St. Louis Browns right-handed pitcher Jim Wilson was born on February 20, 1922 in San Diego, California. He would become a baseball "lifer" that included three all-star game appearances for three different major league teams. In 1943, Wilson would become the first MLB player to come out of San Diego State University. Even though he would
St. Louis Browns right-handed pitcher Jim Wilson was born on February 20, 1922 in San Diego, California. He would become a baseball "lifer" that included three all-star game appearances for three different major league teams. In 1943, Wilson would become the first MLB player to come out of San Diego State University. Even though he would only play in four games for the St. Louis Browns, he would record 312 starts, 150 wins, and 1379 strikeouts in 450 professional games. After his playing days concluded, Jim Wilson would become one of the most respected men in the Major Leagues.
Jim Wilson began his baseball career with the Louisville Colonels in 1943. Over the next five seasons, he would bounce between the Colonels (1943-44, 46-47) and their major league affiliate Boston Red Sox (1945-46). He would see action in 24 games with the Red Sox, earning a 6-8 record and an ERA of 3.41.
The Browns would acquire Jim Wilson from Boston as a part of an eight-player deal on November 17, 1947. The Browns would send two of the final remaining players from their championship season, RHP Jack Kramer and SS Vern Stephens, to the Red Sox for Wilson, OF Pete Layden, LHP Joe Ostrowski, catcher Roy Partee, INF Eddie Pelligrini, RHP Al Widmar, and $310,000. His time with the Browns could be described as not very memorable.
After making the Browns' opening day roster, Wilson would pitch in a total of 2.2 innings over four games for St. Louis. His debut came on April 27 against the Detroit Tigers, when he gave up a run on one hit and a walk to the batters he faced. The next day, April 28, he faced five Tiger batters where he gave up a hit, a run, a walk, a strikeout, and a wild pitch (but he did register two outs). He faced three batters on May 10, issuing just one hit and two outs to the Washington Nationals. His longest outing came in his final game with the Browns on May 12 against the Philadelphia Athletics. He gave up three walks, two hits, and two runs across the sixth and seventh innings. The Browns would assign Wilson to the Toledo Mud Hens in May of 1948, where he finished with a 7-13 record over 26 games. After the season, the Cleveland Indians would purchase Jim Wilson's contract and his time as a "Brownie" would be over.
Wilson was shuffled between the Buffalo Bison and Baltimore Orioles of the International League, and the Philadelphia Athletics during the 1949 season. Then spent the 1950 seasons with the Seattle Rainiers.
Ironically from 1951-58, Jim Wilson became one of the more dependable pitchers in the Major Leagues. He saw time with the Boston Braves (1951-52), Milwaukee Braves (1953-54), Baltimore Orioles (1955-56), and the Chicago White Sox (1956-58). He would be an all-star with the Braves (1954), Orioles (1955), and White Sox (1956).
Jim Wilson would go on to revolutionize baseball scouting after he retired from playing in 1958. He became a scout for the Houston Astros (1964-71) and the Director of Scouting for the Milwaukee Brewers (1971). After serving as the Brewers Vice-President (1972-74), Wilson would move to the offices of the Major Leagues to become the first Executive Director of the MLB Scouting Bureau in October of 1974. He would help establish the manner in which all prospects and free agents were evaluated and reported throughout the league.
Jim Wilson may not have had the greatest career with the Browns, but his impact on the history and evolution of Major Leagues can not be overlooked. He helped establish the way all teams evaluated talent in the modern era. Jim Wilson was a legend that more people should know about.
Today's Browns Quote
“Our scouting bureau had been a controversial subject all right — hey, some people even call it socialism — but I think the ball clubs have come to realize that it’s the only way to go now. All the pro sports are doing it."
~ Jim Wilson, explaining the importance of the MLB Scouting Bureau
BROWNS BRITHDAYS ON THIS DAY
19
Today's Browns Quote
“Our scouting bureau had been a controversial subject all right — hey, some people even call it socialism — but I think the ball clubs have come to realize that it’s the only way to go now. All the pro sports are doing it."
~ Jim Wilson, explaining the importance of the MLB Scouting Bureau
BROWNS BRITHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1922 - RHP Jim Wilson (1948)
1920 - 2B Frankie Gustine (1949)
1896 - C/Mgr. Muddy Ruel (1915, 33)
1890 - RHP Dave Davenport (1916-19)
TRANSACTIONS
1916 - Browns sold the contract of utility player Ivan Howard to the Cleveland Indians. Howard played two seasons in St. Louis, where his Browns statistics were very respectable. He batted .265 in 194 games while playing seven positions on the field (every position but pitcher and catcher). He recorded 141 hits, including 16 doubles, nine triples, and two home runs, while driving in 63 RBIs amd scoring 64. He also had 43 stolen bases. He came up in the Browns organization at the same time as George Sisler, which may have been the reason he was moved to Cleveland.
The lasting impact of the 1936 Browns team would show an impressive offensive lineup, with a pitching staff that needed more help.
Hitters like Harlond Clift, Moose Solters, and Lyn Lary put up offensive numbers that ranked them among the best in the American League. Four-time All Star, CF Sam West, had a down year compared to the rest, b
The lasting impact of the 1936 Browns team would show an impressive offensive lineup, with a pitching staff that needed more help.
Hitters like Harlond Clift, Moose Solters, and Lyn Lary put up offensive numbers that ranked them among the best in the American League. Four-time All Star, CF Sam West, had a down year compared to the rest, but still put solid numbers from the middle of the lineup . The real star of the team was Beau Bell, who was in the middle of a five-year span that many said was the best by a right fielder of the era.
As good as the offense was, the pitching may have been just as bad. The only category the team led the American League in was the number of hits given up in 1936. Ivy Andrews continued to be the best pitcher on the team, but he needed a lot more help.
They were led by manager Rogers Hornsby, who proved to be a lot better player than on-field manager.
The 1936 team was like most of the Browns teams of the 1930s. They played in the shadows of the Gashouse Gang, during a crippling Depression, and in the same league as the mighty New York Yankees. But the individual players they had showed that they were worthy of playing in MLB.