St. Louis Browns RHP Ed Kusel was born on February 15, 1886 in Cleveland, Ohio. There is a sense of mystery behind the career of Ed Kusel, for he only appeared in a total of 32 games in his professional career. He would pitch for the Browns in just three games, but he would register a complete game in all three appearances.
Ed Kusel began
St. Louis Browns RHP Ed Kusel was born on February 15, 1886 in Cleveland, Ohio. There is a sense of mystery behind the career of Ed Kusel, for he only appeared in a total of 32 games in his professional career. He would pitch for the Browns in just three games, but he would register a complete game in all three appearances.
Ed Kusel began his career with the Canton Chinamen of the Central League in 1907, however there is little documentation of his performance with the team. He is credited with a loss, but not a game appearance, number of innings, or having given up any hits or runs. There is no record of Kusel playing baseball in 1908, but then he pitched for the Saginaw Wa-was (a D level team in the Southern Michigan League) in 1909. While with the Wa-was, he would appear in 29 games, all complete games, and earn a 22-7 record.
Desperate for late season pitching, the Browns acquired Kusel from Saginaw in the 1909 Rule 5 draft on September 1, 1909. Ed Kusel would make his MLB debut on September 18, 1909 against the Washington Senators. After giving up six runs in the first inning, he would record his only two MLB strikeouts (LF Jack Lelivelt, 3B Bill Yohe) and his only walk (1B Jack Slattery). He pitched his first complete game, but lost 16-7 to the Senators. His second game came on September 23, which would be a 6-2 loss to the Philadelphia Athletics His third game would be against the New York Highlanders, in the first game of a double header, on October 1. He would give up his only MLB home run to CF Birde Cree in the second inning of the 6-0 loss.
In his three games with the Browns, Kusel would face 118 batters, giving up 41 hits, 28 runs, while allowing one walk, and two strikeouts. His 7.13 ERA was not the highest on the Browns staff in 1909 (Bill McCorry - 9.00).
The baseball career of Ed Kusel seems to end with the end of the 1909 season. There is no documentation that he played organized baseball after pitching for the Browns. It is known that he returned to his home town of Cleveland, where he married and raised his family. Ed Kusel is other example of a player with dreams of pitching in the Major Leagues, and having that opportunity with the Browns. There are thousands of players with the same dream, that never get this chance. For that accomplishment, Ed Kusel needs to be remembered in the history of the St. Louis Browns.
Today's Browns Quote
“I stare out the window and wait for spring.” ~ Famous quote by Rogers Hornsby, when asked how he spends his time in the offseason
BROWNS' BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1886 - RHP Ed Kusel (1909)
TRANSACTIONS
1918 - RHP Bob Groom was selected off waivers by the Cleveland Indians from the St. Louis Browns. Groom pitched two seaso
Today's Browns Quote
“I stare out the window and wait for spring.” ~ Famous quote by Rogers Hornsby, when asked how he spends his time in the offseason
BROWNS' BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1886 - RHP Ed Kusel (1909)
TRANSACTIONS
1918 - RHP Bob Groom was selected off waivers by the Cleveland Indians from the St. Louis Browns. Groom pitched two seasons with the Browns, after coming over from the St. Louis Terriers in 1915. He would post a 21-28 record with a 2.78 ERA. He would go down in the history books on May 6, 1917, when he pitched a no-hitter across two baseball games. in a double header against the Chicago White Sox, Groom was brought in to pitch the final two innings of the first game, which he would earn the save. Then he continued in the second game and blanked the Sox for a complete game, no-hitter. Only time in baseball history this feat was reached.
1938 - Browns trade shortstop Bill Knickerbocker to Yankees for second baseman Don Heffner and $10,000. Bill Knickerbocker only played one season in St. Louis since being traded to the Browns from Cleveland the previous season. In 121 games with the Browns, Knickerbocker would drive in 61 runs on 128 hits including 4 home runs. His .958 fielding percentage would rank him tenth in the American League. Don Heffner would come to the Browns after winning two World Series with the Yankees. Heffner would become the Browns' starting second baseman through the 1941 season. He would be a solid offensive catalyst over those years with a .241 batting average. He would consistently rank in the top 5 in defensive categories in the American League during his years with St. Louis
The 1936 St. Louis Browns team was not one of the best representatives of a winning baseball team. They would end up with an overall record of 57-95 and finishing seventh in the American League, 4.5 games ahead of the Philadelphia Athletics. 31 of their 57 wins came at home within Sportsman's Park. They were led by the boisterous manager
The 1936 St. Louis Browns team was not one of the best representatives of a winning baseball team. They would end up with an overall record of 57-95 and finishing seventh in the American League, 4.5 games ahead of the Philadelphia Athletics. 31 of their 57 wins came at home within Sportsman's Park. They were led by the boisterous manager Rogers Hornsby, who was not used to losing in his career. The Browns lineup was made up of players who would become heroes within their history in St. Louis. Unfortunately they could not compile the number of wins they deserved.
Browns Season Roster