St. Louis Browns catcher, Jack Enzenroth, was born on November 4, 1885 in Mineral Point, Michigan. It appears that his baseball career was second to his ambitions within the legal realms. His college roommate, Branch Rickey, was able to persuade him to venture into baseball for a couple of years before he returned to his true passions.
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St. Louis Browns catcher, Jack Enzenroth, was born on November 4, 1885 in Mineral Point, Michigan. It appears that his baseball career was second to his ambitions within the legal realms. His college roommate, Branch Rickey, was able to persuade him to venture into baseball for a couple of years before he returned to his true passions.
Jack Enzenroth was a star athlete at Mineral Point High School before joining the University of Michigan baseball program. Records show that he was a solid backstop for the Wolverines from 1908-10, even serving as the team captain in 1910. Branch Rickey served as Michigan's coach in 1910 and maintained a relationship with Enzenroth after graduation.
Enzenroth was playing semipro baseball in the Chicago area for three years (1911-13), when Rickey reached out and signed him to the St. Louis Browns prior to the 1914 season. Without any minor league experience, Enzenroth would make his MLB debut on May 1, 1914 against the Cleveland Naps. He would be 'plunked' by Cleveland's Rip Hagerman in his first plate appearance, but record a single off Allan Collamore later in the game. It would be Enzenroth's only major league hit in his brief career. He would only play in three games (May 1-3) and have only one hit in nine plate appearances (.167 batting average).
Within weeks of debuting with the Browns, Jack Enzenroth would jump to the Kansas City Packers of the "outlawed" Federal Baseball League. Former Michigan athletic director, Charles Baird, was a co-owner of the Packers and lured him away from the Browns with a larger pay check and a promise of more playing time. Over the next two seasons (1914-15), Enzenroth would see action in 40 games, reaching a humble .174 average (15 hits in 98 plate appearances) including four doubles, a triple, and eight runs driven in.
Jack Enzenroth would return to the publc realm after the 1915 season. He first settled in Toledo, Ohio, were he served as the city manager, but later returned to his alma mater where he coached freshman baseball from 1921-29. He continued to live in the area for the rest of his life, telling stories of playing with Rickey, Baird, and a young pitcher named George Sisler.
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1942 - The Browns drafted three player through the MLB Rule 5 Draft. RHP Nelson Potter was acquired from the Boston Red Sox. With six years of experience before joining the Browns, Nels Potter would become one of the best pitchers in franchise history. Although he was classified as "4F" during World War II, he would split
TRANSACTIONS
1942 - The Browns drafted three player through the MLB Rule 5 Draft. RHP Nelson Potter was acquired from the Boston Red Sox. With six years of experience before joining the Browns, Nels Potter would become one of the best pitchers in franchise history. Although he was classified as "4F" during World War II, he would split time between his warship construction assignment and leading the Browns to the American League pennant. He would have a 57-43 record over the six years he was with the Browns. RHP Woody Rich was acquired from the Indianapolis Indians. Rich would never play for the Browns, for he was released back to Indianapolis in April of 1943. He would have a 22 year minor league career, with a few tastes of the Major Leagues. PH/C Joe Schultz was acquired from the Memphis Chickasaws. Schultzwould have a six year career with the Browns from 1943-48. In five of the six seasons with the Browns he would average 42 games per season. He would platoon at catcher with Red Hayworth, Frank Mancuso, Frankie Hayes, Hank Helf, and Les Moss.
BROWNS BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1904 - INF Johnny Burnett (1935)
The St. Louis Browns team of 1920 finished the season with a 76-77 record, 21.5 games behind the Cleveland Indians. The Browns offense would lead the American League with a .308 batting average. The Browns pitching staff would finish sixth in the league with a 4.03 ERA. Their fielding percentage would settle at .963 which would be the sam
The St. Louis Browns team of 1920 finished the season with a 76-77 record, 21.5 games behind the Cleveland Indians. The Browns offense would lead the American League with a .308 batting average. The Browns pitching staff would finish sixth in the league with a 4.03 ERA. Their fielding percentage would settle at .963 which would be the same as the Washington Nationals at sixth. In comparing the WAR at each individual position, the Browns had the highest WAR at first base (7.3), and would rank in the top three in the American League for left field (1.5), center field (2.9) right field (1.9), all position players (9.7), and pinch hitters (-0.3). This team finished nine games better than they recorded in 1919. They would improve another five games in 1921, and another 12 games in 1922. The foundation of the 1922 team was established by this 1920 team.
SEASON BREAKDOWN