St. Louis Browns' right-handed pitcher, Harry Duquesne Markell, was born on August 17, 1923 in Paris, France. Known to the baseball world as "Duke" Markell, he was the second player born in Paris to play in the big leagues. He would put together a 13-year professional baseball career. From 1945-57, Markell would appear in 2385.1 innings o
St. Louis Browns' right-handed pitcher, Harry Duquesne Markell, was born on August 17, 1923 in Paris, France. Known to the baseball world as "Duke" Markell, he was the second player born in Paris to play in the big leagues. He would put together a 13-year professional baseball career. From 1945-57, Markell would appear in 2385.1 innings over 518 career games. He started 192 games with 131 complete games, striking out 1750 batters and issuing 1092 walks. Markell would record these stats while playing for 13 different teams. He would spend his entire Major League career with the St. Louis Browns.
There is little recorded on the early life of Duke Markell. His first professional baseball contract came with the Hickory Rebels in 1945. He would spend the next eight years pitching for the Danville Leafs (1946), Seaford Eagles (1946-47, 49), Utica Blue Sox (48-49), Schenectady Blue Jays (1948), and Portsmith Cubs (1950).
The Browns selected Duke Markell from Portsmith in 1950 minor leagues draft. The Browns assigned him to the Oklahoma City Indians, where he would have a 13-19 with a 2.77 ERA in 45 games. This earned him a late season call-up in September of 1951.
Markell would make his MLB debut on September 6th against the Chicago White Sox. He would enter the game in relief of Bob Mahoney in the sixth inning. He would pitch the 6th-8th innings giving up one earned run on four hits and two strikeouts. Markell would appear in just five total games with the Browns. His best game came against the Detroit Tigers on September 27th. He would hurl a complete game victory, giving up three earned runs on eight hits, five walks, and one strikeout in the Browns 7-4 win.
Markell's total number with the Browns included 21.1 innings pitched, two starts, one complete games and one game finished, 15 earned runs, 25 hits, 20 walks, 10 strikeouts, and and ERA of 6.33. The Browns would assign him to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League in 1952. Later that year, on October 16, the Browns would send Duke Markell and $35,000 to the Syracuse Chiefs for RHP Bobo Holloman.
Duke Markell would finish his career pitching for the Chiefs (1953-54), Rochester Red Wins (1954-57), Indianapolis Indians (1957), and Charleston Senators (1957). There are reports that Markell pitched three no-hitters in the minor leagues (with Hickory, Syracuse, and Rochester), but the exact dates of these games could not be found.
After retiring from baseball, Duke Markell became a New York City police officer. He was a proud member of the Jewish community and was inducted into the Jewish Baseball Museum.
Duke Markell may not have had the longest MLB career, but his stats over his 13 years in baseball are both impressive and honorable.
HEADLINES
"BROWNS OUTSCORE RED SOX, 18-7, IN DOUBLE HEADER SWEEP"
FEATURED GAME
1935 - The Browns clobber the Red Sox with 26 hits, while taking both games of a double header at home in Sportsman's Park. GAME 1 - Led by the bats of CF Sam West and RF Ed Coleman, the Browns open the twin bill with an 11-7 victory over the Red Sox. The Browns
HEADLINES
"BROWNS OUTSCORE RED SOX, 18-7, IN DOUBLE HEADER SWEEP"
FEATURED GAME
1935 - The Browns clobber the Red Sox with 26 hits, while taking both games of a double header at home in Sportsman's Park. GAME 1 - Led by the bats of CF Sam West and RF Ed Coleman, the Browns open the twin bill with an 11-7 victory over the Red Sox. The Browns all-star centerfielder would go 4-for-5, including a double, with two runs scored and four more driven in. West was strong throughout the entire game. He would drive in a run with a single in the first inning, a two-run single in the fifth, and an RBI double in the eighth inning. After driving in a run in the first inning, Coleman would hit a two run homer to deep right field in the eighth. 3B Harlond Clift would would drive in two runs. RHP Jack Knott would ern the win, going 7.2 innings allowing seven runs on ten hits and five walks. It would be Knott's eighth win of the season, with RH Russ Van Atta earning his first save. GAME 2 - The Browns would hit seven doubles off Red Sox pitching on route to a 7-0 victory. Seven players in the Browns lineup would contribute to the scoring, with five players recording a double. After a strong first game, Ed Colman would go 2-for-2 with two doubles and an RBI. 2B Tom Carey would hit two doubles, while scoring twice and driving in two runs. 1B Jack Burns, LF Moose Solters, and Sam West would combine for four hits, including three doubles, two runs scored and two RBIs. RHP Jim Walkup would pitch a complete game shutout, allowing just eight hits, four walks, and striking out five Red Sox.
BROWNS RECORD ON THIS DAY
Overall Record on August 17
26 Wins, 27 Losses One Tie (.481)
1902-09: 2-5-1
1910-19: 4-7
1920-29: 4-6
1930-39: 6-2
1940-49: 9-2
1950-53: 1-3
DOUBLE HEADERS
Sweeps: 2
Splits: 7
Swept:4
TRANSACTIONS
1933 - After a 6-3 record and an ERA of 4.35 in 33 games, the Browns place RHP Sad Sam Gray on waivers. He would be selected by the Washington Nationals, only to be returned on August 23. He would finished the season with a 7-4 record with the Browns
DEBUTS
1911 - 1B Ernie Gust would play in his first of three consecutive games for the Browns. He would play in all three games of a series against the Washington Nationals. He would not reach base in any of his 12 at bats in the Major Leagues.
BROWNS BIRTHDAYS ON AUGUST 17
1891 - RHP Jack Powell (1913)
1888 - RHP Vince Molyneaux (1917)
1923 - RHP Duke Markell (1951)
The 1927 St. Louis Browns finished the season with a 59-94 record, seventh in the American League. This would be 50.5 games behind the famous "Murderers Row", New York Yankees team, and seven games behind the Cleveland Indians who finished in sixth place. The Browns would post some interesting numbers in 1927. Of the 59 games they won, 27
The 1927 St. Louis Browns finished the season with a 59-94 record, seventh in the American League. This would be 50.5 games behind the famous "Murderers Row", New York Yankees team, and seven games behind the Cleveland Indians who finished in sixth place. The Browns would post some interesting numbers in 1927. Of the 59 games they won, 27 wins would be over the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox combined. They would have a .500 home record (38-38) at Sportsman's Park, as well as having a .500 record (6-6) in extra inning games. They would have more walk off wins (9) than walk off losses (5). There are limited upsides to a 94 loss season, however this same team would turn around and win 82 games in 1928.
SEASON BREAKDOWN