One of the first relief specialists, Brown set a record in 1938 by becoming the first pitcher to twice make 50 appearances in a season without recording a complete game. He led Pittsburgh in wins (15, all in relief) in 1938, in a major league high 51 appearances, but surrendered the "Homer in the Gloamin'" to Gabby Hartnett that propelled Chicago past Pittsburgh and on to the NL pennant. Brown again led the AL with 49 games in 1943. He is credited with 48 career saves. (ME)
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FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»May 25, 1935: Babe Ruth has a last hurrah, hitting three home runs at Pittsburgh. The first shot is hit off Red Lucas, while the last two homers come off veteran Guy Bush. The final one, the last of his 714 career home runs, is the first to clear the RF grandstand at Forbes Field and is measured at 600 feet. With that, Ruth sits down in the dugout—Pittsburgh's—next to rookie Mace Brown. Ruth, who hit three homers in a game just once in the American League (May 21, 1930), is the first player to turn this hat trick in both leagues. Ruth lifts himself in the 7th inning, finishing the day at 4-for-4 and six RBIs. But Ruth's old teammate Waite Hoyt, in relief of Bush, is the winner as Pittsburgh defeats the hapless Braves, 11–7.
»September 16, 1935:
Brown beats Brown as Pittsburgh reliever Mace Brown pitches five innings of shutout relief to beat Boston, 5–3. Wally Berger's 3rd double of the game in the 9th is the only hit he allows. The Bucs Gus Suhr plays 1B in the last inning to run his streak of consecutive games played to 619, a new NL record. The old mark was set by Eddie Brown from 1924 to 1928.
»September 29, 1935:
In a 9–6 nitecap loss against the Reds, Pittsburgh C Aubrey Epps goes 3-for-4 with a triple and three RBI. This will be his only ML game. The Pirates take the opener, 4–1, behind Mace Brown's 4-hitter.
»May 19, 1937:
The leading Pirates drop a 5–4 decision to the Phils as Dolf Camilli steals home in the 9th inning when relieve Mace Brown goes into a full windup. Morrie Arnovich collects a single, double and homer for the Quakers.
»September 28, 1938:
Cubs manager Gabby Hartnett hits the "homer in the
gloaming" against Mace Brown in the bottom of the
9th to break a 5-5 tie and put the Cubs in first
place ahead of the Pirates. With 2 outs and none on
base, the umpires intended to call the game because
of darkness after Hartnett's turn at bat.
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