Browns explode for four runs in the first inning, which is all Joe Ostrowski would need in a 7-2 win over the Washington Nationals. Ostrowski would scatter just six hits and two runs in the complete game victory. The Browns offense wou
HEADLINE
"BROWNS EXPLODE FOR EARLY RUNS AS OSTROWSKI SILENCES WASHINGTON HITTERS"
FEATURED GAMES
1949 - The Browns explode for four runs in the first inning, which is all Joe Ostrowski would need in a 7-2 win over the Washington Nationals. Ostrowski would scatter just six hits and two runs in the complete game victory. The Browns offense would be led by three players who each had two RBIs in the game. 1B Jack Graham would go 1-for-3 with two runs scored, while future Rookie of the Year Roy Sievers would go 1-for-4 with a run scored. RF Dick Kokos would be the star of the game with a home run, a double, scoring two, and driving in two. 3B Bob Dillenger would add his own double and two runs scored. Only one Browns player in the lineup was not able to reach base.
BROWNS' ALL-TIME RECORD ON THIS DAY
17 WINS, 29 LOSSES
(.369 winning percentage)
WINS BY DECADE
1902-09: 1-5
1910-19: 3-8
1920-29: 6-3
1930-39: 4-4
1940-49: 4-5
1950-53: 0-4
DOUBLE-HEADERS ON THIS DAY
TRANSACTIONS
1917 - Browns purchased the contract of RHP Speed Martin from the Chicago White Sox. Martin would appear in 15.2 innings over nine games. He would be given two starts by St. Louis, but Martin was primarily be used in the bullpen. He recorded five strikeouts, five walks, and an ERA of 5.74 with the Browns.
1943 - The Browns sent the player rights to INF Don Heffner to the Philadelphia Athletics. Heffner would spend six seasons with the Browns (1938-43), where he had 179 RBIs on 434 hits with a .241 average in 524 games played.
DEBUTS
1913 - Jack Powell makes his MLB debut, giving up a walk in the final inning, in the Browns loss to the Boston Red Sox 8-1
1910 - 3B Tommy Mee would replace Roy Hartzel in the seventh inning, in the Browns 7-2 loss to the Philadelphia Athletes. Athletics pitcher Jack Coombs would strikeout Mee in his only at bat. Coombs would strikeout seven Browns in the game.
BROWNS' BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1889 - RHP Bill Harper (1911)
The 1938 St. Louis Browns was a team in transition from the struggles of the 1930s, to the team that would win the American Leage pennant. This team would have 36 players in uniform before the end of the campaign. The offense would include 18 players, with only eight players appearing in over 100 games. Of the 18 players that pitched for
The 1938 St. Louis Browns was a team in transition from the struggles of the 1930s, to the team that would win the American Leage pennant. This team would have 36 players in uniform before the end of the campaign. The offense would include 18 players, with only eight players appearing in over 100 games. Of the 18 players that pitched for the Browns 16 pitches started at least one game.
The team had some standouts players, but many of them would be traded before the end of the season. Long time Browns Oscar Melillo and 4-time All Star Sam West would be traded during the season. With only one pitcher with a winning record, the Browns staff could have been an exmple as "quantity over quality". Six of the starting players would be on the 1942 team that won 82 games. This team of 1938, was learning how to compete with the rest of the American League.
STARTING LINEUP