Books and articles about George Sisler

Sisler was the greatest St. Louis Brown of them all and one of the half-dozen finest first basemen in baseball history. Like Babe Ruth, he came to the majors as a lefthanded pitcher. Like Ruth, his hitting was too phenomenal to be restricted to a pitcher's schedule. He arrived in St. Louis in 1915, the same year as Rogers Hornsby, and for 11 seasons they were rivals in excellence.

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Branch Rickey was his mentor: Coach at Michigan in George's undergraduate days as an outstanding college pitcher, wily counselor in the maneuvering that eventually led him to the Browns, and manager of the team when he got there.

Other major league clubs were interested in him; Barney Dreyfuss was certain that the Pirates owned him and, under baseball law, perhaps he did. In 1911 underage and without parental consent, George signed a professional contract. He received no money and played no games, but while he pursued his education the contract was sold to Pittsburgh. After four years of anguish, argument and indecision, the National Commission ruled the contract invalid and made Sisler a free agent. He graduated with a mechanical engineering degree, considered a fistful of offers, including one from Pittsburgh, and decided for manager Rickey and the Browns. His was the first of several player-allocation cases that eventually moved irate club owners like Dreyfuss to unseat the Commission and replace it with Judge Landis.

Sisler had promise as a pitcher. His ERA was impressive, and among his five wins were two complete-game victories over Walter Johnson. Still, it was unthinkable not to have his bat in the lineup every day, and his glove at first base, a chronic Brown weak spot where seven players had been tried in the previous six years. In the field Sisler was fast, adroit, and graceful, a combination that gave elegance to his execution of plays. He led the AL seven times in assists and his career total of 1,528 heads the all-time list. In double plays he topped the league three times, starting 13 deft 3-6-3 double plays in 1920. On one occasion against Washington, with Joe Judge on third, George anticipated a squeeze bunt by Roger Peckinpaugh. Darting in with the pitch, he fielded the ball before the right-handed Peck was fairly started down the line, brush-tagged him, and flipped to Hank Severeid to nip Judge at the plate. Two outs on a squeeze are not usual, but that was George.

Sisler's career batting average is tied with Lou Gehrig's for fifteenth lifetime, although he never had Lou's power or his size. An inch or two under six feet and a trim 170 pounds, Sisler swung a 42-ounce bat, often choking up, and had six seasons with more than 200 hits. His 257 in 1920 is the best single-season mark ever. As a run producer, he was good, if not overwhelming. On the lifetime list his 1,175 RBI are one ahead of Vern Stephens; he is tied with Jake Daubert for triples and Sherry Magee for doubles.

His 1920 season was as mighty a performance as any player has ever produced. Playing every inning of 154 games, he hit .407. Among his 399 total bases were 49 doubles, 18 triples and 19 home runs. He went hitless in only 23 games and climaxed the season with prodigious averages of .442 and .448 in August and September. He drove in 122 runs, his high mark, and stole 42 bases. In 1922, when the Browns missed the pennant by one game, he hit safely in 41 consecutive games and achieved a .420 average.

In 1923 severe sinusitis infected his optic nerves and for a time he saw double. He missed the entire season. Dutch Schliebner, acquired from Brooklyn, spent his one major league season as Sisler's replacement. He hit .275 as the Browns slumped to fifth. Sisler returned in 1924 with a $25,000 contract as player-manager. He hit .305 in 151 games and moved the Browns to third. In 1925 he was on track with 224 hits and a .345 average. In fact, he only had one sub-.300 season in seven after the illness. They were seasons most players would have been proud of, but he was not really himself. His eyes never regained their former acuity.

In the winter of 1927 the Browns made a good trade, sending Harry Rice, Elam Vangilder, and Chick Galloway to Detroit for Heinie Manush and Sisler's successor at first, Lu Blue. Washington bought Sisler for $25,000, then moved him along to the Braves, where he was reunited with Hornsby. The St. Louis prodigies put on a good show, Rogers leading the league with .387, George contributing a handsome .340. In 1929, at age thirty-six, he batted .326 average with 205 hits.

After 1930 he drifted into the minors, ran a Sisler printing company in St. Louis, then a Sisler sporting-goods firm. Rickey recalled him to baseball in the 1940s as a scout and special hitting instructor at Brooklyn and Pittsburgh.

