St. Louis Browns left-handed pitcher, Sherman "Bud" Swartz, was born on June 13, 1929, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His family moved to Los Angeles (CA) where "Bud" became a highly touted prospect at University High School. It has been said that several Major League clubs were focused on the lefty, but he decided to sign with the Browns after meet
St. Louis Browns left-handed pitcher, Sherman "Bud" Swartz, was born on June 13, 1929, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His family moved to Los Angeles (CA) where "Bud" became a highly touted prospect at University High School. It has been said that several Major League clubs were focused on the lefty, but he decided to sign with the Browns after meeting with General Manager Bill DeWitt. The primary clause in signing with St. Louis was that he would start his career with the major league club.
Bud Swartz made his MLB debut at the age of 18 on July 12, 1947 against the New York Yankees. He was the Browns' fourth pitcher of the game, relieving Sam Zoldak, pitching the ninth inning of a 12-2 loss to the Yankees. Swartz would appear in five games over a two-week period, that resulted in a lean 6.75 ERA. In his five games, he would work in 5.1 innings, with only one appearance lasting more than one inning. That game was on July 24, when he saw two innings and enjoyed his only major league strikeout (Vic Raschi, NYY). His complete MLB statistics included five games finished, four earned runs, seven walks, and one strikeout.
The following season saw Swartz shift to the Browns' minor leagues, playing for the Springfield Browns (1948). He would then move to the Globe-Miami Browns 1949), Riverside Rubes (1950), and Aberdeen Peasants (1951). At the age of 22, Sherman "Bud" Swartz would retire from baseball. His minor league stats would include 363 innings pitched in 77 games, reaching a 19-23 record.
Swartz would return to Los Angeles where he owned and operated Roxbury Market, The Roadhouse pool hall, and several successful real estate projects.
HEADLINE
"BROWNS CLOBBER WASHINGTON FOR 14 RUNS IN DOUBLE-HEADER SWEEP"
FEATURED GAMES
1950 - The Browns would take both ends of a double header from the Washington Nationals, out scoring Washington 14 to 4. GAME 1 - Behind 13 hits against the Washington pitching staff, the Browns take the opening game, 8-3. The Browns were led by 1B Hank Ar
HEADLINE
"BROWNS CLOBBER WASHINGTON FOR 14 RUNS IN DOUBLE-HEADER SWEEP"
FEATURED GAMES
1950 - The Browns would take both ends of a double header from the Washington Nationals, out scoring Washington 14 to 4. GAME 1 - Behind 13 hits against the Washington pitching staff, the Browns take the opening game, 8-3. The Browns were led by 1B Hank Arft who would go 4-for-4, including a triple, two runs, and an RBI. LF Don Lenhardt would would drive in a two runs with his eighth inning home run off Dick Weik. Catcher Sherm Lollar would hit a double, driving in a runs and later scoring himself. RF Dick Kokos, 3B Bill Sommers, 2B Owen Friend, and SS Tom Upton would all record a hit against Washington. RHP Fritz Dorish would get the win with his complete game victory, scattering five hits and two strikeouts. GAME 2 - Browns RHP Cliff Fannin would shut down the Washington lineup in the night cap of the double header, 6-1. Fannin would strikeout seven players, while allowing four hits and just a single run. Sherm Lollar, Tom Upton, and Owen Friend would all go 2-for-4 with a combined five RBIs. Lollar would crank a fifth inning homer off Bob Kuzava, while Upton hits two triples and Kokos adds a double
BROWNS' ALL-TIME RECORD ON THIS DAY
17 WINS, 22 LOSSES, ONE TIE
(.435 winning percentage)
WINS BY DECADE
1902-09: 1-3
1910-19: 4-5
1920-29: 5-5
1930-39: 1-6-1
1940-49: 4-5
1950-53: 2-1
DOUBLE-HEADERS ON THIS DAY
TRANSACTIONS
1930 - In a fit of rage, Browns owner Phil Ball trades his best hitter Heinie Manush, and pitcher General Crowder, to Washington for Goose Goslin
1917 - Browns purchased the contract of Speed Martin from the White Sox
DEBUTS
1910 - RHP Farmer Ray would make his debut in relief of Jack Kramer in the 2nd inning of a 6-1 loss to the Philadelphia Athletics. He would record a walk, a hit, a run, and strikeout in 6.2 innings.
BROWNS' BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1895 - LHP Emilio Palmero (1921)
1929 - LHP Sherman "Bud" Swartz (1947)
The 1938 St. Louis Browns season would continue to reflect the team's struggle to stay in business during the American Great Depression. Browns owner Donald Barnes, needed to raise money in order to keep the team in business. He turned to other St. Louis businessmen, who agreed to invest $5,000 each to maintain the team's status in St. Lo
The 1938 St. Louis Browns season would continue to reflect the team's struggle to stay in business during the American Great Depression. Browns owner Donald Barnes, needed to raise money in order to keep the team in business. He turned to other St. Louis businessmen, who agreed to invest $5,000 each to maintain the team's status in St. Louis.
At the same time, the St. Louis Cardinals were working on a decade of lasting success which brought them National League pennants and World Series championships. With success came money. In 1937, the Cardinals had a record of 81-73 and drew 430,811 St. Louis fans. In the same 1937 season, the Browns finshed with a record of 46-108, and only drew 123,121 fans.
The 1938 team was in constant movement with 21 players being moved throughout the season. Some of the players that remianed put in some incredable performances. Bobo Newsom led the team with 20 wins (2nd in the American League), but would have an ERA of 5.08. He would be the only Browns pitcher with a winning record. The Browns offense was led by 1B George McQuinn who hit .316, and recorded a 34 game hitting streak. Mel Almada came to the Browns midseason, and hit .342 in 101 games (Mel Almada was the first Mexican born player in MLB) 3B Harlond Clift hit 34 home runs, which set the record for most by a right handed hitter in team history. The team would struggle through the season, losing some of their seasoned veterans (Sam West, Oscar Melillo, Rollie Hemsley), but added new talent that would emerge on later teams (Vern Stephens, Al Zarilla, Don Heffner)