Bobo Holloman--1953
There are not many highlights over
51 seasons to write about when
looking at the St. Louis Browns
franchise. They had a MVP (and
future Hall of Famer) in George
Sisler, who in 1922 hit .420 for a
second place Brown's club. They had
Rookie of the Year, when outfielder
Roy Sievers hit a career-best .306
with 16 long balls in 1949. The
franchise appeared in one World
Series, losing to the cross-town rival
Cardinals in 1944. They enjoyed four
no-hitters, as Bobo Holloman posted
the final no-no during the Browns last
season in St. Louis.
With just marginal stuff, Holloman
was a consistent winner in the minor
leagues, posting 13 or more wins in
six of his first seven pro campaigns.
Summoned to the big leagues in
1953, the right-hander worked four
relief outings (going 0-1, 9.00) before
being handed the ball for a start.
It was May 6, 1953 and a rainy night
in St. Louis when manager Marty
Marion gave Holloman the nod
against the Philadelphia A's.
Holloman wiggled his way out of
trouble throughout the evening, but
in the end posted a 6-0 no-hitter. It
wasn't pretty, as the Browns' hurler
struck out three and walked five.
However, in doing so, he became the
first modern day hurler to toss a
no-hitter in his first major league start.
Amazingly, Holloman would see his
major league career last just 22
outings, all in 1953, that netted a 3-7
record and a 5.23 ERA. He would
walk 50 in 65-1/3 innings, while
fanning just 25.
The unlikeliness of the event was
noted in Bill James' and Rob Neyer's
piece on Expected No-hitters:
Rob Neyer's Expected No-hitters
Piece
Holloman's no-hitter ranked second
on the list of pitchers who were least
likely to throw a no-hitter, yet did.
Of course, looking at this card, the
real question is not about Holloman,
but more of "what's up with the brown
Martian of a mascot?"
(9/9/09)
51 seasons to write about when
looking at the St. Louis Browns
franchise. They had a MVP (and
future Hall of Famer) in George
Sisler, who in 1922 hit .420 for a
second place Brown's club. They had
Rookie of the Year, when outfielder
Roy Sievers hit a career-best .306
with 16 long balls in 1949. The
franchise appeared in one World
Series, losing to the cross-town rival
Cardinals in 1944. They enjoyed four
no-hitters, as Bobo Holloman posted
the final no-no during the Browns last
season in St. Louis.
With just marginal stuff, Holloman
was a consistent winner in the minor
leagues, posting 13 or more wins in
six of his first seven pro campaigns.
Summoned to the big leagues in
1953, the right-hander worked four
relief outings (going 0-1, 9.00) before
being handed the ball for a start.
It was May 6, 1953 and a rainy night
in St. Louis when manager Marty
Marion gave Holloman the nod
against the Philadelphia A's.
Holloman wiggled his way out of
trouble throughout the evening, but
in the end posted a 6-0 no-hitter. It
wasn't pretty, as the Browns' hurler
struck out three and walked five.
However, in doing so, he became the
first modern day hurler to toss a
no-hitter in his first major league start.
Amazingly, Holloman would see his
major league career last just 22
outings, all in 1953, that netted a 3-7
record and a 5.23 ERA. He would
walk 50 in 65-1/3 innings, while
fanning just 25.
The unlikeliness of the event was
noted in Bill James' and Rob Neyer's
piece on Expected No-hitters:
Rob Neyer's Expected No-hitters
Piece
Holloman's no-hitter ranked second
on the list of pitchers who were least
likely to throw a no-hitter, yet did.
Of course, looking at this card, the
real question is not about Holloman,
but more of "what's up with the brown
Martian of a mascot?"
(9/9/09)
