St. Louis Browns' right-handed pitcher, Willie Sudhoff, was born on September 17, 1874 in St. Louis Missouri. Sudhoff was an iconic figure in sandlot and semipro leagues around the St. Louis area before his big-league career. He would always stay close to his home city, playing nine of his ten professional seasons in St. Louis. He would b
St. Louis Browns' right-handed pitcher, Willie Sudhoff, was born on September 17, 1874 in St. Louis Missouri. Sudhoff was an iconic figure in sandlot and semipro leagues around the St. Louis area before his big-league career. He would always stay close to his home city, playing nine of his ten professional seasons in St. Louis. He would be the first player to appear for St. Louis' National League and American League teams. He would play for the Browns twice, but both were in different leagues and different centuries.
His nickname was due to his small stature (5'7", 165 pounds), "Wee Willie" Sudhoff signed his first contract with the St. Louis Browns of the National League in 1897. Discovered at the age of 22 by local scout, Frank Pears, the Browns' owner Charles Van der Ahe was desperate to sign anyone to help his team. After two rough seasons (13-32 record) with the struggling Browns, Sudoff split the 1899 season between the Cleveland Spiders and the Browns' newly owned and renamed, St. Louis Perfectos. He would go 12-10 with the Perfectos and an ERA of 4.04. The Perfectos were renamed the Cardinals in 1900, but it wasn't until the following season that Sudhoff would command respect on the mound. In 1901 he would reach a 17-11 record with an ERA of 3.52 and 78 strikeouts.
The amazing aspect of his game was his durability. In five seasons with the Browns/Perfectos/Cardinals organization, Willie Sudhoff completed 98 of the 110 games he started (89% completed games).
Prior to the 1902 season, Willie Sudhoff would jump to the American League, St. Louis Browns. He was one of several players (Bobby Wallace, Dick padden, Jesse Burkett) who joined the Browns for more money and a chance to start fresh in a new league. Sudhoff would be one of the early pitching stars, winning 23 games in his first two seasons. In 1903, he would lead the team with a 21-15 record, 2.27 ERA, and a career high 104 strikeouts. His durability was his brightest point, completing 30 of the 35 games he started in 1903. That season he would also finish in the top ten of the American League in wins (21), WAR (6.6) and shutouts (5).
Even though his games and innings pitched remained close, the rest of his stats fell during the 1904 season. He began to suffer from arm issues that threatened his career. He only won ten games in 1905, while losing 20. Comparing his 1903 season to 1905, his ERA rose to 2.99 and his strikeouts fell to 70 batters.
The Browns would eventually trade Willie Sudhoff to the Washington Nationals for LHP Beany Jacobson on December 8, 1905. It would be the first season that Sudhoff would not pitch on his hometown field. He would only appear in nine games with Washington where his ERA sky-rocketed to a 9.15.
Willie Sudhoff would return to St. Louis after retiring from the game. He would work for the St. Louis City Water Department, and raise his family close to the same neighborhood he grew up in. An untimely death took "Wee Willie" at the age of 42. He would be remembered as one fo the first star players in the history of the Browns.
