St. Louis Browns shortstop Joe Hassler was born on April 7, 1905 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Hassler was able to convert from pitching to a solid infielder as he began his minor league career. He would play for eight teams over his six-year professional baseball career. In that time he would see action in 300 minor league games, 37 major lea
St. Louis Browns shortstop Joe Hassler was born on April 7, 1905 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Hassler was able to convert from pitching to a solid infielder as he began his minor league career. He would play for eight teams over his six-year professional baseball career. In that time he would see action in 300 minor league games, 37 major league games, and five games with the St. Louis Browns.
Joe Hassler began his career in the semipro leagues of Arkansas in 1923. It was reported that he spent time as a prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals minor league system, but was released and picked up by the Philadelphia Athletics. He would be assigned to the Reading Keystones (1926), Wheeling Stogies (1926), and the Waterbury Brasscos (1927).
The Athletics were impressed with Hassler's work ethic, and assigned him to work with Philly greats Kid Gleason and Eddie Collins. Hassler made his MLB debut on May 26, 1928 for the Athletics against the New York Yankees. He would bat .265 in 28 games in 1928. In 1929, Hassler would start the season with the Athletics, but dropped down to the Portland Beavers and Baltimore Orioles.
The Browns acquired Joe Hassler from the Baltimore Orioles on March 27, and would spend the entire season with St. Louis. His first game with the Browns did not come until July 7, when he appeared as a pinch runner against the Yankees. Hassler ran for 1B Earl McNeely after he was hit by a pitch, and scored on a double by 2B Red Kress. He would appear in just five games for the Browns, recording just two hits, one RBI, in eight plate appearances. He would tally both hits and his only RBI in his last game of his MLB career (September 16, 1930). The Browns would release Joe Hassler on December 30, 1930. There is no record of Hassler playing organized baseball in 1931, but he return with the Kansas City Blues in 1932.
There is little recorded about Joe Hassler after his baseball playing days were over. He would eventually settle down in Duncan, Oklahoma, where he lived a long life with his wife and family. Players like Joe Hassler are the reasons for this website, because every player who ever lived out his dreams in baseball need to be remembered by today's baseball fan.
BROWNS DAILY QUOTE
“Hildebrand is a fastball pitcher with an effective curve, and, I believe, will be a much better pitcher than he was last season,”
~ Browns manager, Rogers Hornsby, 1937, describing Oral Hildebrand, one of today's Browns birthday players
BROWNS' BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1905 - C Art Weaver (1905)
1905 - SS Joe Hassler (1930)
19
BROWNS DAILY QUOTE
“Hildebrand is a fastball pitcher with an effective curve, and, I believe, will be a much better pitcher than he was last season,”
~ Browns manager, Rogers Hornsby, 1937, describing Oral Hildebrand, one of today's Browns birthday players
BROWNS' BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1905 - C Art Weaver (1905)
1905 - SS Joe Hassler (1930)
1907 - RHP Oral Hildebrand (1937-38)
TRANSACTIONS
1952 - The Browns claim RHP Dave Madison of waivers from the New York Yankees. Madison had been a member of the Yankees organization since 1947, playing for the Denver Bears (1947) and Kansas City Blues (1948-50). He made his MLB debut on September 26, 1950 against the Washington Senators. After just one game with New York, Madison would miss the 1951 season while serving as a First Lieutenant in the Korean War. He was acquired by the Browns as he returned from war, and would appear in 31 games for St. Louis. Working primarily out of the bull pen, Madison would reach career highs in innings pitched (78), games started (4), strikeouts (35), walks (48), and ERA (4.36). Madison was included in an eight player dealwith the Detroit Tigers on August 14, 1942. His time with the Browns would be his statistical best in his career.
The manager of the 1929 Browns was "Dapper Dan" Howley, also known as "Howling Dan" Howley. The 1929 season was the third and last season Howling led the Browns. Each year under his leadership, the Browns went from winning 59 games in 1927, to 82 wins in 1928, to 79 games in 1929. In his three seasons as the manager in St. Louis (1927-29)
The manager of the 1929 Browns was "Dapper Dan" Howley, also known as "Howling Dan" Howley. The 1929 season was the third and last season Howling led the Browns. Each year under his leadership, the Browns went from winning 59 games in 1927, to 82 wins in 1928, to 79 games in 1929. In his three seasons as the manager in St. Louis (1927-29), reaching a total record of 220-239.
Only his first season with the Browns was a losing season. The Browns discovered Dan Howley while he was managing the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League, where had coached five of the previous six seasons. He would manage the Maple Leafs to a 475-305 (.608 winning percentage), including two league championships and two second place finishes.
After his third season with the Browns, the Cincinnati Reds acquired Howley in hopes he could their team around. He did not have the same success with the Reds.