Sisler's sons were baseball men. George Jr. was president of the International League. Dick and Dave both had major league careers. (ADS)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 1, 1912: George Sisler, a freshman pitching for the University of Michigan, strikes out 20 in seven innings. » January 9, 1915: The National Commission declares University of Michigan senior George Sisler a free agent after a 2-year fight. The Pirates' owner Barney Dreyfuss claimed rights to Sisler, who had signed a contract as a minor but never played pro ball. After graduating, Sisler will sign with the St. Louis Browns, managed by his former college coach, Branch Rickey. » June 28, 1915: Recent University of Michigan graduate George Sisler makes his ML debut as a pinch hitter. Sisler stays on to pitch the last three innings, giving up no runs, in the Browns 4–2 loss to the White Sox. » July 3, 1915: The Browns lose to the Indians, 3–1. Despite walking 9, George Sisler pitches a complete game victory. » July 15, 1915: In the first game of a doubleheader with Washington, Brownie rookie George Sisler goes all the way allowing six hits in winning 5–2. » July 22, 1915: At St. Louis, the Red Sox use three pitchers in subduing the Browns 7–3. With the Red Sox ahead, Carl Mays takes over in the 2nd with two outs and pitches through the 8th to earn the win. Browns rookie George Sisler pitches in the 9th inning, allowing a hit to Red Sox reliever Smokey Joe Wood. » July 25, 1915: In the first of two games, the Browns cuff Red Sox starter Babe Ruth for four unearned runs in the 3rd, and the young lefty is relieved by Carl Mays. Boston ties the score 4–4 in the 4th, but the Browns eventually win 9–8. In the nitecap, a 1–1 tie, George Sisler pitches the last two innings for the Browns. » August 2, 1915: On the 8th anniversary of Walter Johnson's debut, the Big Train tops the Browns, 5–1. The losing pitcher is George Sisler, who has a single off Johnson. » August 7, 1915: Another Hall of Famer takes a turn on the mound, as George Sisler pitches to two Yankees in the 6th inning, hitting one and walking the other. The Browns-Yankees game is called at the end of 10 innings with the score tied 4–4. » August 15, 1915: The Browns George Sisler pitches a complete game against the Indians, losing 1–0 to Guy Morton. » August 24, 1915: The Browns bring George Sisler in to pitch five innings of relief. Sisler gives up one run and earns the win, a 10–7 victory over the A's Rube Bressler. » August 29, 1915: George Sisler again pitches against Walter Johnson and this time wins, 2–1. He will be 4–4 for the Browns and 1–2 next year before moving permanently to 1B. Sisler is helped in the 8th inning when Brownie 2B Del Pratt nabs pinch runner Horace Milan, in his ML debut, with a hidden ball trick. Horace is the brother of teammate Clyde "Deerfoot" Milan. » September 5, 1915: In the first game of a doubleheader versus the Tigers, the Browns' George Sisler tosses nine innings and gives up six runs, to lose 6–5. Sisler clubs a home run in the loss. » September 23, 1915: In the first of two games, the Yanks top the Browns, 7–0. George Sisler pitches one perfect inning of relief for St. Louis. » September 27, 1915: St. Louis Browns 1B George Sisler makes his 2nd pitching start this month, and gets no decision despite giving up four runs in seven innings. The Red Sox beat St. Louis, 8–4. » June 22, 1916: Brownie 1B George Sisler makes his final mound appearance of the year, a complete game 2–0 loss to White Sox starter Reb Russell. » September 17, 1916: St. Louis Browns P George Sisler wins 1–0 over Walter Johnson. It is his last win, as he soon becomes a regular 1B. He will also play two games as a left-handed 3B. » September 24, 1916: In the first game of a doubleheader, Browns 1B George Sisler pitches his 2nd game in eight days, tossing a complete game, and losing 2–0 to the A's Harry Seibold. » May 5, 1917: St. Louis Browns P Ernie Koob gets a 1–0 no-hitter over the White Sox' Ed Cicotte, and it's the last shutout the 24-year-old pitcher will toss. George Sisler drives in the Browns' run. A first-inning tainted hit by Buck Weaver is changed to an error after much discussion with umpires and players. Tomorrow, the writers' association will take a mail vote on a resolution that a scorer's decision can not be reversed. » July 6, 1917: Ty Cobb's hit streak ends at 35 games as White Sox pitchers Red Faber and Jim Scott hold him hitless. His streak began May 31. Cobb holds the AL mark of 40 straight games, set in 1912, but George Sisler will ring up 41 games in 1922. » June 17, 1918: