Mordecai Brown (1949)


Date of Birth: 10/19/1876
Date of Death: 2/14/1948
Birthplace: Nyesville,Indiana

Mordecai Brown played semi-pro baseball prior to signing with his first professional team in 1901. He started in semi-pro ball as an infielder but then switched to pitching. He played minor league baseball in 1901 with a team in the Three-I-League and in 1902 with a team in the Western League.

The St. Louis Cardinals purchased Brown's contract from the Western League in 1903. He played in 26 games with the Cardinals that year. He was traded to the Chicago Cubs on December 12, 1903.

Chicago Cubs

Brown pitched for the Cubs from 1904 through 1912. He had a strong first year with the Cubs, finishing the 1904 season with 15 wins and 10 losses and a 1.86 ERA in 212.1 innings in 26 games. The next year, he had a 2.17 ERA in 30 games. He had 18 wins and 12 losses and 89 strikeouts to 44 walks in 249.0 innings in 1905.

In 1906, Brown pitched in 36 games and he had a 26-6 record with 144 strikeouts to 61 walks and an ERA of 1.04. He finished the 1907 season, with 20 wins and 6 losses, 107 strikeouts to 40 walks, and a 1.39 ERA in 233.0 innings in 34 games.

Brown had a career high 29 wins in 1908. He had a 1.47 ERA in 312.1 innings in 44 games. He struck out 123 batters and walked 49. He also played well defensively that year, leading all NL pitchers in putouts with 35.

Brown led the NL in wins, innings pitched and complete games in 1909. He had 27 wins to 9 losses, a career high 172 strikeouts to 53 walks, and a 1.31 ERA in a career high 342.2 innings in 50 games. He pitched 32 complete games.

In 1910, Brown again led the NL in complete games pitched with 27. He finished the season with 25 wins and 14 losses, 143 strikeouts to 64 walks, and a 1.86 ERA in 295.1 innings in 46 games. The next year, he pitched in a career high 53 games. He finished the 1911 season with 21 wins and 11 losses, 129 strikeouts to 55 walks, and a 2.80 ERA in 270.0 innings.

Brown pitched in just 8 games as a starter and 7 games in relief in 1912. He had a 2.64 ERA in 88.2 innings.

Final Years as a Player

In 1913, Brown pitched in 39 games with the Cincinnati Reds. The next season, he moved to the Federal League and became the player-manager of the St. Louis Terriers. He stayed in the Federal League for two more seasons but with different teams (Brooklyn Tip-Tops in 1914 and Chicago Whales in 1915). When the Cubs purchased the Whales in 1916, Brown returned to the Cubs for a final season of just 12 games.

Career Statistics

Statistics for Brown in 14 seasons (1903-1916) in the major leagues include:

  • 6 seasons with 20 or more wins, with a high of 29 in 1908
  • 12 seasons with an ERA under 3.00, with a low of 1.04 in 1906

Career pitching statistics for Brown include:

  • 481 games played
  • 3,172.1 innings pitched
  • 239-130 win-loss record
  • 1,375 strikeouts to 673 walks
  • 55 shutouts
  • 2.06 ERA

Postseason statistics for Brown include:

  • 4 postseasons
  • 9 games played
  • 57.0 innings pitched
  • 5-4 win-loss record
  • 35 strikeouts to 13 walks
  • 2.84 ERA

Post Playing Career

After leaving major league baseball as a player, Brown pitched, coached, and managed in the minor leagues.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Mordecai Brown
ESPN - Mordecai Brown
Baseball Reference - Mordecai Brown

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