Browns pitcher John M. Stivers

[fitz]

I am looking for information on Browns pitcher John (Jack) Stivers. He is not in the Baseball Encyclopedia because he never appeared in a game. I know the following: A copy of his contract card from the Baseball Hall of Fame indicates he signed with the Browns in July, 1947, and was optioned to Elmira in April, 1948. He was one of two 18 year old pitchers the Browns signed during the summer of '47, the other, Sherman Swartz, did get into a few games. A September 7, 1947 scorecard lists Stivers as a pitcher, wearing number 22. He appears in the team photo in the 1947 Baseball Register, and George Brace even took a individual photo. The 1948 Browns Roster/Schedule also lists him as a pitcher on the spring traing roster, but again he did not appear in a regular season game.

I think that this must have been one of the most frustrating experiences a ballplayer could have. He went directly to the majors at 18 and then never got into a game, and he was sent to the minors the following season and never made it back. If anyone knows the story behind this situation, I would like to hear it.

[Bill_McCurdy]

Fitz -

Jack Stivers was on the 1949 rosters of both Pine Bluff of the Class C Cotton States League and Olean of the Class D PONY League. Stivers apparently did sign with the Browns because both of the afforementioned teams were part of the 1949 Browns' farm system. According to the Professional Baseball Players Database disk, Jack either rarely pitched or was extremely good for a short span in each city. From the meager stats that PBPD shows, and the fact that this was it for Jack Stivers as a pro, I'm betting on the former. His record is shown at 0-0 with an ERA of 0.00 in each place.

That's all I can tell you.

- Bill McCurdy

[disgrig]

Here is a quote from the The Elmira Advertiser, July 22, 1947:

"Jack Stivers, the Corning youngster recently signed by the Browns, held the Pioneers scoreless in the fifth and sixth but the home forces averted a shutout by punching a couple of runs across against Bud Swartz, the young Californian who is ticketed for a berth with one of the minor league farm clubs."

The Browns were in Elmira, NY (7-21-1947) for an exhibition game against their farm team while en route to face the Yankees in New York. The Browns won it 4 to 2.

[disgrig]

Does anyone know if Jack Stivers is still alive?

[cappagh]

Jack Stivers died 30 Sep 1986, East Rochester, Monroe County, New York. He fathered five daughters.

[metrotheme]

I met a man earlier this year by the name of Bill Hockenbury who was in a similar situation. He was called up by the Philadelphia A's and sat on the bench the entire time he was called up, never to play in a game. One time the manager called for him to pinch-run and as he got up, the manager realized he called the wrong guy and sent him back to the bench ending his chance to get in a major league game.

The 1948 Browns Roster/Schedule also lists him as a pitcher on the spring traing roster, but again he did not appear in a regular season game.

I think that this must have been one of the most frustrating experiences a ballplayer could have. He went directly to the majors at 18 and then never got into a game, and he was sent to the minors the following season and never made it back. If anyone knows the story behind this situation, I would like to hear it.

[Brownieand45sfan]

Wow. That was a near miss. As many of us have literal dreams of being sent in to a pro game (for me, the manager is always Whitey Herzog) ... to be on the bench and never get in ... is a nightmare.

I feel sorry for Stivers too. You might check to see if "superscout" Jim Russo's name is on the contract at the HofF. That would be one "claim to fame."

I met a man earlier this year by the name of Bill Hockenbury who was in a similar situation. He was called up by the Philadelphia A's and sat on the bench the entire time he was called up, never to play in a game. One time the manager called for him to pinch-run and as he got up, the manager realized he called the wrong guy and sent him back to the bench ending his chance to get in a major league game.