St. Louis Browns utility player, Harry Niles, was born on September 10, 1880 in Buchanan, Michigan. He may be one of the first great players for the Browns that no one has heard of. In 1906, while playing right field had 124 hits, 30 stolen bases, while leading the American League in double plays from right field. The next season he shift
St. Louis Browns utility player, Harry Niles, was born on September 10, 1880 in Buchanan, Michigan. He may be one of the first great players for the Browns that no one has heard of. In 1906, while playing right field had 124 hits, 30 stolen bases, while leading the American League in double plays from right field. The next season he shifted to second base and batted .289 (seventh in A.L.), with 280 putouts and 41 double plays (both fourth best in A.L.) The manner in which Niles became a "Brownie" is even difficult to understand.
Harry Niles was playing semipro baseball in Adrian, Michigan, when he signed his first professional contract with the Binghamton Bingoes (1903-04). He would split the 1905 season between the Baton Rouge Cajuns and Birmingham Barons, and would get attention of the Philadelphia Athletics manager, Connie Mack. Niles was drafted by the Athletics even though they did not need a second baseman or another outfielder.
Connie Mack sent Niles to the Browns, because Mack believed that he would wasted in the minor leagues. (Mack would rather trade their top prospect to an opponent than see him waste time in the minors - That would not happen in today's MLB)
Harry Niles joined the St. Louis Browns in 1906 and make his MLB debut on April 24 against the Detroit Tigers. He would record his first hit on April 26, when he went 2-for-4 with two RBIs against the Chicago White Sox. He was the Browns primary right fielder (142 games) and roommates with Branch Rickey. The following year, Niles was moved to second base where he had career highs in hits (142) and batting average (.289). In two seasons with the Browns, Harry Niles would play 117 games at second base, 102 games in right field, 33 games at third base, seven in center field, and seven as a pinch hitter.
He had such a good season that the Browns featured him in the biggest Amercian League trade of the offseason. The Browns would send Niles , RHP Fred Glade and OF Charlie Hemphill to the New York Highlanders for INF Hobe Ferris, CF Danny Hoffman, and INF Jimmy Williams. Niles would play for the Highlanders in 1908, then move on to the Boston Red Sox (1908-10) and the Cleveland Naps (1910). He would not be able to capture the same offensive after the trade from the Browns.
Harry Niles would finish his career in the minor leagues from 1911-16. He would suit up for the Toledo Mud Hens (1911-12), Indianapolis Indians (1913-14), St. Paul Saints (1914-16) and Kansas City Blues (1916).
Niles would retire from baseball and become a policeman in Hibbing, Minnesota. He would later serve as a first lieutenant in the US Army during World War I, and play along side Babe Ruth in a barnstorming tour in 1929.
HEADLINES
"BROWNS COME BACK FROM THREE RUNS DOWN IN AMAZING WIN OVER INDIANS"
FEATURED GAME
1935 - Harlond Clift and Ray Pepper supply the pop as the Browns walk off the Indians, 6-5, in extra innings. The Browns would combine for 11 hits off four different Cleveland pitchers, including two home runs. After giving up a pair of runs in the fi
HEADLINES
"BROWNS COME BACK FROM THREE RUNS DOWN IN AMAZING WIN OVER INDIANS"
FEATURED GAME
1935 - Harlond Clift and Ray Pepper supply the pop as the Browns walk off the Indians, 6-5, in extra innings. The Browns would combine for 11 hits off four different Cleveland pitchers, including two home runs. After giving up a pair of runs in the first, RF Ed Coleman would lead off the 4th inning with a home run to right field.3B Harlond Clift would follow that with an RBI single to tie the game. The Indians woul get three more runs in theop of the eighth inning, only to see the Browns' RF Ray Pepper to enter the game and drive in SS Lyn Lary. Down by two runs in the bottom of the ninth, Clift would return to the plate and belt a two-run homer to tie the game at five. The bottom of the tenth started with a double by LF Moose Solters, who would then be drivn home by Ray Pepper for the walk off win. Where the Indians needed to use four pitchers in the game, the Browns relied on RHP Ivy Andrews who allowed five runs on nine hits and a walk. He would also strikeout five opposing batters.
BROWNS RECORD ON THIS DAY
Overall Record on SEPTEMBER 10
31 Wins, 16 Losses One Tie (.645)
1902-09: 5-1-1
1910-19: 5-3
1920-29: 7-2
1930-39: 6-5
1940-49: 7-4
1950-53: 1-1
DOUBLE HEADERS
Sweeps: 5
Splits: 6
Swept: 1
TRANSACTIONS
1941 - Browns trade 3B/OF Bobby Estalella to the Washingon Nationals for 1B/3B George Archie. Estalella had only played in 46 games with the Browns in 1941, batting .241 with six doubles, a triple, and driving in 14 runs. Archie had an impressive start with the Nationals, collecting 104 hits and driving in 48 runs in the first 105 games of the season. He would appear in nine games and batted .379 in the final three weeks of the season. Archie's time was cut short for he would enlist and serve four years in the US miliatry during World War II. He returned to the Browns in 1946, only to see action in four games.
DEBUTS
1910 - Three Browns players would debut as the Browns split a double header against the Chicago White Sox. CF Hub Northen would go 4-for-8, including a double, two runs scored and two more runs driven in. RHP Alex Malloy would appear for a perfect three-up, three-down, 9th inning, in the game one 7-6 loss. RHP Roy Mitchell would start game two for the Browns, and pitch seven complete innings for the 7-2 victory. He would give up two runs on five hits, two walks, and four strikeouts. The game was called after seven innings due to darkness.
1946 - The Browns would have two players debut in their 5-1 victory over the Philadelphia Athletics. 1B Jerry Witte would go 1-for 4 with a single to left in the seventh inning. CF Paul Lehner would go hitless in four plate appearnces. He would lead off the eighth inning with a walk, and later score when C Les Moss is hit by a pitch with the bases loaded
BROWNS BIRTHDAYS ON SEPTEMBER 10
1896 - 3B Sammy Hale (1930)
1880 - RHP Barney Pelty (1903-10)
1880 - UTIL Harry Niles (1906-07)
The pitching staff of the 1922 Browns was about as good of a pitching staff as St. Louis has seen. They had eight players that appeared in more than 20 games, and seven of those players would record a winning record. The staff was lead by RHP Urban Shocker who was in his fifth season leading the Browns pitchers. This group of pitchers wou
The pitching staff of the 1922 Browns was about as good of a pitching staff as St. Louis has seen. They had eight players that appeared in more than 20 games, and seven of those players would record a winning record. The staff was lead by RHP Urban Shocker who was in his fifth season leading the Browns pitchers. This group of pitchers would lead the league in ten primary pitching categories. The starting rotation of Urban Shocker, Elan Vangilder, Dixie Davis, Ray Kolp, and Rasty Wright would combine for a 77-47 record which was the best for any rotation in the American League. If they could have won just one more game, it would have changed the destiny of this franchise.
Team Pitching Statistics
(American League Rankings)
Player Statistics