St. Louis Browns right-handed pitcher, Elwood Good Martin was born on September 15, 1893 in Wawawai, Washington. Known more by his nickname, "Speed" Martin played 12 seasons of professional , six in the major leagues, and just ten games with the St. Louis Browns. By the end of his career, Martin would appear in 2037.2 innings stretched
St. Louis Browns right-handed pitcher, Elwood Good Martin was born on September 15, 1893 in Wawawai, Washington. Known more by his nickname, "Speed" Martin played 12 seasons of professional , six in the major leagues, and just ten games with the St. Louis Browns. By the end of his career, Martin would appear in 2037.2 innings stretched over 348 games with nine different teams.
Speed Martin began his playing career with the Medicine Hat Hatters in the Western Canada League in 1914. There is limited history of Martin's playing experience prior to signing with the Hatters. He would play within several semipro leagues in the Oakland, California, area in 1915. This would lead to the Martin signing with the Oakland Oaks. He would win 28 games with the Oaks in under two seasons (1916-17) and gained the attention of many MLB clubs.
The Browns acquired Speed Martin in July 1917, and he would make his MLB debut on July 5 against the Cleveland Indians. He started the game but only last three innings after giving up seven hits and three earned runs. (All published reports state that the Browns acquired Martin on July 14, which come after two of his appearances with the club). Martin would appear in nine games with the Browns, of which St. Louis would lose each game. The longest game he pitched was three innings which happened three times. He would have five games in which he recorded one strikeout. He did not have two strikeouts in any of his outings. Martin did enter a game on August 3rd against the Washington Nationals as a pinch runner for catcher William Rumler.
The Browns did not offer Martin a contract for the 1918 season, but the Cubs welcomed him to Chicago. Martin would play five seasons with the Cubs (1918-22), tallying 200 strikeouts, 29 wins, and a 3.73 ERA. He would finish the 1922 season with the St. Paul Saints, and then take two seasons off for undiscovered reasons. He would return to the minor leagues to finish off his career in 1925. He would see action with the Sacramento Senators (1925-26), Atlanta Crackers (1927), Seattle Indians (1928), and the Missions Reds (1928).
When Martin retired from Baseball, Martin would settle down in Lemon Grove, California. He would enjoy his lemonade while telling everyone about his baseball career, especially with the St. Louis Browns.
Interesting "Fun" Fact - It would be difficult to visit the hometown of Speed Martin. Wawawai was located along the Snake River in southeast Washington. In 1975, the Lower Granite Dam was completed and the small town of Wawawai was covered with water. The Wawawai County Park remains the only namesake of Speed Martin's hometown.
HEADLINES
"GASTON OUTDUELS BOSOX HARRISS IN CLASSIC PITCHING MATCHUP"
FEATURED GAME
1927 - Browns RHP Milt Gaston shuts down the Red Sox offense as the St. Louis edges the Red Sox, 2-1. Gaston would allow just five hits and three walks in his complete game victory. He would strikeout four Red Sox on his way to to his 14 win on the season. Th
HEADLINES
"GASTON OUTDUELS BOSOX HARRISS IN CLASSIC PITCHING MATCHUP"
FEATURED GAME
1927 - Browns RHP Milt Gaston shuts down the Red Sox offense as the St. Louis edges the Red Sox, 2-1. Gaston would allow just five hits and three walks in his complete game victory. He would strikeout four Red Sox on his way to to his 14 win on the season. The Browns offense was fueled by RF Harry Rice who hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning, for the lead.
