Mordecai Brown

Teams Mordecai Brown Managed

St. Louis Terriers (1914)

Where does Mordecai Brown rank among baseball greats?

Mordecai Brown ranks among the Top 50 all-time at SP. Rankings ?
 

All Time Teammates:

Johnny Kling
Frank Chance
Johnny Evers
Harry Steinfeldt

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

Major League Debut
4 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

Post-Season Appearances

1906 World Series
1907 World Series
1908 World Series
1910 World Series

Transactions

 
    * Before 1903 Season: Purchased by the St. Louis Cardinals from Omaha (Western).
    * December 12, 1903: Traded by the St. Louis Cardinals with Jack O'Neill to the Chicago Cubs for Larry McLean and Jack Taylor.
    * October 12, 1912: Released by the Chicago Cubs.
    * January 3, 1913: Traded by Louisville (American Association) to the Cincinnati Reds for Grover Lowdermilk.
    * December 27, 1913: Jumped from the Cincinnati Reds to the St. Louis Terriers.
    * February 10, 1916: Purchased by the Chicago Cubs from the Chicago Whales.

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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.

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