St. Louis Browns OF/1B George Binks was born on July 11, 1914 in Chicago, Illinois. "Bingo" Binks would put together a 16-year baseball career that took him to 16 different teams, including three Major League organizations. He would see 4,926 plate appearances over 1,393 games in his career, but only 27 of those plate appearances would be
St. Louis Browns OF/1B George Binks was born on July 11, 1914 in Chicago, Illinois. "Bingo" Binks would put together a 16-year baseball career that took him to 16 different teams, including three Major League organizations. He would see 4,926 plate appearances over 1,393 games in his career, but only 27 of those plate appearances would be in his 15 games with the Browns.
George Binks would go down in MLB lore in one of the more unusual "equipment blunders" in history.
The baseball career of George Binks begins during the Great Depression when he joined the Civilian Conservation Corp of President Roosevelt's "New Deal". He was stationed at the Skokie Valley camp where he began playing baseball and would later be discovered by minor league scout. He debuted with the Monessen Indians in 1936, where he signed by a scout from the Cleveland Indians, Buzz Wetzel. After signing with the Indians, he would play for eight minor league teams over the next five seasons. This included time with the Springfield Indians (1937-38), Wilkes-Barre Barons (1938), Cedar Rapids Raiders (1939-40), and Milwaukee Brewers (1941).
With the start of World War II Binks enlisted in the US Military, but a childhood injury to his eardrum resulted in an honorable discharge. He would join a Studebaker factory in South Bend, Indiana, where he helped build warplanes. He would miss the 1942-43 seasons.
Binks retuned to baseball in 1944 when he rejoined the Brewers, and then moved on to the Washington Senators. He would play parts of three seasons in Washington (1944-46), and two seasons with the Philadelphia Athletics (1947-48).
The Athletics would send George Binks (along with $20,000) to the Browns on June 5, 1948 for OF Ray Coleman. Over the next month, he would appear in 15 games with St. Louis. Binks would play four games at first base, two in lft field, three in right field, and eight as a pinch hitter. He would tally five hits, score two runs, drive in two runs, and bat just .217. On July 6, the Browns would assign him to the Baltimore Orioles. He would finish his career with the Orioles (1949-50) and Buffalo Bison.
George Binks' career would be defined by a play that took place long before he played for the Browns. In 1945 he was arguably the best player on the Washington Senators. He would lead the team in most batting categories, and was a solid centerfielder. On September 23, 1945, the Senators needed to sweep the Philadelphia Athletics in a double header to stay close in the pennant chase with the Detroit Tigers. After winning the first game, the score was tied in the 12th inning when Binks took his position in center field, without his sun glasses. With two outs a bloop fly was hit toward Binks, who would lose the ball in the glare of the sun. The ball dropped about ten feet from him. The next batter would drive in the winning run, and the Washington Senators would lose the American League pennant. The headlines the next day across the country read, "Bink's Boner". He never regained his positions with the Senators.
When George Binks retired from baseball after the 1950 season, he settled down to build his family in Chicago. He would use his wartime experience to join General Motors Locomotives, where he would proudly work for the next 30 years. He would reach 'master mechanic' status.
He often told stories of his playing days with Hall of Famers, and his ability to fix the "GM big machines". It was said that there was never a mean bone in his body, and George Binks would live a proud, long life.
