St. Louis Browns legend Ken Williams was born on June 28, 1890 in Grants Pass, Oregon. Ken Williams is one of those vintage baseball players that deserves to be heavily considered for the MLB Hall of Fame. He was a dynamic player who could do everything on the field. It is safe to say that if the ten years he spent with the Browns was pla
St. Louis Browns legend Ken Williams was born on June 28, 1890 in Grants Pass, Oregon. Ken Williams is one of those vintage baseball players that deserves to be heavily considered for the MLB Hall of Fame. He was a dynamic player who could do everything on the field. It is safe to say that if the ten years he spent with the Browns was played in an east coast city (New York, Boston, Philadelphia), Williams would already be in the Hall of Fame.
Williams was one of the best power hitters of the 1920s, and was often compared to the great Babe Ruth. After bouncing around the minors for four years, and brief stint with the Cincinnati Reds (.228 average in 81 games), many began to doubt if Williams would star in the Majors.
The Browns acquired Williams on June 10, 1917, when his contract was purchased from the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League. He would spend the next ten seasons in St. Louis where his career numbers include 1552 hits, 285 doubles, 196 home runs, 916 RBIs, and a .326 batting average.
His best season came in 1922 where he was the first in MLB history to accomplish two amazing feats.
In the same season, he led the league in home runs (39), runs batted in (155), total bases (367), extra base hits (84), slugging percentage (.613).
Williams was a great fielder as well. He led the league in double plays from left field twice (seven in 1920, five in 1923), and assists from left field (25 in 1921).
Williams batted over .300 in seven consecutive seasons (seven of nine seasons) with the Browns. On December 15, 1927, the Browns would send Williams to the Boston Red Sox for $10,000. He would spend two seasons with the Red Sox, not surprisingly he hit over .300 both seasons.
Ken Williams needs to be reconsidered for the hall in Cooperstown. His statistics show it, and compared to the modern players he deserves the honor. Compared to Giants catcher Buster Posey, who many say is a first ballot inductee, Ken Williams numbers are almost identical to the San Francisco favorite.
He was one one of the best Browns in the history of the franchise, best seen at number nine on this websites Top 100 list.
HEADLINE
"MARATHON GAME SLUGFEST WITH CHISOX LEADS TO 25 RUNS IN BROWNS WIN"
FEATURED GAME
1924 - In a baseball game that had everything, the Browns would defeat the Chicago White Sox 13-12 in 14 innings. Both teams used a total of nine pitchers in the game, with both starting pitcher not making it through the third inning. Browns RHP Elam
HEADLINE
"MARATHON GAME SLUGFEST WITH CHISOX LEADS TO 25 RUNS IN BROWNS WIN"
FEATURED GAME
1924 - In a baseball game that had everything, the Browns would defeat the Chicago White Sox 13-12 in 14 innings. Both teams used a total of nine pitchers in the game, with both starting pitcher not making it through the third inning. Browns RHP Elam Vangilder would give up six runs in the first 2.2 innings, while White Sox starter Red Faber would give up four runs in the first two innings. The Browns would end up using LHP Hub Pruett (1.1 IP, one run), RHP Urban Shocker (4.2 IP, five runs), and Dave Danforth (5.1 IP, six hits, no runs).
Danforth's first batter faced was Chicago's Eddie Collins who singled in the game tying run in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Browns scored their first 12 runs by the end of the sixth inning. St. Louis scored six runs in the sixth inning, as they went up 12-8. In the sixth inning, the first six Browns would get on base and be driven by a teammate. CF Baby Doll Jacobson (4-for-7, 2 runs) would drive in two runs, and SS Wally Gerber would triple and drive in two runs. SS Marty McManus and 3B Norm McMillan (1-for-5, 1 run) would both drive runs in during the sixth inning. McManus would hit a solo home run off White Sox pitcher Mike Cvengros to lead off the fifth inning.
The ninth inning started with two quick outs and 1B George Sisler getting on base due to a fielders choice. Sisler would steal second base. Ken Williams would single in to right field and Sisler would score the go ahead run. Dave Danforth, who blew the save in the ninth inning, would eventually earn the win after setting down the White Sox player in order in the 14 inning. With all the pitching, there were 46 total hits in the game, and one incredible fielding play.
The Browns turned a TRIPLE PLAY in the bottom of the second inning. With the bases loaded, Chicago's Hollis Thurston would hit the ball to Wally Gerber who threw to 2B McManus (1 out), who threw to 1B Sisler (2nd out), who threw home to catcher Hank Severeid who tagged out Bill Barrett trying to score (3rd outs) INCREDIBLE!!!!!
BROWNS RECORD ON THIS DAY
Overall Record on June 28
20 Wins, 30 Losses (.400)
1902-09: 3-5
1910-19: 4-8
1920-29: 6-5
1930-39: 3-5
1940-49: 3-4
1950-53: 1-3
DOUBLE HEADERS
Sweeps: 1
Splits: 5
Swept: 3
TRANSACTIONS
There were No Transactions made on this day
DEBUTS
1915 - George Sisler makes his MLB debut vs Chicago White Sox, as a Pitcher/Pinch Hitter going 1-for-2 with a strikeout, single and caught stealing second base, in a 2-4 loss
BROWNS BIRTHDAYS
1890 - LF Ken Williams (1917-27)
The St. Louis Browns team of 1930 was a team made up of stars that appear to have had a difficult time coming together as a team. This team had future MLB Hall of Famers on the roster, but finished with just 64 wins. The pitching staff was made up of five players that would appear in this website's Top 100 Browns player, but all seemed a
The St. Louis Browns team of 1930 was a team made up of stars that appear to have had a difficult time coming together as a team. This team had future MLB Hall of Famers on the roster, but finished with just 64 wins. The pitching staff was made up of five players that would appear in this website's Top 100 Browns player, but all seemed a bit off in 1930. The manager was in his first season as Browns' skipper, and he would win the most games in his tenure as manager.
Browns 1930 Roster