One of the greatest names in the history of the St. Louis Browns was Eddie Gaedel, born June 8, 1925, in Chicago, Illinois. The ironic thing about his career was that he wasn't even a baseball player.
Edward Carl Gaedel was 3 feet 7 inches tall when he stood in the right hand batters box at Sportsman's Park on August 19. 1951. It was the
One of the greatest names in the history of the St. Louis Browns was Eddie Gaedel, born June 8, 1925, in Chicago, Illinois. The ironic thing about his career was that he wasn't even a baseball player.
Edward Carl Gaedel was 3 feet 7 inches tall when he stood in the right hand batters box at Sportsman's Park on August 19. 1951. It was the second game of a double header against the Detroit Tigers, The pitcher who faced Gaedel was Bob Cain. The leadoff hitter on the lineup card was Frank Saucier, who played right field in the top of the first inning. Jim Delsing would replace Gaedel after his historic plate appearance.
The Browns would lose the second game of the double header 6-2, as they lost the first game of the twin bill 5-2. Eddie Gaedel was the promotional idea of Browns owner, Bill Veeck, who was always searching for a way to bring fans to the grandstands. James Thurber published a short story in the Saturday Evening Post entitled "You Could Look It Up", which told of a short statured man standing in front of a larger pitcher. The Browns' owner was looking for a way to celebrate the 50-year anniversary of the American League, as well as their primary sponsor, Falstaff Beer. The tale of this story is legendary.
Gaedel was "smuggled" into Sportsman's Park, and between the game of the double header he popped out of a large cake in celebration. Zach Taylor pulled LF Frank Saucier from the lineup and Gaedel took his iconic position. Bob Cain threw four pitches out of the zone, and Gaedel earned a walk. He waved to the crowd as he walked to first, where he was replaced by Delsing. The history of Eddie was over.
He was paid $15,400 for his services by Browns management. They also took out a $1,000,000 life insurance policy on him, while he was with the Browns. As humorous as this appeared, not everyone was happy about the stunt. American League president Will Harridge, banned Gaedel from competing in any future MLB game. Gaedel did not mind, for he had gathered over $17,000 in the weeks after the promotional event.
Over the years, Gaedel worked events promoting his famous at bat. He worked for Buster Brown shoes, Ringling Brothers Circus, and Murcury Records. Gaedel would come across several confrontations and abusive relations because of his size and notoriety.
Eddie Gaedel passed after a heart attack fueled by a physical beating outside a Chicago night spot. In a sad twist of fate, only one baseball player or representative appeared at his funeral. That person was pitcher Bob Cain, who threw the famous four pitches to Gaedel. When you ask most modern baseball fans to name St. Louis Browns players, Eddie Gaedel is always one of the first to be remembered.
HEADLINE
"DESPITE SLOPPY PLAY, BROWNS HOLD OFF BOSOX RALLY TO VICTORY"
FEATURED GAMES
1926 - Browns LHP Tom Zachary would go pitch a complete game, while surviving a game of seven errors in the Browns 6-5 victory over the Boston Red Sox. The Browns would commit three fielding errors during the game (236 total errors in 1926 would lead the Am
HEADLINE
"DESPITE SLOPPY PLAY, BROWNS HOLD OFF BOSOX RALLY TO VICTORY"
FEATURED GAMES
1926 - Browns LHP Tom Zachary would go pitch a complete game, while surviving a game of seven errors in the Browns 6-5 victory over the Boston Red Sox. The Browns would commit three fielding errors during the game (236 total errors in 1926 would lead the American League), only to be topped by Boston's four errors. Of the six runs scored by the Browns, three were scored due to poor Red Sox gloves. The Browns scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning on seven consecutive hits off Boston starter, Hal Wiltse. Of these hits four resulted in scoring plays, and two scores came in on errors. 2B Oscar Melillo led the Browns by going 3-for-4, including a triple in the sixth inning that scored Tom Zarchary. 1B George Sisler and RF Harry Rice would both register a hit and a run. The remaining runs scored would be driven in by a handful of Browns hitters. SS Wally Gerber, C Leo Dixon, 3B Marty McManis, and Sisler would all contribute with an RBI. Tom Zachary would earn the win by scattering 11 hits and three walks over the nine innings. He would survive a late Red Sox rally in the ninth inning when he gave up two walks and an unearned run. Browns won the game, 6-5.
BROWNS' ALL-TIME RECORD ON THIS DAY
19 WINS, 25 LOSSES, ONE TIE
(.422 winning percentage)
WINS BY DECADE
1902-09: 2-4
1910-19: 5-2-1
1920-29: 3-6
1930-39: 6-3
1940-49: 3-7
1950-53: 0-3
DOUBLE-HEADERS ON THIS DAY
TRANSACTIONS
1907 - The Browns send LHP Albert "Beany" Jacobson and $15,000 to the Boston Americans for RHP Bill Dinneen. Beany Jacobson appeared in 31 games for the Browns over two seasons (1906-07), winning ten games with a 2.63 ERA. Bill Dinneen would be a solid member of the Browns staff from 1907-09. His .529 winning percentage and ERA of 2.57, would be the best of his career.
1917 - The Browns signed free agent SS Ed Murray. He would appear in just one game, striking out in his only MLB plate appearance. His contract was sent to the Portland Beavers on July 12, 1917.
1924 - The Browns send the player rights of Frank Ellerbe to the Cleveland Indians. He was a solid infielder for St. Louis for four seasons (1921-24), gathering 229 hits in 235 games, including 39 doubles, 13 triples, 85 RBIs, and a batting average of .260.
DEBUTS
THERE WERE NO DEBUTS ON THIS DAY
BROWNS' BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1945 - PH Eddie Gaedel (1951)
The 1919 Browns was a team that was looking to close out the decade on a high note. This team would win only win 67 games, which was the third highest win total of the 1910s (won 79 games in 1916, 71 games in 1914). This team would increase its win totals each year for the 4 seasons. The timing was off for this team, for in 1919 there wer
The 1919 Browns was a team that was looking to close out the decade on a high note. This team would win only win 67 games, which was the third highest win total of the 1910s (won 79 games in 1916, 71 games in 1914). This team would increase its win totals each year for the 4 seasons. The timing was off for this team, for in 1919 there were several teams that were enjoying post-war influx of players that would make challenging competition. The Browns would finish with a 67-82 record, and finish in 5th place.
Season Breakdown