HEADLINES
"LAABS BEGINS HIS HISTORIC MARCH TOWARDS THE BROWNS RECORD BOOKS"
Chet Laabs begins one of the most impressive hitting streaks in Browns history. He will begin an eight-game run where he will hit seven homers (including two grand slams), collect 22 RBIs, and score eight runs. The Browns will win all 8 games
FEATURED GAME
1942 The B
HEADLINES
"LAABS BEGINS HIS HISTORIC MARCH TOWARDS THE BROWNS RECORD BOOKS"
Chet Laabs begins one of the most impressive hitting streaks in Browns history. He will begin an eight-game run where he will hit seven homers (including two grand slams), collect 22 RBIs, and score eight runs. The Browns will win all 8 games
FEATURED GAME
1942 The Browns make a late charge against the New York Yankees, scoring four runs in the ninth inning, fueling a 5-2 comback victory. Yankees pitcher, Tiny Bonham dominated the Browns throughout the game until pinch hitter Glenn McQuillen tripled and drove in catcher Rick Ferrell in the eighth inning. The Browns would then score four runs in the ninth inning, on three hits, a walk, and two key sacrifice hits. The inning was capped off by a two-run homer into left field, by Browns' LF Chet Laabs. Laabs would finish the day 2-for-4, with the home run. Earlier in the ninth, SS Vern Stephens would drive in 3B Harlond Clift and 1B George McQuinn scores on a RF Mike Chartak sacrifice hit. RHP George Caster would earn his fifth win of the season after pitching hitless eighth and ninth innings.
BROWNS RECORD ON THIS DAY
Overall Record on July 11
21 Wins, 28 Losses (.428)
1902-09: 3-6
1910-19: 4-6
1920-29: 4-5
1930-39: 3-7
1940-49: 5-4
1950-53: 2-0
DOUBLE HEADERS
Sweeps: 2
Splits: 8
Swept: 1
TRANSACTIONS
1917 - After spending 15 years with the Browns, Bobby Wallace returns to the Cardinals. Wallace would become a St. Louis baseball icon
1921 - Browns traded infielder Tom Sheehan and cash to Richmond for Luke Stuart . Sheehan was a career minor leaguer and never played for the Browns in St. Louis (not to be confused with the RHP Tom Sheehan of the same era). Stuart would appear in four games with the Browns in St. Louis. He would have one hit and score two runs in his three "big league" plate appearances.
DEBUTS
1936 - RHP Harry Kimberlin would pitch 1.1 innings in relief of Earl Caldwell in the Browns 10-7 loss to the Philadelphia Athletics. Kimberalin would face seven batters, allowing two hits and a walk,
BROWNS BIRTHDAYS
1914 - OF/1B George Binks (1948)
7/11/1911 - LHP Vito Tamulis (1938)
The 1923 St. Louis Browns team had everything trending in the right direction and was looking forward to a successful season. They were coming off a 1922 season where they won 93 games, finishing second in the American League, and just a game back from the New York Yankees.
This had the best outfield in the game. They had the best pitchin
The 1923 St. Louis Browns team had everything trending in the right direction and was looking forward to a successful season. They were coming off a 1922 season where they won 93 games, finishing second in the American League, and just a game back from the New York Yankees.
This had the best outfield in the game. They had the best pitching staff in the American League. They had the first awarded Most Valuable Player in the American League. All the success from 1922 was showing that the 1923 St. Louis Browns were going to to be contenders, if not the favorites for the pennant.
Prior to the 1923 season, George Sisler would contract a rare sinus infection that effected his vision, and resulted in chronic headaches. He was lost for the entire season. The team would drop from winning 93 games in 1922, to winning just 74 in 1923. The loss of Sisler impacted the team on and off the field. He was the leader of the team and without him in the lineup, opposing pitchers could navigate around the Browns hitters.
This is not to say the team was a bad team, or there were no good players. Slugging CF Ken Williams would bat .357 in 1923, but his power numbers were all down due without Sisler in the lineup. Most of the Browns hitters (in cluding LF Baby Doll Jacobson, C Hank Severeid,EF Jack Tobin) had a drop in production in 1923. SS Wally Gerber and 2B Marty McManus had better seasons to support Williams, but it wasn't enough to return the Browns to contending form.
The clearest example of Sisler's impact can be seen in runs scored per season. In 1922, the Browns led the American League with 868 runs scored, and in 1923 they finished with 686 runs scored (difference of 182 runs). It is safe to say that losing George Sisler for the 1923 season was one of most important events in the history of the St. Louis Browns.