St. Louis Browns right-handed pitcher, Bill Burwell, was born on March 27, 1895 in Jarbalo, Kansas. Although his career with the Browns would extend over two seasons, he would enjoy a fifty-year career in baseball that would include 14 teams, and a World Series championship. He would also be a part of one of the most lopsided trades in pr
St. Louis Browns right-handed pitcher, Bill Burwell, was born on March 27, 1895 in Jarbalo, Kansas. Although his career with the Browns would extend over two seasons, he would enjoy a fifty-year career in baseball that would include 14 teams, and a World Series championship. He would also be a part of one of the most lopsided trades in professional baseball history. By the time he closed out his career, Bill Burwell would be one of the most respected men in the game.
Bill Burwell began his love for baseball while attending Kansas State University in 1912 at the age of 17. He would play for KSU from 1912-15, before dropping out of school to join the Elgin Watch Makers of the Bi-State League. He would continue to develop his skills with the Topeka Savages (1916), Joplin Miners (1917), Clinton Pilots (1917), and the Mason City Claydiggers (1917).
Bill Burwell was drafted into the 89th Infantry Division of the US Army in 1918, and served in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel along the Western Front. During the battle in which his unit conquered several machine gun nests, he took shrapnel in his right hand and lost the tip of a finger. After his fingers healed, he was able to throw a sinker ball and his baseball career continued. He returned to Joplin in 1919, where he appeared in 224 innings over 29 games, with a 12-12 record. This caught the attention of the St. Louis Browns who signed him for the 1920 season.
Burwell would make his MLB debut on May 1, 1920 when he pitched the nineth inning in relief of Dixie Davis, in an 8-5 loss to the Chicago White Sox. He would primarily work out of the bull pen for the Browns, leading the relief staff in games played (33), games finished (18), innings pitched (113.1), and strikeouts (30). He would finish his rookie campaign with a 6-2 record and 3.65 ERA. Burwell continued his work out of the pen for the Browns in 1921. He would be used in 33 games, and would lead the American League with 21 games finished. He would be used as a starter in specific situations, and would shine in his last start as a Brown. In the second game of a double header on July 2, 1921, Burwell would pitch a complete game victory over the Chicago White Sox. He would scatter seven hits over the 9-4 win.
After the 1921 season, Burwell would be a part of one of the largest trades in baseball history. He would be one of 13 players traded to the Columbus Senators of RHP Dave Danforth on December 2, 1922. Burwell would go on to play for the Senators (1922), Indianapolis Indians (1923-34), Fort wayne Chiefs (1934), Terre Haute Tots (1937), Minneapolis Millers (1937), Rock Island Islanders (1937), and Crookston Pirates (1938).
In this time, Burwell would return to Major Leagues with Pittsburgh Pirates in 1928. He would only see action in four games, but it would introduce him to an organization in which he would spend most of his career. After working as a pitching coach while with Minneapolis in 1936, and a coach for the Boston Red Sox in 1944, Burwell joined the Pirates organization in 1947. He served as a coach from 1947-48, and 1958-62. He would also work s a scout and in the team offices. He would be on the Pirates staff as they won the 1960 World Series.
Burwell would enjoy a career that took him from the farms of Kansas to the World Series. An amazing story of a gifted man.
HAPPY OPENING DAY OF BASEBALL
“Bill Burwell... gave me many pointers. I‘ll never forget how he worked with me. My personal opinion is that Burwell is one of the smartest pitchers in the game.”
~ Oral Hildebrand, Browns pitcher, Sporting News, January 11, 1934
BROWNS' BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1891 - C William Rumler (1914, 16-17)
1895 - RHP Bill
HAPPY OPENING DAY OF BASEBALL
“Bill Burwell... gave me many pointers. I‘ll never forget how he worked with me. My personal opinion is that Burwell is one of the smartest pitchers in the game.”
~ Oral Hildebrand, Browns pitcher, Sporting News, January 11, 1934
BROWNS' BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1891 - C William Rumler (1914, 16-17)
1895 - RHP Bill Burwell (1920-21)
1910 - RHP Steve Sundra (1942-44, 46)
TRANSACTIONS
1930 - The Browns purchased the contract of shortstop Joe Hassler from the Baltimore Orioles of the International League. Hassler was a journeyman infielder through the minor and major leagues since 1926. His previous MLB experience was with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1928-29, before being traded to Portland of the Pacific Coast League. He would spend the entire 1930 season with the Browns, but would only see action in five games. His entire batting statistics came in one single game vs the New York Yankees on September 16. He would record two hits in five at bats, including an RBI and scoring a run. After being released by the Browns, Hassler would return to baseball in 1932. He would play 74 games for the Kansas City Blues of the American Association.
The impact of the 1933 St. Louis Browns is centered around the death of the team owner, Phil Ball. Baseball was already suffering during the Great Depression, and after Ball's death the team would begin it's downward spiral that would last the rest of the decade.
The team was lacking strong on-field leadership as evident with the three ma
The impact of the 1933 St. Louis Browns is centered around the death of the team owner, Phil Ball. Baseball was already suffering during the Great Depression, and after Ball's death the team would begin it's downward spiral that would last the rest of the decade.
The team was lacking strong on-field leadership as evident with the three managers that led the team. Eventually, St. Louis legend Rogers Hornsby would assume the leadership position of the team on and off the field. He was given full control of the team, of which he would make several decisions that failed to improve the teams production.
This team had talent. Bump Hadley was the anchor of the pitching staff that included George Blaeholder and Sam Gray. Hadley led the American League in innings pitched (316) and walks (141). He would finish second in complete games (19), hits allowed (309), strikeouts (149), and pitching WAR (7.4). The Browns also had their first All-Star in center fielder Sam West, who led the team with a .300 batting average.
Unfortunately, this team was losing money every game. They were fighting for the attention of the St. Louis baseball fan with the "Gashouse Gang" Cardinals. The team was drawing only 1200 fans per game, and with a record that finished at 55-96 most of those fans were not too pleased. The following seasons would fare any better, but the Browns continued to compete and stay alive. They were only nine year away from their World Series.