St. Louis Browns UTIL Jack Maguire was born on February 5, 1925, in St. Louis Missouri. The son of a scout for the Cardinals and New York Giants, he was destined to play baseball in the Major Leagues.
Maguire was a highly touted prospect who signed on with the Giants before the 1943 season at the age of 18. He would play 26 games with the
St. Louis Browns UTIL Jack Maguire was born on February 5, 1925, in St. Louis Missouri. The son of a scout for the Cardinals and New York Giants, he was destined to play baseball in the Major Leagues.
Maguire was a highly touted prospect who signed on with the Giants before the 1943 season at the age of 18. He would play 26 games with the Jersey City Skeeters before being called to serve in World War II.
After his return from military service in 1946, he was assigned to the Trenton Giants and later rejoined Jersey City where he spent most of the next three seasons (1946-48). He would also spend time with the Minneapolis Millers (1947-49), and the San Bernardino Valencias (1948).
Jack Maguire would make the New York Giants roster in 1950, appearing in just 29 games across the season while batting a career low .179. The Giants would place Maguire on waivers, where he was picked up on May 28, 1951 by the Pittsburgh Pirates. After just eight games with Pittsburgh, the Browns selected him off waivers on July 7, 1951.
Jack Maguire would spend the rest of the season as the Browns' primary utility player. He would play 26 games in left field, five games at third base, and two games at second base. He would also appear as a pinch hitter in nine games. In Maguire's 41 games in St. Louis, recording 31 hits, 15 runs, a home run, and 14 RBIs with a respectable .244 average. After the 1951 season, he would be traded along with RHP Fred Sanford to the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League for 3B Leo Thomas.
Jack Maguire would retire from baseball at the age of 27, and return to his hometown of St. Louis. He worked at several car dealerships before moving to Fort Lauderdale where he continued to sell cars before retiring.
Great Trivia Question - Jack Maguire was the last player to wear #24 for the Giants before Willie Mays. At the time Mays was called up to the Giants Maguire was still on the roster wearing #24, so Mays was given #14. When Maguire was acquired by the Pirates, Mays took #24, and no other Giant has worn it since.
Today's Browns Quote
“Maguire has been playing creditably but his attitude doesn’t suit Durocher. The boy is too matter-of-fact, and Leo has been unable to needle him into a display of aggressiveness that would give the lie to the scouting reports.”
~ Sporting News, March 28,1951 - Article discussed Jack Maguire's relaxed attitude and the
Today's Browns Quote
“Maguire has been playing creditably but his attitude doesn’t suit Durocher. The boy is too matter-of-fact, and Leo has been unable to needle him into a display of aggressiveness that would give the lie to the scouting reports.”
~ Sporting News, March 28,1951 - Article discussed Jack Maguire's relaxed attitude and the difficulty Leo Durocher had in motivating him.
BROWNS' BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1925 - OF/3B Jack Maguire (1951)
SPORTSMAN'S PARK
Known as one of the classic ballparks of the first half of the 20th century, Sportsman's Park was the home of the St. Louis Browns for the 52 years the team was in St. Louis. Located at the corner of Grand and Dodier, the history of this ballpark dated back to as early as 1867. The first called the Grand Avenue Ball Grounds, the name changed to Sportsman's Park in 1876. It was first home to the St. Louis Browns Stockings between 1875 and 1893. As everyone knows, this "Browns Stockings" team would become the St. Louis Cardinals and they would move to their own field after the 1893 season. From 1894 to 1902, the field was still used by local teams.
When the Milwaukee Brewers moved to St. Louis and became the beloved St. Louis Browns, the life of Sportsman's Park began again. Eventually it would become the center of baseball in St. Louis. It would be home to ten World Series, and three MLB All-Star games. This park would take on many changes throughout the years, but the stories of this field are always inspiring.
This is one of many installments of the Sportsman's Park on this website. There are too many stories to limit it to a single entry. Please continue to check in and learn more about this classic ballpark of St. Louis.
The 1943 St. Louis Browns pitching staff was made up of seasoned veterans who worked hard on and off the field. Several of these pitchers (including Steve Sundra and Nels Potter) were working in the War Production plants half the week, while starting games for the Browns the other half. Of the 18 pitchers on the staff, only seven appeared
The 1943 St. Louis Browns pitching staff was made up of seasoned veterans who worked hard on and off the field. Several of these pitchers (including Steve Sundra and Nels Potter) were working in the War Production plants half the week, while starting games for the Browns the other half. Of the 18 pitchers on the staff, only seven appeared in more than 15 games. Sundra, Potter, and Bob Muncrief were the only starters who were able to finish with a winning record. Most of the pitchers on the staff would return for the 1944 season, where they carried the team to the pennant.
1943 Pitching Leaders
(American League Rankings)
Team Statistics
Player Statistics