Mordecai Brown
As a boy, Mordecai Brown caught his hand in a feed cutter and lost the top joint of his index finger and the use of his little finger. When his injured hand was still in a cast, he broke the other two fingers, which became permanently disfigured. With his crippled hand, Brown threw a natural sinker ball. He led the Cubs pitching staff that won four pennants in five years, including a record 116 victories in 1906.
Played For
St. Louis Cardinals (1903)
Chicago Cubs (1904-1912)
Cincinnati Reds (1913)
St. Louis Terriers (1914)
Brooklyn Tip-Tops (1914)
Chicago Whales (1915)
Chicago Cubs (1916)
Managed
St. Louis Terriers (1914)
All-Time Rankings
Mordecai Brown ranks #18 among the Top 50 all-time at SP. Rankings ⇒
Best Season: 1906
The Cubs allowed just 383 runs the entire season, with Brown's 1.04 ERA leading the way. He won 26 games and allowed just one home run all season.
Pitching Duels
In an era of low scoring games, Brown was a staff ace who often faced the other team's best arm. Consequently, Brown often faced the Giants' Christy Mathewson, Pittsburgh's Babe Adams, Philadelphia's Pete Alexander, Brooklyn's Nap Rucker and the Braves' Vic Willis. A fantastic study would be to research the head-to-head record of these great pitching legends. Mathewson and Brown faced each other 25 times in their careers, "Three-Finger" posting a 13-10 record, Matty going 11-13. Here are some of their memorable moments:
On June 13, 1905, Brown carried a two-hitter into the ninth inning against Matty, only to allow four straight hits and lose 1-0. Mathewson hurled a no-hitter for the win. In July of that same season Brown defeated Matty and began a streak of eight straight wins over the Giants' legend.
On July 17, 1908, Matty lost 1-0 to Brown when Cubs' shortstop Joe Tinker hit an inside-the-park homer in the fifth inning.
In one of the most bizarre games ever played, Brown and Matty hook up on September 23, 1908 in the Polo Grounds. With the score locked 1-1 in the bottom of the ninth, Giants' shortstop Al Bridwell hit an RBI_single, apparently winning the game. But the runner on first, Fred Merkle, failed to touch second base and Cubs' second baseman Johnny Evers alertly tagged the bag, nullifying the run. After haggling and protests, the game was declared a tie. At the end of the season it is replayed and the Cubs win to take the pennant. Brown defeated Mathewson in the rematch.
On July 15, 1913, Mathewson defeated Brown (now with the Reds) 4-2 and ran his streak of innings without a walk to 61.
In 1916, their best years behind them, Brown (back with the Cubs) and Mathewson agreed to face each other in the second game of the Labor Day doubleheader. The game was to be the final appearance for either man in a big league uniform and it was designed as a publicity stunt. Mathewson, now managing the Reds, got the win in a 10-8 contest. Brown lost to finish 13-10 against the great pitcher.
Where He Played
Starting pitcher, and reliever when needed.
Born
Mordecai Peter Centennial Brown was born on October 19, 1876, in Nyesville, IN.
Died
February 14, 1948, Terre Haute, IN
Batted: Both
Threw: Right
Primary Position: P
Primary Team: CHN
Major League Debut
April 19, 1903
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1903
John Titus
Hans Lobert
Solly Hofman
Lee Tannehill
George Moriarty
Jake Stahl
Three-Finger Brown
Chief Bender
Red Ames
Nicknames
Three Finger,Miner
Brown was known as "Cuy" as a kid. In the big leagues he was known as "Three-Fingered" or "Three-Finger" Brown.
Similar Players
Chief Bender, Jim Abbott
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 1936 |
BBWAA |
6 |
2.7% |
1937 |
BBWAA |
31 |
15.4% |
1938 |
BBWAA |
54 |
20.6% |
1939 |
BBWAA |
54 |
19.7% |
1942 |
BBWAA |
63 |
27.0% |
1945 |
BBWAA |
46 |
18.6% |
1946 |
BBWAA |
48 |
18.3% |
1946 |
Nominating Vote |
56 |
27.7% |
1949 |
Old Timers |
|
% |
|
Post-Season Appearances
1906 World Series
1907 World Series
1908 World Series
1910 World Series
Transactions
Traded by St. Louis Cardinals with Jack O'Neill to Chicago Cubs in exchange for Jack Taylor and Larry McLean (December 12, 1903).
Best Strength as a Player
His breaking pitch, which dropped and turned in odd ways because of his mangled pitching hand.
Largest Weakness as a Player
Brown was considered easy to steal against.
Learn More about Mordecai Brown
Search Amazon.com for Books about Mordecai Brown ⇒
Search for Mordecai Brown at Google ⇒
View a map of his hometown at Mapquest ⇒
Sources used for the Mordecai Brown Player Page:
Player file, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