The National Commission rules that P Scott Perry, who has been winning games for the Athletics, belongs to the Boston Braves. Although purchased by the Braves from Atlanta in 1917, the deal was not completed. While on Atlanta's ineligible list, he was sold to Connie Mack. Aroused by Perry's AL success, the Braves enter their proper claim. Mack breaks precedent, goes outside organized baseball to civil court, and gets an injunction against Boston. The NL, having sat still for the loss of George Sisler, is furious; President John K. Tener resigns. John Heydler succeeds him and arranges a compromise solution: Mack pays Boston $2,500 and keeps Perry (henceforth a loser). The clubs' anger at player-allocation decisions will ultimately topple the National Commission, making way for Judge K.M. Landis. » July 25, 1918: Walter Johnson gives up one hit (a triple by George Sisler) in the first 11 innings of a 15-inning, 4- hit 1-0 win. » September 1, 1918: The Browns and Tigers finish the season with a doubleheader split in St. Louis as the Cleveland Indians refuse to make the trip for the Labor Day doubleheader. In Game 2, Ty Cobb pitches two innings against the Browns while the Browns' George Sisler pitches one scoreless inning. The Browns win, 6–2, and Sisler hits a double off of Cobb. Detroit wins the opener, 7-2. » June 9, 1919: Browns 1B George Sisler beats Washington 2-1 with two hits off Walter Johnson, driving in one run and scoring the other. He also makes an assist and putout when he gets a glove on a ground ball hit wide of 1B. The ball bounds toward 2B, and Sisler gets back to 1B to take the throw in time. » August 16, 1919: The Browns set an AL record with 53 total chances against the A's, but lose 7-4. The Browns have 26 assists and St. Louis 1B George Sisler has 17 putouts. With no putouts, the St. Louis outfielders have the day off. » September 2, 1920: Jim Bagby wins his 31st game, clinching the pennant for the Indians with a 10–1 win over the Tigers. Tris Speaker contributes three hits to finish the year at .388, 2nd to George Sisler's .407. The Sox 10–7 victory over the Browns is not needed by the Indians. The Indians' victory is due primarily to a .303 team BA (the Browns lead the league at .308) and the pitching of Jim Bagby, 31-12, Stan Coveleski, 24-14, and Ray Caldwell, 20-10. A big boost came from Duster Mails, brought up from the Pacific Coast League at the end of August, who won seven without a loss on a 1.85 ERA. Despite the heavy hitting in the American League, there are ten 20-game winners; the White Sox have four of them—Red Faber, Eddie Cicotte, Dickie Kerr, and Lefty Williams. » September 3, 1920: In the Browns' 16–7 win over Chicago, George Sisler has three hits and gets his 257th hit of the season to set a ML record. His four total bases today gives him a major-league record 399 for the year. Sisler throws in three stolen bases and, acceding to the demands of the fans, also hurls a scoreless 9th inning in relief, striking out 2. » August 1, 1921: At Boston, Red Sox pitcher Joe Bush fires a one-hitter, beating the Browns, 2–0. George Sisler's single is the lone Brownie hit. » August 9, 1921: The Browns go 19 innings with the Senators before topping Washington 8–6. Browns' star George Sisler is 6-for-9 in the game, while Brownie Dixie Davis pitches the distance allowing 13 hits. Nats star Joe Judge bangs an American League record-tying three triples in the game. » August 13, 1921: George Sisler continues his hot hitting, collecting two doubles and hitting for the cycle in a 10-inning 7–5 win at Detroit. Sisler is 5-for-5. » August 15, 1921: A major-league record streak of 10 straight hits by the Browns' George Sisler is stopped by Detroit in the 4th inning, but he goes 2-for-3 with a 2-run homer in the 6th. The Browns win, 3–2. » September 14, 1921: Washington's Walter Johnson gives up three hits but still faces just 27 batters in edging the Browns 1–0. Following two singles in the 4th, George Sisler's line drive is turned into a triple play. Jack Tobin singles in the 7th, but Johnson picks him off. Tobin will set a American League record this year with 179 singles, a mark that Sam Rice will top in 1925. » April 9, 1922: With a St. Louis record crowd of 29,000 on hand, the Browns top the Cardinals, 6–3, to win their city series. George Sisler, who will lead the American League in stolen bases, is thrown out at home three times. » April 19, 1922: At Cleveland, the Browns Elam Vangilder fires his 2nd straight three-hitter and homers to lead St. Louis to a 15–1 win. George Sisler and Cy Williams each steal three bases. » April 