St. Louis Browns catcher, Sherm Lollar, was born on August 23, 1924 in Durham, Arkansas. By the time he finished his 21 seasons of professional baseball, Lollar would appear in nine All-Star games, earn three Gold Glove Awards, and have one World Series ring (1947). The state of Arkansas has produced 236 Major League Baseball players, bu
St. Louis Browns catcher, Sherm Lollar, was born on August 23, 1924 in Durham, Arkansas. By the time he finished his 21 seasons of professional baseball, Lollar would appear in nine All-Star games, earn three Gold Glove Awards, and have one World Series ring (1947). The state of Arkansas has produced 236 Major League Baseball players, but Lollar is the only one from Dunham. He was also the first player from Fayetteville High School, and the second player from Pittsburg State University. Former Browns' second baseman Don Gutteridge was the first player from Pittsburg State in Kansas.
Sherm Lollar began his career with the Baltimore Orioles of the International League in 1943. While in his four years with the Orioles (1943-46), he would make his MLB debut with the Cleveland Indians on April 20, 1946, before finishing the season with the "O's". Lollar would be traded to the New York Yankees (1947-48), but would only appear in 33 games over two seasons.
The Browns would acquire Sherm Lollar, RHP Red Embree, RHP Dick Starr and $100,000 from the Yankees for RHP Fred Sanford and catcher Roy Partee on December 13, 1948. He would be the Browns primary catcher for the next three seasons (1949-51). Lollar would be one of the team leaders in the field as well as at the plate for St. Louis. He would be the Browns 'backstop' for 333 games, of which he ripped 263 hits, 52 doubles, four triples, 29 home runs, and 158 RBIs. His combined batting average of .266 with the Browns, would be the better than any other team in his career.
Lollar would also be one of the best catchers in the American League. In 1950, he would finish in the league top ten in defensive assists (48 - fourth), double plays by a catcher (9 - third), caught stealing percentage (47.9% - third), and batters hit by pitch (8 - third). The following season (1951) he would lead the league with a .994 fielding percentage and finish in the top ten in assists (48 - fifth), double plays (8 - third), and caught stealing percentage (50% - fourth). These numbers would lead Sherm Lollar to his first All-Star game in 1951.
The cash-strapped Browns began trading off many of their young stars in the final years in St. Louis. He would be part of a nine-player deal on November 27, 1951. The Browns would send Lollar, SS Tom Upton, and RHP Al Widmar to the Chicago White Sox for SS Joe DeMaestri, 1B Gordon Goldsberry, LHP Dick Littlefield, catcher Gus Niarhos, and OF Jim Rivera. Lollar would become one of the best catchers over the next decade. From 1953-62, he would appear in eight more All-Star games and earn all three of his Gold Gloves. He is still considered one of the best catcher in the history of the Chicago White Sox.
Sherm Lollar would join the coaching ranks after he retired from his playing career. He would join the Baltimore Orioles staff (1964-67), then on to the Oakland Athletics (1968), before managing the Iowa Oaks (1970-72) and the Tucson Toros (1973-74).
He would eventually settle down in Springfield, Missouri, where he managed a bowling alley and officiated high school basketball games.
HEADLINES
"GEORGE STONE COMPLETES AN UNASSISTED DOUBLE PLAY AS BROWNS TAKE CARE OF THE HIGHLANDERS"
FEATURED GAME
1905 - The Browns shut out the Highlanders in the first game of a double header, 5-0, with six walks and just four hits. The strange oddity of this game is that only one of the four players that scored a run recorded a hit in the
HEADLINES
"GEORGE STONE COMPLETES AN UNASSISTED DOUBLE PLAY AS BROWNS TAKE CARE OF THE HIGHLANDERS"
FEATURED GAME
1905 - The Browns shut out the Highlanders in the first game of a double header, 5-0, with six walks and just four hits. The strange oddity of this game is that only one of the four players that scored a run recorded a hit in the game (1B Tom Jones who went 1-for-3, run, RBI) The same players combined for four walks and one was hit by a pitch (Jones). Catcher Tubby Spencer and 3B Harry Gleason were the only players to record a hit, a walk, and an RBI. LF George Stone would go hitless in two at bats, but was granted two walks and two runs. SS Bobby Wallace and RF Emil Frisk both went hitless but also walked, scored, had an RBI. Browns RHP Fred Glade would win his fourth game of the season with a complete game shutout, allowing just five hits and a walk. This is another example of how quirky baseball can be.
BROWNS RECORD ON THIS DAY
Overall Record on August 23
18 Wins, 31 Losses (.367)
1902-09: 2-7
1910-19: 2-6
1920-29: 6-3
1930-39: 2-7
1940-49: 5-4
1950-53: 1-4
DOUBLE HEADERS
Sweeps: 0
Splits: 4
Swept: 2
TRANSACTIONS
1905 - Browns purchase the contract of OF Charlie "Eagle Eye" Hemphill from St. Paul Saints of the American Association. Hemphill played with the Browns from 1902-04, spent a year with St. Paul, and then returned to the Browns from 1906-07
DEBUTS
There were no debuts on this day
BROWNS BIRTHDAYS ON AUGUST 23
1896 - 1B/OF Cedric Durst (1922-23, 26)
1888 - RF Paul Meloan (1911)
1924 - Catcher Sherm Lollar (1949-51)
1890 - LHP Hal Schwenk (1913)
1888 - 2B/SS Ed Hallihan (1911-12)
1918 - RHP Ken Holcombe (1952)
1911 - RHP Nelson Potter (1943-48)
The 1934 St. Louis Browns roster would be filled with experienced veterans and energetic young players. They would be led by one of the greatest hitters in the history of the game. The balance this team showed would lead to one of the better Browns teams of the 1930s. The attention this team gathered from the city of St. Louis would incre
The 1934 St. Louis Browns roster would be filled with experienced veterans and energetic young players. They would be led by one of the greatest hitters in the history of the game. The balance this team showed would lead to one of the better Browns teams of the 1930s. The attention this team gathered from the city of St. Louis would increase the attendance by almost 30 percent. This could also be because the baseball fanatics in St. Louis were enjoying a World Series champion in the National League, and an exciting American League team. This website identifies the Top 100 St. Louis Browns players of all time. Ten of the players on this team are identified on this list. The future was bright for the Browns.
1934 season lineup