St. Louis Browns SS Rivington Bisland was born on February 17, 1890 in New York, New York. This slick fielding infielder would play both shortstop and third base in his career, and often had some of the best fielding percentages of the era. Unfortunately, his offensive skills were not as developed as his glove.
Bisland began his baseball
St. Louis Browns SS Rivington Bisland was born on February 17, 1890 in New York, New York. This slick fielding infielder would play both shortstop and third base in his career, and often had some of the best fielding percentages of the era. Unfortunately, his offensive skills were not as developed as his glove.
Bisland began his baseball career at the age of 19 with the Wheeling Stogies of the Central League. He would go on from playing for the Stogies (1909-10), to the Indianapolis Indians (1911) and the Springfield Reapers (1912). After batting .287 with Springfield, he made his MLB debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 13, 1912. He would be acquired by the Atlanta Crackers on April 28, 1913, where he batted .301 in 127 games and was nearly flawless in the field.
The 1913 Browns had four players rotating at shortstop, and were looking for a player with the right combination of fielding and offensive skills. For that reason the Browns acquired Bisland on September 15, 1913 from Atlanta in the Rule 5 draft. Bisland would play the final 12 games of the season for St. Louis, where he recorded the best fielding percentage (.963) of any shortstop that season.
However Bisland had dismal offensive numbers. He would have 47 plate appearances, but was only able to record two walks, six hits (all singles), and six runs batted in. His best game came on September 22, when he had two hits against the Philadelphia Athletics. His .136 batting average over the last three weeks of the season did not earn him an invitation to the Browns 1914 spring training.
Bisland would return to Atlanta for the next two seasons (1914-15), however he did play 18 games with the Cleveland Naps in May of 1914 with the same results as he displayed in St. Louis.
Rivington Bisland retired from baseball after the 1915 season. It is not clear where his post-baseball life evolved, but he would eventually settled in Salzburg, Austria.
Today's Browns Quote
"I played my best ball for him, but he was mean . . . I played my greatest time for him, but everyone hated him."
- Browns legendary third baseman, Harlond Clift, describing playing for Browns manager, Rogers Hornsby
BROWNS' BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1923 - 3B Bill Sommers (1950)
1890 - SS Rivington Bisland (1913)
TRANSACTION
Today's Browns Quote
"I played my best ball for him, but he was mean . . . I played my greatest time for him, but everyone hated him."
- Browns legendary third baseman, Harlond Clift, describing playing for Browns manager, Rogers Hornsby
BROWNS' BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1923 - 3B Bill Sommers (1950)
1890 - SS Rivington Bisland (1913)
TRANSACTIONS
1912 - The Browns send LHP Lefty George to the Cleveland Naps for INF George Stovall. Lefty George pitched 27 games for St. Louis in 1911, appearing 116.1 innings and reaching a 4-9 record with a 4.18 ERA. He would record six complete games in the 13 games he started. He allowed 136 hits, 51 walks, while striking out 23 batters. George Stovall would play two seasons with the Browns (1912-13), appearing in 205 games at first base. He would crack 188 hits, including 31 doubles and eight triples. His .268 average and 69 runs driven, proved to be an important position in the St. Louis lineup.
1944 - Browns trade catcher Frankie Hayes to the Philadelphia Athletics for LHP Sam Zoldak and minor league prospect Barney Lutz. Frankie Hayes had played with the Browns during the 1942-43 seasons. He shared catching responsibilities with future Hall of famer, Rick Ferrell. In his two years with St. Louis, he would scatter 87 hits, including 13 doubles, and 7 home runs, and drive in 47 runs. After arriving in Philadelphia, he would be an National League All Star for the next two seasons. Browns acquired promising LHP Sam Zoldak who would make his MLB debut on May 14, 1944. he would only appear in 18 games his rookie season, but he would grow into a solid started for the Browns through the 1948 Season. Browns also acquired utility infielder Barney Lutz in the deal with Philly. Lutz would never reach the Major Leagues, but would enjoy a 17 year minor league career. He would play with the Toledo Mud Hens, Elmira Pioneers, and Wichita Falls Spudders within the Browns organizations.
The manager of the 1936 St. Louis Browns was the legendary Rogers Hornsby. By 1936, he was entering his fourth year as skipper for a Browns team that was not performing up to his high skilled level. Like many legendary player who turn to coaching, Hornsby had a difficult time relating to players who could not perform on the field as well
The manager of the 1936 St. Louis Browns was the legendary Rogers Hornsby. By 1936, he was entering his fourth year as skipper for a Browns team that was not performing up to his high skilled level. Like many legendary player who turn to coaching, Hornsby had a difficult time relating to players who could not perform on the field as well as he did.
It would be difficult to include all of the adjectives that described his personality. Rogers Hornsby, the player, is arguably one of the greatest hitter in the history of baseball. List of his accomplishments:
The success he enjoyed as a player was not carried over to his managerial career. He coached a total of 14 MLB seasons, six total seasons with the Browns (1933-37, 1952). He was often rough with his players, including a robust use of profanity and a strong hand in building baseball skills. Off the field, he would have trouble with gambling and bad investments.
The 1936 team would be another example of a Hornsby team that under performed and did not enjoy playing for their leader. It would be safe to say that the Browns would have done better with any other manager in 1936.