St. Louis Browns 1B/PH Lou Nordyke was born on August 7, 1876 in Brighton, Iowa. The six-foot tall first baseman would only play a portion of one season in the Major Leagues, but his professional baseball career would last 18 seasons. He would primarily play in the west coast leagues (Pacific Coast League, Northwestern League, Pacific Nat
St. Louis Browns 1B/PH Lou Nordyke was born on August 7, 1876 in Brighton, Iowa. The six-foot tall first baseman would only play a portion of one season in the Major Leagues, but his professional baseball career would last 18 seasons. He would primarily play in the west coast leagues (Pacific Coast League, Northwestern League, Pacific National League, California League) spending 14 of his pro season in the west.
Nordyke started his career with the Younstown Puddlers in 1897, but would later play for the Spokane Indians (1903, 09-11, 14), Tacoma Tigers (1904-05, 13), and the Vancouver Beavers (1908-09, 13). He would spend part of the 1898 season with the Detroit Tigers of the Western League. This team would become one of the inaugural teams of the American League in 1901.
In 1905, Nordyke is on record to have played in 219 games between Tacoma and Sacramento. He had an incredible 834 at bats, with 228 hits, including 57 doubles. After batting .273 in 1905, the Browns acquired Lou Nordyke prior to the 1906 season from Tacoma hoping his bat would continue in the American League. He would only see action 25 games, 11 games at first base and 13 games as a pinch hitter. The Browns had Tom Jones locking down the first base position, so Nordyke was used sparingly in the first half of the season. His best day came on May 23, 1906, when he went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. This game raised his batting average from .211 to .273. By the end of June, the Browns began to lean more on Jones and Nordyke was sent to finish the season with the St. Paul Saints. In his 25 games he would have a .245 average, with 13 total hits, seven runs batted in, and three stolen bases. He would continue to play baseball through the 1914 season.
He would act as the player manager for the Vancouver Beavers (1909) and the Victoria Bees (1912).
After his retirement from baseball, he would settle in Los Angeles area, where he was in the security business. In his complete baseball career, Lou Nordyke would record 1667 hits in 1664 games.
HEADLINES
"GEORGE SISLER HIT FOR HIS FIRST CYCLE IN GAME TWO OF A TWIN BILL AGAINST WASHINGTON"
FEATURED GAME
1920 - George Sisler hits for the Cycle vs Washington, including ten total bases and four RBIs, as Browns win 11-4 in the second game of a Double Header. GAME 1 - The Browns would crush 11 hits off Nationals pitching, with RF Jack To
HEADLINES
"GEORGE SISLER HIT FOR HIS FIRST CYCLE IN GAME TWO OF A TWIN BILL AGAINST WASHINGTON"
FEATURED GAME
1920 - George Sisler hits for the Cycle vs Washington, including ten total bases and four RBIs, as Browns win 11-4 in the second game of a Double Header. GAME 1 - The Browns would crush 11 hits off Nationals pitching, with RF Jack Tobin going 4-for-4 including a double and a triple. 1B George Sisler, CF Baby Doll Jacobson, and 3B Earl Smith would all double off Washington RHP Tom Zachary. The Browns would win 3-2, on a walk off single in the bottom of the ninth inning that scored Smith. GAME 2 -The Browns would take the momentum from Game 1, and cruise to an 11-4 win in Game 2. The hero of this game would be the legendary George Sisler. Sisler would hit his first Cycle of his career of Natioanls pitcher Eric Erickson. He would reach the Cycle in his first four plate appearances. In the first Inning, he would his a single off Ericson. In the third inning, he would hit his 27th double of the season. In the fourth inning, Sisler would hit his 14th home run of the season, driving in two runs. He would drive in two runs with his ninth triple of the season, in the sixth inning. Baby Doll Jacobson would add two hits, including a double and two runs driven in. Jack Tobin would also drive in two runs with a single and a sacrifice hit. The Browns split the pitching responsibilities in this game with RHP Elam Vangilder starting the game, and RHP Bill Burwell coming in the fifth inning.
BROWNS RECORD ON THIS DAY
Overall Record on August 8
14 Wins, 33 Losses (.297)
1902-09: 2-5
1910-19: 4-5
1920-29: 3-7
1930-39: 3-7
1940-49: 2-7
1950-53: 0-2
DOUBLE HEADERS
Sweeps: 2
Splits: 4
Swept: 3
TRANSACTIONS
1910 - The Browns purchase the contract of catcher Joe Crisp from the Newark Indians. The native of Higginsville, Missouri, would be on the Browns roster for 1910-11. He would only record two plate appearances in those two seasons. On April 27, 1911 he would drive in a run with his only major league hit.
DEBUTS
1902 - LHP Harry Kane would pitch the last three innings of relief for Jack Harper, as the Browns beat Cy Young and the Boston Americans, 8-0.
BROWNS BIRTHDAYS ON AUGUST 8
1876 - 1B/PH Lou Nordyke (1906)
The 1903 St. Louis Browns had the entire city excited for baseball at the turn of the century. After moving from Milwaukee and having successful inaugural season, many believed the Browns could compete for the American League pennant. The team had won 78 games in 1902, and finished five games behind Philadelphia.
With the Cardinals floun
The 1903 St. Louis Browns had the entire city excited for baseball at the turn of the century. After moving from Milwaukee and having successful inaugural season, many believed the Browns could compete for the American League pennant. The team had won 78 games in 1902, and finished five games behind Philadelphia.
With the Cardinals floundering near the bottom of the National League standings, a winning season in 1903 would help the Browns gain the focus of all baseball fans in St. Louis.
Unfortunately, the team took a series of steps backwards in their second season in St. Louis. They would drop from 78 wins to just 65 wins, and fall 26.5 behind the Boston Americans. The team batting average dropped from .265 to .244. The Browns best hitter, future Hall of Famer LF Jesse Burkett, would lead the team with a .296 average. CF Emmitt Heidrick, 1B Johnny Anderson, and SS Bobby Wallace would also lead the Browns in different batting categories. On the pitching staff, RHP Willie Sudhoff, RHP Red Powell and LHP Ed Sievers were strong but inconsistent. The Browns manager remained James McAleer, who would continue to hold the position for the the decade.
In the first two seasons, the Browns experienced the highs and lows of baseball. The future of the franchise would come in deciding which direction the team wanted to work towards.