did you know this about the Browns?

Following his playing career, Browns OF Ethan Allen would spend the rest of his life promoting the game of baseball across the country. In 1938, he was brought on by the Baseball Film Bureau as the Director of Motion Picture Activities. The Film Bureau would produce instructional films that featured professional athletes performing the basic baseball skills. These films were shown in schools, church groups, and military posts. Allen would also go on to write several books on instructional baseball techniques. His third book, Winning Baseball, featured St, Louis legends Johnny Mize, Pepper Martin, Johnny Hopp, Walker Cooper, and Terry Moore. He was also responsible for the creation of the creation of the All Star Baseball Game, distributed by the Cadaco-Ellis Company. This game was based on the individual statistics of MLB players, and was produced until 1993. It is safe to say that a large percentage of Baseball fans during this era, learned the game from Ethan Allen.

The St. Louis Browns of the American League should not be confused with the St. Louis Brown Stockings of the American Association. From 1882-98, the Brown Stockings would experience the best and worst of the game in the late 19th century. From 1885-88, the Brown Stockings would win the American Association pennant, In 1886 the Brown Stockings would win the World Series Champions, and tied for the crown the previous season (1885). Over these four season, they would compile a 360-162-5 record. In this time, the Brown Stockings were led by Charlie Comiskey who was widely known as one of the best and colorful players of the era. The American Association would fold in 1892, and the "Browns" joined the new National League. The Browns would not experience the same success in the 1890s. The Browns would finish toward the bottom of the League in every season to close out the century. The team would later change its name to the Perfectos in 1899, and to the Cardinals in 1900.

The city of St. Louis played host to both the Browns of the American League, and the Cardinals of the National League. In the 53 years the team shared the spotlight in St Louis, 66 players would end up playing for both teams. Some of these players had made their mark with one franchise, and then crossed the field before playing for the other. Some players became Hall of Famers, while others just continued their MLB careers. The most well known players to have time in both the Cardinals and Browns jerseys are listed below: 1B Jim Bottomley (Cardinals: 1922-32 / Browns: 1936-37) RHP Harry Brecheen (Cardinals: 1940, 43-52 / Browns: 1953) OF Jesse Burkett (Cardinals: 1899-1901 / Browns: 1902-03) OF Deb Garms (Cardinals: 1943-45 / Browns 1932-35) INF Don Gutteridge (Cardinals: 1936-40 / Browns: 1942-45) 2B Rogers Hornsby (Cardinals: 1915-26, 1933 / Browns: 1933-37) INF Bobby Wallace (Cardinals 1899-01 / Browns: 1902-16) There was one player who would play for the Cardinals, Browns, and the St. Louis Terriers of the Federal Baseball League - Doc Crandall (Cardinals: 1913 / Terriers: 1914-15 / Browns: 1916)

The St. Louis Browns first season came in 1902. The franchise in 1901, was actually known as the Milwaukee Brewers and they were one of the founding members of the American League. The Brewers season in 1901 was a 48-89 disaster. American League officials and investors believed the team would find more success in a larger city. St. Louis was the fourth largest city in the United States. St. Louis was looking to host the Worlds Fair and Summer Olympics in 1904. The primary owner of the new St. Louis Browns was Ralph Orthwein, who has been best described as a business wizard. The Cincinnati carriage manufacturer, Robert Hedges, was the first treasurer of the Browns and believer of the team. After the first season, Orthwein was disappointed in the teams performance and box office return. He would sell his stocks in team to Robert Hedges, making Hedges the second team owner in just two years. Hedges would bring stability to the franchise and continue to promote the team in St. Louis.

1947 - Bill DeWitt introduced the idea of having a psychologist come and study the Browns players to try an unlock the complete potential of the team. In 1949, they invited New York based Dr. David Tracy to introduce his practices of relaxation, hypnosis, and autosuggestion, designed to make each player more successful in their games. The result of the study was a book called "The Psychologist at Bat". The players were studied during Spring Training of 1949, while  the team was getting ready for the upcoming season. There was little evidence that this helped the Browns as the team as the season began. The Browns started the 1949 season with a 10-30 season. When the book was published in a 1951 book by Sterling press, it received mixed reviews. Another example of how the St. Louis Browns were ahead of the game. 

February 21, 1953 - The Browns purchased the player rights of a minor league prospect, LHP Tommy Lasorda, from the Brooklyn Dodgers, on February 21, 1953. According to the deal between the Browns and Dodgers, Lasorda would remain in St. Louis if he made the major league club. If he was going to be dropped into the minors, then the Dodgers would be able reclaim him and bring him back to Brooklyn. At the end of Spring Training, pitching coach Harry Brecheen informed Lasorda that he was going to make the starting rotation and begin his career in St. Louis. At the same time, the financially strapped owner Bill Veeck is in the middle of negotiations to move the club to Baltimore. He needed as much money as possible to promote the team's move, and was not able to pay Brooklyn the transfer fee for their new pitcher. So on March 26, 1953, Tommy Lasorda was sent back to the Brooklyn Dodgers - and the rest is "Dodger Blue" history. It is safe to say if Lasorda stayed with the Browns, it would have changed the entire history of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Maybe he would have never played, coached, or managed with the Dodger organization? Who knows, but it is always fun to think of the "what ifs". 

Some spots would not be considered prime training locations (French Lick IN - 1902, Waco TX - 1913, Bogalusa AL - 1921),  while others would be a pleasant destination after a a cold winter (St. Petersburg FL - 1914, Anaheim CA - 1946, Miami FL - 1947). The most common Spring Training location was West Palm Beach, Florida where the Browns trained from 1928-36. The Browns were the first MLB to call West Palm Beach home for the Spring. In fact the Browns are credited with bringing Spring Training to the east coast of Florida. It was said that manager Rogers Hornsby loved to sneak down to nearby Hialeah Race Track and watch the horses after practices. The Browns pulled out West Palm Beach to train in San Antonio (1937-41). During World War II (1943-45), the Browns practiced in nearby Cape Giaradeau, Missouri. Other locations where the Browns would call their Spring Training home would include the following: San Antonio TX (1907, 19, 37-41), Mobile AL (1922-24), Houston TX (1909-10, 15), Tarpon Springs FL (1925-27) 

In today's modern baseball era, the role of "Starting Pitcher" has changed. Pitchers are dictated by pitch counts, velocity, and number days of rest. Pitching staffs that used to hold four starting pitchers, or even five, are starting to consider implementing a six-player starting rotation. With this confusing transition, the idea of a "Bull Pen" start has become a common occurrence by every MLB team. The St. Louis Browns introduced the first "Bull Pen" start in history. October 2, 1949 - Last game of the season. First game of a double header vs. the Chicago White Sox. The Browns used one pitcher per inning in a nine inning game. This set the MLB record for the number of pitchers used in one game. White Sox manager, Jack Onslow, protested the number of Browns pitchers throughout the game, but since there is no rule stating the maximum number of pitchers that can be used in a game, he could only voice his constant displeasure.