Mordecai Brown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mordecai Brown |
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Brown in 1904
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| Pitcher / Manager | |||
| Born: October 19, 1876 Nyesville, Indiana, U.S. |
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| Died: February 14, 1948 (aged 71) Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 19, 1903, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 4, 1916, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 239–130 | ||
| Earned run average | 2.06 | ||
| Strikeouts | 1,375 | ||
| Teams | |||
As player
As manager
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 1949 | ||
| Election Method | Old-Timers Committee | ||
Mordecai Peter Centennial Brown (born October 19, 1876 – died February 14, 1948) was a famous American Major League Baseball pitcher. He was known by nicknames like "Three Finger Brown" or "Miner". He played during the early 1900s, a time called the "dead-ball era" in baseball.
When he was young, Mordecai had an accident with farm machinery. He lost parts of two fingers on his right hand. This injury actually helped him become a unique pitcher! He learned to grip the baseball in a special way. This made his curveball (or knuckle curve) move in a very unusual and tricky way. Because of this, he became one of the best pitchers of his time. He was later elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1949.
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Early Life and His Special Hand
Mordecai Brown was born in Nyesville, Indiana. Before playing baseball, he worked in coal mines, which is how he got the nickname "Miner." Fans and friends often called him "Brownie." His full name, Mordecai Peter Centennial, came from his uncle, his father, and the year he was born, 1876, which was America's 100th birthday (Centennial).
Mordecai had two injuries to his right hand. The first happened when he was feeding a machine on the farm. His hand slipped, and the machine hurt his index finger and other fingers. A doctor tried to fix his hand. While it was still healing, he fell and broke more bones in his fingers. They didn't heal perfectly, especially his middle finger.
Even with his injured hand, Mordecai loved to play baseball. He practiced pitching by throwing rocks at targets on a barn wall. Over time, he gained amazing control. His unique grip on the ball made it spin in a special way. This allowed him to throw a very effective curve ball and a tricky change-up. The way his pitches moved made it very hard for batters to hit the ball well. He was known for making batters hit ground balls, which were easy for his team to catch.
A Star on the Mound
Mordecai Brown started playing professional baseball a bit later than most, at age 26, in 1903. He had been a third baseman in a semi-pro league. But one day, his team's pitcher didn't show up, and Mordecai stepped in. People quickly noticed how his unusual grip made the ball move. His great-nephew said the ball "didn't only curve, it curved and dropped at the same time." This made it super hard for batters to hit it cleanly.
His best years were with the Chicago Cubs from 1904 to 1912. During this time, he won 20 or more games in six different seasons! He also helped the Cubs win two World Series championships. Many people, including New York Giants manager John McGraw, thought Mordecai Brown and Christy Mathewson were the two best pitchers in the National League. Brown often beat Mathewson when they pitched against each other. In their 25 matchups, Brown won 13 games to Mathewson's 11.
The Big Game of 1908
One of Mordecai's most important games was on October 8, 1908. It was a game against the New York Giants that would decide which team won the pennant (the league championship). The Cubs' starting pitcher didn't do well, so Brown came in to pitch. He kept the Giants from scoring much, and the Cubs won 4-2. This victory helped the Cubs win their second straight World Series. It was their last World Series win until 2016, which was 108 years later!
Later Career and Final Matchup
After 1909, Brown had some health issues. He left the Cubs in 1912 and played for other teams like the Cincinnati Reds and teams in the Federal League. He even managed the St. Louis Terriers for a while in 1914.
Mordecai Brown returned to the Cubs for his final season in 1916. His very last game was special. On September 4, 1916, he pitched against his old rival, Christy Mathewson. It was a high-scoring game, with both teams getting many hits. Both pitchers stayed in for the whole game. Mathewson's Reds won 10-8 against Brown's Cubs. This game was the final one for both legendary pitchers.
Mordecai Brown ended his Major League career with an amazing record of 239 wins and 130 losses. He had 1,375 strikeouts and a very low ERA of 2.06. This ERA is one of the best in baseball history for pitchers in the Hall of Fame. He was also a switch-hitter, meaning he could bat with both his left and right hands, which is rare for a pitcher. He was proud of his hitting and had a decent batting average of .206.
Life After Baseball
After retiring from the big leagues, Mordecai went back home to Terre Haute, Indiana. He kept pitching in minor leagues and exhibition games for over ten years. He also coached and managed teams. In 1928, when he was 51 years old, he pitched three innings in an exhibition game and struck out all nine batters he faced!
From 1920 to 1945, Brown ran a gas station in Terre Haute. It became a popular spot where people would gather and share stories. He also often attended "Old-Timers' games" in Chicago. In his later years, he had health problems like diabetes and a stroke. He passed away in 1948. The next year, he was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown is still remembered today. He's been mentioned in books and even on the TV show The Simpsons. In 1999, he was considered for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team, which honors the best players of the 20th century.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual saves leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders
- List of Major League Baseball player-managers
- Major League Baseball titles leaders
