Born in Wales, Austin was one of the best third basemen of his day. In his twelve
seasons as a regular, he led the AL five times in total chances per game, four times
in double plays, twice each in putouts and assists, and once in fielding average.
An inconsistent hitter, he compensated by drawing walks and stealing bases, pilfering
244 lifetime with a high of 37. The switch-hitting chatterbox is most famous for
a photo of him at third base, attempting to avoid the flying spikes of Ty Cobb. He
signed with Pittsburgh of the Federal League but never reported, as the Browns matched
the contract.
Austin was the first of Branch Rickey's "Sunday Managers" with the
Browns (Rickey would not enter a ballpark on a Sunday due to an early promise to
his mother). Austin had three short stints as the Browns' interim manager. The last
four years of his playing career each consisted of just one game, including his sole
appearance behind the plate. He coached with the Browns until 1932, when he joined
the White Sox for seven years.
(WB)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»July 12, 1911:
Yankee third baseman Roy Hartzell, acquired from the Browns in January for Jimmy Austin and Frank LaPorte, has a career day as the cleanup hitter. He hits a 3-run double and another double in one inning, then piles on a sacrifice fly and grand slam, to drive in eight runs. It is an AL record until Jimmie Foxx's nine RBI in a game in 1933. New York defeats the Browns, 12–2.
»August 6, 1916: Red Sox pitcher Rube Foster allows three hits in beating the Browns, 1–0. Most of the hitting in the game comes when Browns 3B Jimmy Austin and Boston C Chet Thomas mix it up. The Sox end the day .002 ahead of the White Sox, but will take three out of four in Chicago to open up some room.
»April 14, 1917: In St. Louis, Chicago's Eddie Cicotte pitches a no-hitter over the Browns, winning easily, 11–0. Cicotte faces just 30 batters, with the only near-hit a line drive by Jimmy Austin that Chick Gandil fumbles. "And not without cause, for Jimmy's drive had whiskers like a German who was trapped for ten days on Vimy Ridge." (says the Chicago Tribune). Cicotte's 28 wins and 1.53 ERA will top the AL.
»August 3, 1922: The first place Browns beat the visiting A's, 9–5 behind Wright. Bill Jacobson homers twice to drive in five runs and Pat Collins adds a 3-run homer. 3B Herm Bronkie contributes three errors for St. Louis, and Jimmy Austin will take over the hot corner tomorrow.
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