From Browns to Birds

White Sox left-hander Billy Pierce strikes out Johnny Groth and Ed Mickelson before retiring Jim Dyck on a flyball to center fielder Bill Wilson, capping his 11-inning complete game in Chicago’s 2-1 victory over the Browns 70 year ago today at St. Louis.

And, just like that – with a Sunday afternoon crowd of just 3,174 watching at Sportsman’s Park – an era is over as the Browns formally end their 52-year stay in St. Louis.

Groth finishes with three of the Browns’ seven hits off Pierce and right-hander Duane Pillette matches Pierce’s 11 innings, but neither effort is enough to keep the Browns from finishing their final season in St. Louis with a last-place record of 54-100.

The franchise originally starts in 1901 in Milwaukee, coinciding with the birth of the American League. The franchise will continue in 1954 in Baltimore, where the Orioles are born and remain today.

The Orioles of today, though, are playing significantly better than did the Browns of yesteryear.