St. Louis Browns career pinch hitter, Frankie Pack, was born on April 10, 1928, in Morristown, Tennessee. He would be the first player from Morristown to make it to an MLB roster, followed by Joe Shipley (1958), and Brett Martin (2019).
The story behind Frankie Pack is the classic tale of a player who resembles the "Moonlight Graham" char
St. Louis Browns career pinch hitter, Frankie Pack, was born on April 10, 1928, in Morristown, Tennessee. He would be the first player from Morristown to make it to an MLB roster, followed by Joe Shipley (1958), and Brett Martin (2019).
The story behind Frankie Pack is the classic tale of a player who resembles the "Moonlight Graham" character from the classic film, Field of Dreams. Like the famous fictional character, he would have just a single plate appearance in one game . Unfortunately, he would not have the chance to drive in a run like in the movie.
The Browns would sign Frankie Pack as an amateur free agent prior to the 1945 season. He was one of the youngest signees in baseball history at 17 years of age. He would spend the next seven seasons within the Browns minor league organization. He played at every level including with the Toledo Mud Hens (1945), Spartanburg Peaches (1946), Globe-Miami Browns of the Arizona-Texas League (1947), and the Anderson Rebels (1951). His most succesful season came when he batted over .330 with the Mayfield Clothiers (.323 in 1946), the Port Chester Clippers (.342 in 1948), and the Elmira Pioneers (.310 in 1949).
It was his early success with Elmira, that brought Pack to the Browns for a midseason workout. On June 5, 1949, Frankie Pack was given Browns uniform number '3' as he prepared to play against the new York Yankees. Pack would appear in the first game of the double header against the Yankees Vic Raschi . Pack would enter the game as the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the 9th inning. He would pinch hit for catcher Sherm Lollar, who had gone hitless and was going to play in the second game that day. Pack would strikeout for the first out of the inning, and his MLB career would be over. Following the game he would return to the minor leagues where he played the rest of the 1949 season.
For an undocumented reason, Frankie Pack would miss the 1950 season. It can easily be assumed that Pack enlisted into the military at the start of the Korean War. He returned to baseball in 1951 with the Augusta Tigers and Anderson Rebels, and the with the Granby Phillies in 1952. Even though he would hit an amazing .857 for the Phillies, he would retire after the 1952 season.
There is little written of Pack after his baseball years. He would eventually settle down in Hendersonville, North Carolina until his passing in 2000.
"BROWNS DAILY HEADLINE"
HARRY HOWELL PITCHES A GEM ON
OPENING DAY
BROWNS FEATURED GAME
1907 - Harry Howell pitches a complete game, shutout of the Chicago White Sox in the Browns 1-0 victory. He gave up five hits, three to future Browns manager Fielder Jones. He would post three strikeouts and only one walk. Howell would win 16 games in 190
"BROWNS DAILY HEADLINE"
HARRY HOWELL PITCHES A GEM ON
OPENING DAY
BROWNS FEATURED GAME
1907 - Harry Howell pitches a complete game, shutout of the Chicago White Sox in the Browns 1-0 victory. He gave up five hits, three to future Browns manager Fielder Jones. He would post three strikeouts and only one walk. Howell would win 16 games in 1907. RF Charlie Hemphill would score the games' only run on a single by 3B Jim Delahanty.
BROWNS RECORD ON APRIL 11
Complete Record: 3 wins, 2 losses
NO TRANSACTIONS ON THIS DATE
MLB DEBUTS
1907 - Catcher Jim Stephens, Batting eighth, he would go 2-for-3, including a strikeout, and two total bases vs Nick Altrock, in the 1-0 win over Chicago White Sox
1912 - 2B Del Pratt - Batting sixth, 2-for-4, including a run scored, a strikeout, and two total bases vs Ed Walsh, in the 6-2 Browns loss to Chicago White Sox
1928 - 2B Otis Brannan - Batting second, 0-for-4, with a strikeout, and an error vs Josh Billings, in the win vs Detroit Tigers
1902 saw the birth of the St Louis Browns.
The American League was formed in 1901, and one of the founding team was the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers only won 48 game in that season, and had just over 139,000 in attendance. The first American League president was Ban Johnson. Johnson wanted to challenge National League teams in some of t
1902 saw the birth of the St Louis Browns.
The American League was formed in 1901, and one of the founding team was the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers only won 48 game in that season, and had just over 139,000 in attendance. The first American League president was Ban Johnson. Johnson wanted to challenge National League teams in some of their largest markets. St. Louis was one of the great American cities at the turn of the 20th century. They were about to host the 2004 Worlds Fair and Summer Olympics.
Johnson wanted a team in St. Louis to help promote baseball and the American League. Ralph T. Orthwein led a group of wealthy business men to purchase the Brewers and bring them to St. Louis. With the addition of a second team in St. Louis, several players from the Cardinals would "jump" to the Browns. Jesse Burkett, Dick Padden, and Willie Sudhoff would join Charlie HJemphill to help lead the offense. The pitching staff was led by Red Donahue and Jack Powell.
The first Browns team would win 30 more games than the previous year, while going 78-58 with a second place finish.