St. Louis Browns 3B Harlond Clift was born August 1, 1912 in El Reno, Oklahoma. He would spend 12 of his 16 professional baseball season within the Browns organization. He would be one of the cornerstones of the team for ten years, and it is unfortunate how modern baseball writers have forgotten how strong he was as a player. SABR writer,
St. Louis Browns 3B Harlond Clift was born August 1, 1912 in El Reno, Oklahoma. He would spend 12 of his 16 professional baseball season within the Browns organization. He would be one of the cornerstones of the team for ten years, and it is unfortunate how modern baseball writers have forgotten how strong he was as a player. SABR writer, Ralph Moses stated "Harlond Clift was the Major League's first modern third baseman. An outstanding defensive player who also possessed power, production, and patience at the plate."
Harlond Clift began playing baseball in high school, but left school early to play for the local semipro team in Yakima, Washington (where his parents relocated when he was young). Browns' scout Kid Butler discovered the young infielder at a camp and quickly signed him to play for St. Louis. Clift was sent to play for the Wichita Falls Spudders (1932), and then the San Antonio Missions (1933). After recording 140 hits in 143 games and a .273 batting average with the Missions, Clift was invited to the Browns spring training in 1934. Harlond clift would make his MLB debut on April 17, 1934 against the Cleveland Indians. He would enter the game as a pinch hitter for RHP Bobo Newsom in the top of the seventh inning, and single to left field of RHP Oral Hildebrand.
For the next ten seasons, Harlond Clift owned third base for the Browns. He would average 144 games and 143 hits a season, during his time with the Browns. During the 1937 season, he would hit 29 home runs, drive in 118 runs, while batting .306. He would be rewarded with a trip to the All-Star game, but he would not be able to get in the game.
Harlond Clift was the best fielding third baseman of his era. From 1937-41, he would lead all American League third basemen in putouts three times (1937-38, 1941), double plays twice (1937, 1940), assists twice (1937, 1940), and fielding percentage twice (1938, 1940).
Harlond Clift's production began to slow in 1942 when he hit just seven home runs, but still hit .274 which was just below his career average. After another slow start in 1943, the Browns would send their franchise third basemen with RHP Johnny Niggeling to the Washngton Nationals for 3B Ellis Clary and RHP Ox Miller. Clift would go on and play three seasons with Washington, and later with the Yakima Stars of the Western International League.
Harlond Clift would have 1463 hits with the Browns, including 294 doubles, 62 triples, 170 home runs, 769 RBIs, and a career average of .277. He would score over 100 runs in a season seven times, over 100 walks six times, and hit over 20 home runs four times.
The true injustice is that Harlond Clift is not in the Baseball Hall of Fame. His statistcs are better than any third baseman from 1934-43. The position of third base is the least represented position in the Hall, and there are no third basemen from this era in the Hall. Harlond Clift was overshadowed and forgotten by dominant east coast baseball media. It is safe to say that if he had played for any eastern team, then he would already have been enshrined in Cooperstown. Harlond Clift should not be forgotten..
HEADLINES
"BROWNS WOULD PROVIDE A GREAT GIFT TO RHP MARC HILL AS THEY SIGN HIM TO AN MLB CONTRACT ON HIS BIRTHDAY"
FEATURED GAME
1952 - Browns 3B Jim Dyck delivers a walk off home run in the 11th to send the White Sox home, 3-2. The Browns would be involved in 20 walkoff wins in 1952. Ten of these walk offs would seal victories for the Brown
HEADLINES
"BROWNS WOULD PROVIDE A GREAT GIFT TO RHP MARC HILL AS THEY SIGN HIM TO AN MLB CONTRACT ON HIS BIRTHDAY"
FEATURED GAME
1952 - Browns 3B Jim Dyck delivers a walk off home run in the 11th to send the White Sox home, 3-2. The Browns would be involved in 20 walkoff wins in 1952. Ten of these walk offs would seal victories for the Browns, and none more exciting than walk off home run by Jim Dyck. Trailing 2-2 in the bottom of the 8th inning, Jim Dyck (who was 0-for-3 at the time) sends a Chuck Stobbs pitch into deep left field. The White Sox would bring in RHP Fritz Dorish into the game for the bottom of the 11th inning. The first batter he faced was Jim Dyck, who would take the first pitch and park it into the left field stands. The 3-2 victory would be the second walk off win in the last five games for the Browns. LHP Gene Bearden would collect a complete game victory, by allowing two runs on five hits, seven walks, and three strikeouts. The Browns first run came in the sixth inning when SS Fred Marsh led off the inning with a singe, only to be driven in by RF Bob Nieman.
BROWNS RECORD ON THIS DAY
Overall Record on August 12
19 Wins,20 Losses One Tie (.475)
1902-09: 2-3
1910-19: 5-2
1920-29: 4-3
1930-39: 2-6
1940-49: 5-5-1
1950-53: 1-1
DOUBLE HEADERS
Sweeps: 0
Splits: 3
Swept: 0
TRANSACTIONS
DEBUTS
1945 - RHP Dee Sanders would be the fourth Browns pitcher to stand on the mound in the 9-5 loss to the Washington Nationals. He would register one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, giving up four runs on two hits and walk. This would be the first of two games in Sanders MLB career.
BROWNS BIRTHDAYS ON AUGUST 12
1887 - RHP Marc Hall (1910)
1912 - 3B Harlond Clift (1934-43)
The 1903 St. Louis Browns offensive statistics were not the greatest sets of numbers produced by a professional baseball team. In their second season in St. Louis, the overall team production in every hitting category dropped to the bottom of the league. The Browns had two future MLB Hall of Famers, Bobby Wallace and Jesse Burkett, that b
The 1903 St. Louis Browns offensive statistics were not the greatest sets of numbers produced by a professional baseball team. In their second season in St. Louis, the overall team production in every hitting category dropped to the bottom of the league. The Browns had two future MLB Hall of Famers, Bobby Wallace and Jesse Burkett, that both had dismal campaigns in 1903. For example, Jesse Burkett hit just .293 which was his worst season since 1892, but was the best on the team. Bobby Wallace would also hit his career low of .266, after hitting .285 the season before. The Browns did lead the league with only 26 batters being hit by pitches. That is a start.
Batting Leaders
with A.L. rankings in (#)
Team Statistics:
Player Statistics