22, 1922: The Browns' Ken Williams hits three home runs, and two singles, against the visiting White Sox, with George Sisler on base each time, to lead St. Louis to a 10–7 win. He's the first American League player to hit three round trippers in a game. Given a head start on the suspended Babe Ruth, he will take the home run and RBI titles and become the first 30-30 man, with 39 home runs and 37 SBs. » May 23, 1922: George Sisler and Frank Baker match homers as the Browns and Yankees go into the 7th tied 3-3. Ken Williams #12, with two on, gives St. Louis a 6–3 lead, and Browns add five more off reliever Lefty O'Doul to win, 11–3. Urban Shocker is the winner. » June 13, 1922: In the final game of the 4-game series in St. Louis, the Browns earn a split by pasting the Yankees, 13–4, behind Dave Danforth. George Sisler's base-loaded triple in the 5-run sixth is the big blow. » July 16, 1922: George Sisler drives in the first run with a sac fly against Walter Johnson and the Browns top the Senators, 2–0. » July 29, 1922: The Browns host the Red Sox and beat them, 4–1, behind Urban Shocker. However, both George Sisler and C Hank Sevreid are injured, the latter with a split finger on a foul tip. Sisler is spiked in the 4th. » August 6, 1922: In St. Louis, Walter Johnson gives up the first grand slam of his career, a third inning shot by Jack Tobin, as the Browns top the Senators, 8–4. George Sisler is 2-for-2 against the Big Train, as Urban Shocker picks up the victory. » August 16, 1922: The Browns beat Walter Johnson and the Senators again, 11–2. Brownie star George Sisler is 1-for-5 with a run scored. » August 25, 1922: In the first of a doubleheader before a sold-out Polo Grounds, the Browns beat the Yankees, 3–1, behind Urban Shocker. Waite Hoyt is the loser, but stops Ken Williams hit streak at 28 consecutive games. George Sisler hits in his 24th straight game. In game two, the Yankee jump to a 2–0 lead on Ruth's 2-run triple, then extend it to 6–1 behind Joe Bush. The Browns close to 6–5, but that is it. » September 2, 1922: At Detroit, the Browns win their 2nd in a row over the Tigers, 5–4. Hub Pruett allows three hits in four innings to win in relief. George Sisler hits in his 30th consecutive game. » September 11, 1922: The Browns, down 4–3 to the Tigers in the 9th, but a walk and a George Sisler triple ties the game. Marty McManus lines a single to win it 5–4 for reliever Hub Pruett. Sisler falls on his shoulder in the 7th stretching for a ball but stays in the game. » September 13, 1922: The Browns announce that George Sisler has severely strained ligaments and cannot lift his right arm over his head. He might be out for the remainder of the season, jeopardizing the Browns' pennant chances and Sisler's 39-game hitting streak. Ironically, the injury occurred when Sisler tried to catch a throw on a hit by Ty Cobb, whose streak he is trying to break. Without Sisler, the Browns rally to beat the Tigers, 8–6. Jacobson, playing 1B, makes two errors. » September 17, 1922: Browns southpaw Hub Pruett, who has fanned Ruth nine of 10 times over the season, is reached for a home run by the Bambino, but he still beats the Yankees, 5–1. Whitey Witt receives an ovation but the partisan crowd is CF is quick to wave white hankies in the 8th inning for Yanks pinch-hitter McMillan. Police make them stop. George Sisler has a single to extend his streak to 41 games. » September 21, 1922: The American League reinstates the MVP award, last given in 1914, appointing a committee of one writer from each city, headed by I.E. Sanborn of the Chicago Tribune. As a player-manager, Ty Cobb is not eligible, and the trophy goes to George Sisler. The National League will pick up the idea two years later. » April 15, 1924: George Sisler returns after missing a full year due to impaired vision caused by severe sinusitis. He is 2-for-4 in the Browns' 7-3 win over the White Sox. » April 14, 1925: Cleveland defeats St. Louis 21-14, with the Indians winning it with 12 in the 8th. Browns manager George Sisler makes 4 errors at 1B. » May 20, 1925: George Sisler's 34-game hitting streak, stretching back to Opening Day, is stopped by the A's Lefty Grove and Slim Harriss. Browns teammate Ken Williams bangs a grand slam, but the A's win, 8–6. » July 11, 1925: George Sisler drives in seven runs in two innings, tripling with the bases full in the third and hitting a grand slam in the fourth, in a Browns 10-5 win over Washington. » October 4, 1925: Harry Heilmann gets six hits in Detroit's doubleheader sweep over the Browns, 10–4 and 11–6, to edge out teammate Ty Cobb for the