St. Louis Browns outfielder/pinch hitter, Mizell George Platt, was born on August 21, 1920 in West Palm Beach, Florida. "Whitey" Platt would enjoy his best Major League season as a member of the Browns in 1948. He would enjoy a 14-year professional baseball career, with 11 of those seasons in the minor leagues. He would play for three maj
St. Louis Browns outfielder/pinch hitter, Mizell George Platt, was born on August 21, 1920 in West Palm Beach, Florida. "Whitey" Platt would enjoy his best Major League season as a member of the Browns in 1948. He would enjoy a 14-year professional baseball career, with 11 of those seasons in the minor leagues. He would play for three major league teams, but his first opportunity as a everyday player came with the Browns.
White Platt as a member of the 1938 United States team to participate in the Amateur World Series. He would become the first member of the US Amateur program to make it to the big leagues. He would sign his first contract at the age of 18 with the Batavia Clippers in 1939. He would work his way through the minor leagues, playing for the Cornwall Maple Leafs (1939), Moline Plow Boys (1940), Madison Blues (1941), and the Tulsa Oilers (1940-42). He would make his MLB debut as a member of the Chicago Cubs on September 16, 1942. He would play in 24 games with the Cubs (1942-43), but after hitting .167 in 1943 he was sent to the Nashville Volunteers to finish the season.
Whitey Platt would step away from baseball after the 1943 season and join the United States Navy during World War II. He would serve for two years (1944-45) in the Pacific Theater. While in the service, the Cubs placed Platt on waivers, and he was signed by the Chicago White Sox on April 20, 1946.
There is no transaction history to show how he joined the Browns organization, but he would hit 16 home runs while driving in 98 runs playing for the Browns' affiliate, Toledo Mud Hens in 1947. This would lead to Platt making the Browns starting lineup in 1948.
He would be the Browns primary left fielder, collecting 123 hits in 123 games. He would enjoy his best season as a major leaguer, finishing in the top ten of outfielders with 10 triples (6th), 214 putouts (fifth), and .944 fielding percentage (fifth). Platt's best game came against the Boston Red Sox on May 25, 1948, when he would go 4-for-4 including two doubles, a triple, a runs scored, and an RBI. The Browns would shuffle their outfield (bringing in future Rookie of the Year Roy Sievers) and Platt's playing time would drop to a supporting role. His batting average would drop 13 points as his hits totals would drop from 123 to 63 in 1949.
Platt would be released by the Browns and spend the last four seasons of his career in the minor leagues. His final stops would include the Indianapolis Indians (1950-51), Syracuse Chiefs (1951), Miami Beach Flamingos (1952),and the West Palm Beach Indians (1952-53).
There is no record of Platt's life after baseball. But there is no doubt he would spend hours talking about his time in baseball and his treasured two seasons with the St. Louis Browns.
HEADLINES
"BROWNS WOULDCOLLECT 19 HITS AND 15 RUNS IN A DOUBLE HEADER SWEEP OF BABE RUTH'S YANKEES"
FEATURED GAME
1921- The Browns would score 15 runs in a double header sweep over the Babe Ruth led Yankees - GAME 1 - Jacobson drives in Sisler with the winning run in the Browns 5-4 victory in Game 1. RHP Urban Shocker would pitch a complete
HEADLINES
"BROWNS WOULDCOLLECT 19 HITS AND 15 RUNS IN A DOUBLE HEADER SWEEP OF BABE RUTH'S YANKEES"
FEATURED GAME
1921- The Browns would score 15 runs in a double header sweep over the Babe Ruth led Yankees - GAME 1 - Jacobson drives in Sisler with the winning run in the Browns 5-4 victory in Game 1. RHP Urban Shocker would pitch a complete game masterpiece, allowing just two earned run over nine innings. he would gain his 19th win of the season by scattering eight hits, six walks, an intentional walk, nine strikeouts, and a hit batter. He also was able to pick off Babe Ruth while Ruth was leading off first base. The Browns offense was led by St. louis native, RF Jack Tobin, who drove in three runs with an fifth inning home run. 1B George Sisler would add a runs scoring double in the fourth inning, and CF Baby Doll Jacobson would drive in Sisler for the winning run in the 6th inning. GAME 2 - The Browns outfield showed that they were one of the best in baseball as they led the Browns to a 10-0 blowout. The three outfielders combined 9-for-15 with five RBIs, five runs scored, two stolen bases, and 12 total bases. LF Ken Williams would hit his 18th home run of the season to deep right field. The two-run homer, along with the RBI single in the third inning, would give Williams three RBIs on the day. RF Jack Tobin would go 4-for 5, scoring two and during in one. CF Baby Doll Jacobson would add three hits, two runs, and an RBI. George Sisler, catcher Hank Severeid, and 2B Marty McManus would all tally an RBI in the contest. LHP Billy Bayne would pitch a complete game shutout, allowing just four hits while striking out ten Yankees. He would strikeout Babe Ruth twice.
BROWNS RECORD ON THIS DAY
Overall Record on August 21
22 Wins, 32 Losses One Tie (.392)
1902-09: 2-4-1
1910-19: 2-5
1920-29: 7-5
1930-39: 3-6
1940-49: 6-8
1950-53: 2-4
DOUBLE HEADERS
Sweeps: 3
Splits: 8
Swept:1
TRANSACTIONS
DEBUTS
There were no debuts on this day.
BROWNS BIRTHDAYS ON AUGUST 21
1920 - LF/PH Whitey Platt (1948-49)
1905 - CF Frank Waddey (1932)
1907 - LHP Wally Hebert (1931-33)
The impact of the 1927 St. Louis Browns was greater than their record, and stood as a closure to the greatest era in the franchise history. The Browns finished a disappointing seventh place, with a record of 59-94. This was the season where the New York Yankees had their great "Murderers Row" team with Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig leading the
The impact of the 1927 St. Louis Browns was greater than their record, and stood as a closure to the greatest era in the franchise history. The Browns finished a disappointing seventh place, with a record of 59-94. This was the season where the New York Yankees had their great "Murderers Row" team with Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig leading the way. The Yankees showed their dominance over the Browns this season by beating them 21 of the 22 times.
The Browns team in 1927 was made up of some of the great names in team history. 1B George Sisler, LF Ken Williams, 2B Oscar Melillo, SS Wally Gerber, CF Fred Schulte, and cather Wally Schang were alldecorated players in ther careers and shared the Browns scorecard this season. Some of these players were facing the end of their careers, and not be with the Browns the following season. Others just did not have a good statistical season.
This team had one of the lowest team batting averages in the American League, and the highest team ERA for a pitching staff. This is never a good combination for success. This was also the first season for manager Dan Howley to lead the team. He would take over for George Sisler who was a reluctant manager for the previous three seasons. Howley would have two winning seasons in St. Louis in 1928 and 1929.
This franchise was ready for change. George Sisler and Ken Williams would be traded after the season, and the Browns were looking for a new horizon to build on. Unfortunately, the new winning era for the Browns would not come for another 15 years.