BROWNS RECORD ON THIS DAY
Overall Record on SEPTEMBER 15
25 Wins, 21 Losses (.543)
1902-09: 2-3
1910-19: 1-5
1920-29: 8-4
1930-39: 5-6
1940-49: 8-2
1950-53: 1-1
DOUBLE HEADERS
Sweeps: 2
Splits: 7
Swept: 2
TRANSACTIONS
1913 - Browns would acquire eight players in the Rule 5 Draft - SS Rivington Bisland, INF Ivan Howard, RHP Bill James, C Joe Jenkins, RF Bobby Messinger, UTIL Ed Miller, C Jack Roche, C William Rumler
1916 - Browns would acquire three players in the Rule 5 Draft - CF Ivan Bigler, 2B/OF Duk Kenworthy, and RHP Kewpie Pennington
1932 - Browns acquired UTIL Ted Gullic and RHP Jack Knott from the Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association for cash and two players to be named later. The trade was concluded on October 22, when the Browns sent INF Ed Grimes and OF Larry Bettencourt to conclude the trade
DEBUTS
1912 - SS Harry "Doc" Shanley would replace Jimmy Austin in the bottom of the fourth inning, going hitless with two strikeouts in the Browns 5-4 win over the Boston Red Sox
1913 - 2B Clyde "Buzzy" Wares would pinch hit for LHP Carl Weilman in the top of the ninth inning, in the Browns 6-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox
1920 - Browns had three debuts in 18-5 win over the Boston Red Sox. RF Earl "Gibby" Pruess replaced Jack Tobin in the bottom of the seventh inning, where he walked and stole second base. CF Dutch Wetzel replaced Baby Doll Jacobson in the bottom of the fourth inning. He would go hitless, but drive in a run as a he walked with the bases loaded. 3B Paul Speraw replaced Earl Smith in the top of the sixth inning going hitless in two plate appearances.
1921 - LHP Frank "Dutch" Henry pitches the seventh and eighth innings, allowing a run on two hits while recording a strikeout. He would be perfect at the plate in his only at bat, in the 13-5 Browns loss to the Yankees (His only game of 1921)
BROWNS BIRTHDAYS ON SEPTEMBER 15
1907 - LHP Fritz Ostermueller (1941-43)
1893 - RHP Speed Martin (1917)
The Browns manager in 1910 was the well respected and baseball veteran, Jack O'Connor. O'Connor had been with the Browns for player, coach, and was the right man to take over the team in 1910. He would only last one season, and it was not for his 47-107 miserable record.
Before he became the Browns manager, O'Connor had already been in pr
The Browns manager in 1910 was the well respected and baseball veteran, Jack O'Connor. O'Connor had been with the Browns for player, coach, and was the right man to take over the team in 1910. He would only last one season, and it was not for his 47-107 miserable record.
Before he became the Browns manager, O'Connor had already been in professional baseball for 24 seasons. After three seasons in the minors, he would spend the next 21 years with seven different ball clubs. After breaking in with the Cincinnati Reds (1887-88), and Columbus Solons (1889-91), he would seven seasons with the Cleveland Spiders (1892-998). He would then play two seasons in St. Louis with the Perfectos/Cardinals (1899-1900), before heading to the Pittsburgh Pirates (1900-02) and New York Highlnanders (1903). He would return to St. Louis and play with the Browns in 1904, 1906-07, and 1910.
As it was towards the end of his playing days, O'Connor began to coach under Browns manager Jimmy McAleer in 1907. It was said that O'Connor was a great communicator with the players, and many thought he would be the next manager of the Browns. He would spend the 1909 season gaining managerial experience with the Little Rock Travelers. After McAleer was fired in 1910, O'Connor was the obvious choice to be the next skipper.
Ironically, it was not his 47 win season that forced O'Connor out of the game. In the final day of the season, with Nap Lajoie trailing Ty Cobb for the Batting Title by just a few tenths of a point, the Browns were to play a double header against Lajoie and the Cleveland Indians. Lajoie hit a triple in his first plate appearance. O'Connor then instructed Browns 3B Red Corrigan to play so deep that he was standing in shallow left field. Lajoie began to lay down a bunt in his next seven plate appearances, making it to first base and driving his average over Detroit's Ty Cobb. This action was investigated by American League president Ban Johnson. Although O'Connor was never penalized by the league, Browns owner Robert hedges would terminate O'Connor from his role, and then blackball him to the other team owners. O'Connor would never manage in the Major Leagues again.
GREAT TRIVIA - Jack O'Connor hold the MLB record for most hits in a regular season without hitting an extra base hit. In 1906, he hit 33 singles and nothing else. This record still stands.