batting crown, .393 to .389. Cobb bats over .300 for the 20th time. In the 2nd game, the final game of the season, managers George Sisler of the Browns and Ty Cobb of the Tigers both pitch in relief in for the two clubs, won by Detroit 11–6. Cobb is perfect in his one inning, while Sisler holds the Tigers scoreless in two. » September 26, 1926: The Browns beat the Yankees twice, 6–1 and 6–2, in a total time of two hours, seven minutes, a major-league record for a twinbill. The 2nd game is the fastest in American League history: 55 minutes. The Yanks total 19 hits, while the Browns collect 26 in the two games. Ruth has one at bat, then sits, and misses reliever George Sisler, who tosses two scoreless innings to finish for the Browns in game two and, when the Browns score four in the 8th, picks up the victory. Ruth has 47 homers—twice the runnerup, and also leads the AL with 139 runs, 155 RBI, and 144 bases on balls. Ruth is batting .372, 2nd to Detroit's Heinie Manush, who will go 6-for-9 on the last day to end at .378. Browns coach Jimmie Austin, 46 years old, participates in the nitecap and contributes to the win by knocking in a run with a double and then stealing home. He is not the oldest to steal a base (Arlie Latham, 50, in 1909), but he is the oldest to steal home. The Yankees use Fred Merkle in his final game. Merkle replaces Lou Gehrig at 1B in the 6th. » October 11, 1926: The Browns announce that George Sisler will be back as a player but not as manager. » November 3, 1926: Dan Howley is named St. Louis Browns manager replacing George Sisler. » June 7, 1927: At Philadelphia, the Browns outhit the A's 18–14, but lose 11–9. Both starters Rube Walberg and Milt Gaston are knocked out in the 3rd, but when Gaston is lifted he bypasses to dugout and leaps into the stands to punch a spectator who has been riding him. The police escort him from the field. Ty Cobb has three runs and a stolen base for the A's, while George Sisler has three steals and is 4-for-4 for the Browns. » December 11, 1927: The Browns sell George Sisler to Washington for $25,000. » May 27, 1928: Aging star George Sisler clears American League waivers and joins another former St. Louis hero Rogers Hornsby on the Braves. Sisler will hit .340 for the remainder of the season. » May 31, 1928: At Philadelphia, the Braves beat the Phils 9–4 behind Bob Smith. Boston is led by Hornsby's three hits and George Sisler's three, including his first National League homer. » August 31, 1930: With a chance to pick up a game and a half on the leading Cubs, the Giants edge the Braves 4–3 in the opener a doubleheader before 40,000 fans at the Polo Grounds. In the 2nd game, Mel Ott hits a double and three consecutive home runs to drive in six runs, but the Braves counter with a homer by George Sisler and two by slugging rookie Wally Berger among their 18 hits. Ott is the 4th major leaguer to hit three straight homers, joining Goose Goslin (August 19, 1930) Carl Reynolds (July 2, 1930), George Kelly (September 17, 1923), and Cap Anson (August 6, 1884). The final score is Boston 14, New York, 10. » December 13, 1930: The 15-year career of George Sisler ends as the Boston Braves release him. A lifetime .340 hitter who twice led the American League with averages above .400, Sisler would be among the first to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, enshrined in 1939. » August 25, 1938: St. Louis Browns' George McQuinn's 34-game hitting string is stopped seven short of George Sisler's AL record. » January 24, 1939: George Sisler, Eddie Collins, and Willie Keeler are elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the BBWAA. » June 12, 1939: The greatest gathering of members and future inductees of the Baseball Hall of Fame assembles in Cooperstown, NY, for the dedication of the museum. A six-inning game at Doubleday Field presents lineups studded with players who will be elected in the future, as Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Walter Johnson, Grover Alexander, Nap Lajoie, George Sisler, Eddie Collins, Tris Speaker, Cy Young, and Connie Mack accept their plaques. » June 29, 1941: Joe DiMaggio singles against Washington knuckleballer Dutch Leonard in the sixth inning in the first game of a doubleheader to tie George Sisler's AL consecutive-game hit record of 41. In game two he collects a seventh-inning single off of Walt Masterson to set the record at 42 games. » August 18, 1965: In a 3–2 Orioles' win over the Red Sox, Brooks Robinson hits into his 3rd triple play, tying the record of George Sisler, who banged into triple plays in 1921, 1922, and 1926.