St. Louis Browns right-handed pitcher, Bill Reidy, was born on October 9, 1873 in Cleveland, Ohio. He would enjoy a 15-year professional baseball career, and be one of the first starting pitchers in the history of the St. Louis Browns. Throughout his career he would be a "Gold Bug", the "Bob-O-Link", a "Pony", and a "Superba". But he is m
St. Louis Browns right-handed pitcher, Bill Reidy, was born on October 9, 1873 in Cleveland, Ohio. He would enjoy a 15-year professional baseball career, and be one of the first starting pitchers in the history of the St. Louis Browns. Throughout his career he would be a "Gold Bug", the "Bob-O-Link", a "Pony", and a "Superba". But he is most known as being one of the original "Brownies".
The life of Bill Reidy before and after baseball is not well documented. He began his baseball career at the age of 19 in 1893, when he signed with the Saginaw Alerts. After missing the 1894 season, he would play for the Grand Rapids Gold Bugs, Jackson Jaxons, and Findlay Sluggers in 1895. He would make his MLB debut with the New York Giants on July 21, 1896, but after two games was released to finish out the season between the Springfield Ponies and Syracuse Stars. Over the next few years, Reidy would see action with the Grand Rapids Bob-O-Links (1897), Milwaukee Brewers (1897-98), before returning to the majors with the Brooklyn Superbas (1900).
Bill Reidy would be a member of the American League Milwaukee Brewers (1901) when they made their move to the St. Louis prior to the 1902 season. Across the the next two seasons (1902-03), Reidy would appear in 17 games for the Browns. He would record 12 complete games of the 14 games that he started. On April 25, 1902, Bill Reidy would start the third game in the history of the St. Louis Browns. He would have a rough outing against the Cleveland Blues, giving up 21 hits and 10 runs in a 10-0 loss. His ERA jumped to 9.00, which means could only get better. He would finish the 1902 inaugural season with the Browns with a 3-5 record, a 4.42 ERA, 16 strikeouts, 47 earned runs in 97 innings. Reidy's second season with St. Louis was not as sucessful. Although his ERA dropped to 3.98, he would reach a 1-4 record in five games before being released by the Browns in July of 1903.
He finished the season with the Brooklyn Superbas (1903-04) before suiting up with the Louisville Colonels (1904-05), Indianapolis Indians (1905), and the Oakland Oaks (1906-07, 09). He served as the Oaks player-manager in 1909.
Bill Reidy would not be able to tell his baseball stories to future generations, for he passed at the age 42. Some reports say he succumbed to tuberculosis, while other reports stated cirrhosis of the liver. Bill Reidy will go down in St. Louis baseball history as one of the original members of the Browns' pitching staff.
The 1944 World Series, nicknamed 'The Streetcar Series", was possibly the most unpredictable championship series in the history of baseball.
Game Six - October 9 - In a pitching rematch from game two, the Cardinals would be able to rally in the fourth inning to top the American League Champions, 3-1, and win their fifth World Series. Un
The 1944 World Series, nicknamed 'The Streetcar Series", was possibly the most unpredictable championship series in the history of baseball.
Game Six - October 9 - In a pitching rematch from game two, the Cardinals would be able to rally in the fourth inning to top the American League Champions, 3-1, and win their fifth World Series. Unlike four of the earlier five games, both teams used their bull pens to combat each others offenses.
The Cardinals would start LHP Max Lanier, but he would only last 5.1 innings before being pulled. The Browns would counter with RHP Nels Potter, and he would only last 3.2 innings. The Browns would get on the scoreboard first in the top of the second inning. LF Chet Laabs would triple to the deep center field wall. The next batter, 1B George McQuinn, would pick up his fifth RBI of the series with a single to center field. The Browns would not be able to get a run across the plate the rest of the game. CF Mike Kreevich would double in the top of the third, which would be the last Browns hit of the game.
In the bottom of the fourth the Cardinals would rally and score all three runs against Nels Potter and the Browns. With one out, catcher Walker Cooper would draw a walk in front a single by 1B Ray Sanders. 3B Whitey Kurowski would hit a hard ground ball to Browns SS Vern Stephens, who would commit and error allowing Cooper to score and all runner to reach base. After SS Marty Marion fouls out, 2B Emil Verban singles to left field scoring Sanders. Pitcher Max Lanier would help his cause by singling to center field, and bringing in Kurowski. These three runs is all the Cardinals needed. RHP Ted Wilks would enter the game in the sixth inning and shut down any chance the Browns would have to come back. The Browns pitching would also shut down any offense for the rest of the game with RHP Bob Muncrief and RHP Jack Kramer in relief. The Cardinal legends RF Stan Musial and SS Marty Marion would go 0-for-7 in this final game. However, the bottom of the Cardinals order, 2B Emil Verban and Max Lanier, would go 5-for-5 with two RBIs.
BROWNS 2, CARDINALS 4
The 1944 St Louis Browns would win the American League pennant, and play the St. Louis Cardinals in the famous "Streetcar Series" in St. Louis. This is one of the most improbable World Series in the history of baseball. This team was full of "4F" athletes that were not 'good enough' to serve in World War II, but they spent half the season
The 1944 St Louis Browns would win the American League pennant, and play the St. Louis Cardinals in the famous "Streetcar Series" in St. Louis. This is one of the most improbable World Series in the history of baseball. This team was full of "4F" athletes that were not 'good enough' to serve in World War II, but they spent half the season in war production plants. This was a time where hundreds of MLB players were able to go to war, and many discredit the Browns' championship because of the missing all-stars.
Make no mistake, the St. Louis Browns deserved this championship and they gave the National League Cardinals a run for their money in the Fall Classic. Game 1 - RHP Denny Galehouse out pitched former National League MVP Mort Cooper, while 1B George McQuinn homers in the Browns 2-1 victory. Game 2 would stretch in to the 11th inning, when Cardinals pinch hitter Ken O'Dea singled off Bob Muncrief for a 3-2 Cardinals win. Game 3 would belong to the Browns in a dominating 6-2 victory. The Browns were again led by George McQuinn who would record three hits, including a double, a run scored and an RBI. RHP Jack Kramer would earn the win with a complete game, ten strikeout effort that silenced the Cardinals offense.
The Cardinals offense came to life in the final three games of the series, out scoring the Browns 10-2, and winning the 1944 World Series.
The Browns would never make it back to the Fall Classic. In fact the Browns would only have one winning season after 1944. This team needs to be remembered as one of the greatest over achieving teams in baseball history. They deserve to be recognized as a team that no believed in, but achieved one of the greatest moments that today's fan has forgotten.
LONG LIVE THE 1944 ST. LOUIS BROWNS - AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONS.