St. Louis Browns right-handed pitcher, Rhea Edward Smith, was born on February 21, 1879 in Mentone, Indiana. There is little known of his early years in the except he was raised within a small farming family. Commonly referred to as Ed Smith, he would be the only major league player to come from the small township of over 700 people. He w
St. Louis Browns right-handed pitcher, Rhea Edward Smith, was born on February 21, 1879 in Mentone, Indiana. There is little known of his early years in the except he was raised within a small farming family. Commonly referred to as Ed Smith, he would be the only major league player to come from the small township of over 700 people. He would enjoy a 12-season profession career, with just one season as part of a major league team.
It is believed that Ed Smith began playing semipro baseball within the Indiana State League with a team from Kokomo (IN) in 1900. At the age of 22, he signed on with the Bloomington Blues (1901), and later played three seasons with the Rock Island Islanders (1901-03). For not documented reason, Smith did not play baseball in 1904, but returned to the minors in 1905 with the Dayton Veterans. He would prove his durability with Dayton pitching 308 innings and reaching a 17-17 record. This caught the attention of the Browns who signed him for the 1906 campaign (although there is no transaction history of this signing)
The interesting thing about the 1906 St. Louis pitching staff was that they only used six pitchers there entire season. While four of the pitchers tallied over 240 innings (Harry Howell, Jack Powell, Barney Pelty, Fred Glade), Ed Smith appeared in just 154 innings. He made his MLB debut on April 27, 1906 against the Chicago White Sox. Starter Fred Glade would give up five runs in the second inning, before Smith was called in to settle down Chicago in the 10-5 victory. He allowed just one hit but issued five walks in 7.2 scoreless frames. He would start remaining 18 games he appeared in, and record 13 complete games. His final statistics would include an 8-11 record with 45 strikeouts, 53 walks, and eight hit batters.
Smith decided to return to the minors when the Browns decided not to resign him for the 1907 season. He would play for the Madison Senators (1907) and South Bend Greens (1909-11). He would serve as the player-manager for the Grand Rapids Black Sox (1911-13) as well as a return to South Bend in 1914. He missed the 1908 season for an undisclosed reasons.
There is no record of Ed Smith in organized baseball after 1914, but it could easily be assumed he remained active in semipro leagues in the Indiana area. He would continue to live in the "Hoosier" state for most of his life, although there is little written history of his years after baseball. He would eventually retire to Tarpon Springs, Florida, where it is believed that he told stories of his baseball career, including his one season with the St. Louis Browns.
Today's Browns Quote
“There are things a manager should be held accountable for, and I am willing to get my share of criticism,” said a defiant McAleer, “but unforeseen accidents and a steady run of ill luck are not among the causes for criticism.”
~ Jimmy McAleer, Browns manager (1902-08)
BROWNS BRITHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1905 - LHP Snipe Hans
Today's Browns Quote
“There are things a manager should be held accountable for, and I am willing to get my share of criticism,” said a defiant McAleer, “but unforeseen accidents and a steady run of ill luck are not among the causes for criticism.”
~ Jimmy McAleer, Browns manager (1902-08)
BROWNS BRITHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1905 - LHP Snipe Hansen (1935)
1886 - RHP Alex Remneas (1915)
1879 - RHP Ed Smith (1906)
DID YOU KNOW?
In the colorful history of the St. Louis Browns, there were several historic events that developed that changed the history of Major League Baseball. Several baseball legends, true Hall of Famers, who became icons in their individual organizations where almost members of the St. Louis Browns. If fate would have smiled on the Browns in these moments, it would have changed the course of not only Browns history, but of MLB history. Today is the anniversary of one of these events.
On this date, February 21, 1953, the Browns purchased the player rights of a minor league prospect, LHP Tommy Lasorda, from the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Lasorda had been in the Dodgers organization since 1948, but had yet to see any playing time in Brooklyn. The Browns would acquire Lasorda, but there are two separate stories how he became a Brown. One story states that the Browns paid $120,000 for Tommy Lasorda and Billy Hunter. (However, there is record of Billy Hunter coming to the Browns in a trade from Dodgers in October of 1952) According to the deal between the Browns and Dodgers, Lasorda would remain in St. Louis if he made the major league club. If he was going to be dropped into the minors, then the Dodgers would be able reclaim him and bring him back to Brooklyn. At the end of Spring Training, pitching coach Harry Brecheen informed Lasorda that he was going to make the starting rotation and begin his career in St. Louis. At the same time, the financially strapped owner Bill Veeck is in the middle of negotiations to move the club to Baltimore. He needed as much money as possible to promote the team's move, and was not able to pay Brooklyn the transfer fee for their new pitcher. So on March 26, 1953, Tommy Lasorda was sent back to the Brooklyn Dodgers - and the rest is "Dodger Blue" history.
What if Lasorda was able to stay with the Browns? It is safe to say it would have changed the entire history of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He may never have managed the Albuquerque Dukes, or the Los Angeles Dodgers. He may not have won two World Series and four pennants. He would not have put Kirk Gibson in the ninth inning vs Eckersley. MLB history would have been different!!!!!
The 1905 St. Louis Browns was a team still trying to gain its identity in a new town. It was the fourth season the Browns were in St. Louis, after moving from Milwaukee in 1902. The team ended the season at the bottom of the American League for the first time in franchise history.
The same players that led the team in previous years had
The 1905 St. Louis Browns was a team still trying to gain its identity in a new town. It was the fourth season the Browns were in St. Louis, after moving from Milwaukee in 1902. The team ended the season at the bottom of the American League for the first time in franchise history.
The same players that led the team in previous years had disastrous seasons in 1905. Fred Glade, who had a winning record in three of his four seasons in St. Louis, suffered through a 6-25 record (25 losses is still a record within the Baltimore Orioles franchise). Harry Howell and Willie Sudhoff also lost 20+ games.
The Browns offense did not offer much assistance. The best hitter on the team was newcomer George Stone, who led the American League with 187 hits. The Browns would be victim of their first no-hitter on July 22, when Weldon Henley of the Philadelphia Athletics blanked them 6-0.
The manager was James McAleer who was in his fifth season leading the team. It is documented that no matter what McAleer tried, the team failed to come together. The Browns would lose 99 games in 1905. They would turn it around in 1906, proving that the failures of '05 would not occur again.