HEADLINES
"FIVE RUNS IN THE EIGHTH INNING LAUNCHES BROWNS OVER YANKS"
FEATURED GAME
1935 - In the first game of a double header in Yankee stadium, the Browns score five on a future Hall of Famer on the way to a 7-4 win. Browns RHP Earl Caldwell would keep the Yankees close allowing just three runs on six hits in the seven innings. The Browns
HEADLINES
"FIVE RUNS IN THE EIGHTH INNING LAUNCHES BROWNS OVER YANKS"
FEATURED GAME
1935 - In the first game of a double header in Yankee stadium, the Browns score five on a future Hall of Famer on the way to a 7-4 win. Browns RHP Earl Caldwell would keep the Yankees close allowing just three runs on six hits in the seven innings. The Browns would be trailing 3-1 entering the top of the eighth inning, when they brought ten batters to the plate, who collected four hits, and two walks. 2B Tom Carey led off with a double, PH Ollie Mejma walks, and SS Lyn Lary drives in Carey with a single. CF Moose Solters would double, driving in Bejma and moving Lary to third. After an intentional walk to RF Ray Pepper to load the bases, LF Beau Bell flies out to left but drives in Lary. Catcher Rollie Hemsley hit a hard grounder to the shortstop, who bobbles the ball allowing Hemsley to be safe and scoring Solters. 3B Harlond Clift would single and drive in Ray Pepper for the fifth Browns run of the inning. LHP Russ Van Atta would pitch a scoreless eighth inning for the Browns, and RHP Ivy Andrews would collect the save in the ninth inning. Browns come from behind and defeat the Yankees, 7-4
BROWNS RECORD ON THIS DAY
Overall Record on SEPTEMBER 18
20 Wins, 34 Losses (.370)
1902-09: 6-3
1910-19: 2-9
1920-29: 3-7
1930-39: 6-8
1940-49: 1-7
1950-53: 2-0
DOUBLE HEADERS
Sweeps: 3
Splits: 5
Swept: 4
TRANSACTIONS
There were no trades made on this day
DEBUTS
1903 - St. Louis would have two debuts in the Browns 7-5 loss to the Philadelphia Athletics. RF Pink Swander would earn the start and go 1-for-3 with a run scored, RHP Cy Morgan would enter in the top of the fourth inning for RHP Willie Sudhoff. We would pitch the final five innings, allowing four runs on five hits, a walk, and a strikeout. He would also plunk two Athletics and have a wild pitch.
1909 - RHP Ed Kusel would pitch a complete game giving up just 19 hits, issuing a walk, and striking out just one batter. The Browns fell to the Washington Nationals, 16-7.
1912 - 1B Ed Miller would go hitless in three plate appearances , while earning a walk in his first MLB start. The Browns 8-2 loss to the Washington Nationals
1913 - 2B Benny Bowcock would start and drive an RBI double as his first MLB hit. The Browns would fall to the Philadelphia Athletics, 7-5.
1919 - RHP Elam Vangilder enters the game in the bottom of the seventh inning for RHP Allen Sothoron. In two innings, he would allow a run on two hits and a walk, in a 12-3 Browns loss to the Washington Nationals
1930 - The Browns would have two debuts in the Browns 7-6 loss to the Yankees. INF Lin Storti would pinch hit for RF Alan Metzler in the bottom seventh inning, and fail to identify three strikes. Catcher Jack Crouch would pinch hit for LHP Fred Stiely and earn a walk.
BROWNS BIRTHDAYS ON SEPTEMBER 18
There are no birthdays on this day
The impact of the 1910 St. Louis Browns was not easily seen by the common baseball fan. With a record of 47-107, the Browns had their worse season since moving to St. Louis from Milwaukee. However, this season would set the benchmark for the lowest production of a baseball team in St. Louis.
This team was made up of several players that h
The impact of the 1910 St. Louis Browns was not easily seen by the common baseball fan. With a record of 47-107, the Browns had their worse season since moving to St. Louis from Milwaukee. However, this season would set the benchmark for the lowest production of a baseball team in St. Louis.
This team was made up of several players that had their moments as stars with the Browns. George Stone, Art Griggs, and Rube Waddell were all towards the end of their careers with this team, and their production had slipped a bit. SS Bobby Wallace led this team with a .258 batting average, which was the lowest leading average in the history of the franchise.
The pitching staff included 20 players with very limited success. They only had one player who won more than 10 games, and only three players with a winning record.
The manager of this team was Jack O'Connor, who lasted just one season with the club. He was released due to one of the biggest scandals of the Deadball Era.
This team may not have been the winningest team in Browns history, but the headlines must have been fun to read everyday. This team would drop 45 games in 1911, but then begin its slow accent up the American League standings.