Bill_McCurdy
09-09-2006, 05:29 AM
September 9, 2006. Former right handed hitting and throwing Browns 1st baseman Ed Mickelson is celebrating birthday # 80 this morning. Ed is the 47th oldest of 63 living former Browns, and one day younger than pitcher Lou Sleater.
Happy Birthday, Ed Mickelson! :clapping
Ed Mickelson had only a brief and broken season connected career in the big leagues by playing 5 games with the Cardinals in 1950, 7 games with the Browns in 1953, and 6 final games with the Cubs in 1957. Ed's career MLB record was nothing to write home about. In total, Mickelson went 3 for 37 (.081) with a double as a Brown standing as his only extra base hit. He also scored 2 runs and knocked in 3. Mickelson walked 4 times and struck out 13.
One of those Mickeslon RBI placed ihim n exclusive company. You see, Ed played in the last game of Browns history. Here's a modest "Casey At The Bat" parody that I wrote about the Browns' last game several years ago. In the end, it was the non-hitting Ed Mickelson who produced the last RBI in the history of the St. Louis Browns. In the absence of an existing MLB baseball card, I offer this parody as a picture of how Ed Mickelson's name will stand tall forever in the history of the St. Louis Browns. - Ed also has recently published his baseball memoirs through McFarland & Company. I don't have any further information about the book, but I will try to get it for us. If you have it, please post ordering information on this birthday thread. Thanks.
Here's the parody on the Browns' last game, which, of course, our guys lost. In this version, I have bold-typed Mickelson in the bodyy of this piece:
The Lost Hurrah: September 27, 1953
Chicago White Sox 2 - St. Louis Browns 1.
(A respectful parody of "Casey At The Bat" by Ernest L. Thayer in application to the last game ever played by our beloved Browns.)
by Bill McCurdy (1997)
The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Brownie nine that day;
They were moving from St. Louis - to a place quite far away,
And all because Bill Veeck had said, "I can't afford to stay,"
The team was playing their last game - in that fabled Brownie way.
With hopes of winning buried deep - beneath all known dismay,
The Brownies ate their cellar fate, but still charged out to play.
In aim to halt a last hard loss - in a season dead since May,
They sent Pillette out to the mound - to speak their final say.
The White Sox were that last dance foe - at the former Sportsman's Park,
And our pitcher pulsed the pallor of those few fans in the dark.
To the dank and empty stands they came, - one final, futile time,
To witness their dear Brownies reach - ignominy sublime.
When Mickelson then knocked in Groth - for the first run of the game,
It was to be the last Browns score, - from here to kingdom came.
And all the hopes that fanned once more, - in that third inning spree,
Were briefly blowing in the wind, - but lost eternally.
For over seven innings then, - Dee bleached the White Sox out,
And the Browns were up by one to oh, - when Rivera launched his clout.
That homer tied the score at one, - and then the game ran on.
Until eleven innings played, - the franchise was not gone.
But Minnie's double won the game - for the lefty, Billy Pierce,
And Dee picked up the last Browns loss; - one hundred times is fierce!
And when Jim Dyck flew out to end - the Browns' last time at bat,
The SL Browns were here no more, and that was that, - was that!
Oh, somewhere in this favored land, the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light;
And somewhere men are laughing, - and little children shout,
But there's no joy in Sislerville, - the Brownies have pulled out.
Happy Birthday, Ed Mickelson! :clapping
Ed Mickelson had only a brief and broken season connected career in the big leagues by playing 5 games with the Cardinals in 1950, 7 games with the Browns in 1953, and 6 final games with the Cubs in 1957. Ed's career MLB record was nothing to write home about. In total, Mickelson went 3 for 37 (.081) with a double as a Brown standing as his only extra base hit. He also scored 2 runs and knocked in 3. Mickelson walked 4 times and struck out 13.
One of those Mickeslon RBI placed ihim n exclusive company. You see, Ed played in the last game of Browns history. Here's a modest "Casey At The Bat" parody that I wrote about the Browns' last game several years ago. In the end, it was the non-hitting Ed Mickelson who produced the last RBI in the history of the St. Louis Browns. In the absence of an existing MLB baseball card, I offer this parody as a picture of how Ed Mickelson's name will stand tall forever in the history of the St. Louis Browns. - Ed also has recently published his baseball memoirs through McFarland & Company. I don't have any further information about the book, but I will try to get it for us. If you have it, please post ordering information on this birthday thread. Thanks.
Here's the parody on the Browns' last game, which, of course, our guys lost. In this version, I have bold-typed Mickelson in the bodyy of this piece:
The Lost Hurrah: September 27, 1953
Chicago White Sox 2 - St. Louis Browns 1.
(A respectful parody of "Casey At The Bat" by Ernest L. Thayer in application to the last game ever played by our beloved Browns.)
by Bill McCurdy (1997)
The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Brownie nine that day;
They were moving from St. Louis - to a place quite far away,
And all because Bill Veeck had said, "I can't afford to stay,"
The team was playing their last game - in that fabled Brownie way.
With hopes of winning buried deep - beneath all known dismay,
The Brownies ate their cellar fate, but still charged out to play.
In aim to halt a last hard loss - in a season dead since May,
They sent Pillette out to the mound - to speak their final say.
The White Sox were that last dance foe - at the former Sportsman's Park,
And our pitcher pulsed the pallor of those few fans in the dark.
To the dank and empty stands they came, - one final, futile time,
To witness their dear Brownies reach - ignominy sublime.
When Mickelson then knocked in Groth - for the first run of the game,
It was to be the last Browns score, - from here to kingdom came.
And all the hopes that fanned once more, - in that third inning spree,
Were briefly blowing in the wind, - but lost eternally.
For over seven innings then, - Dee bleached the White Sox out,
And the Browns were up by one to oh, - when Rivera launched his clout.
That homer tied the score at one, - and then the game ran on.
Until eleven innings played, - the franchise was not gone.
But Minnie's double won the game - for the lefty, Billy Pierce,
And Dee picked up the last Browns loss; - one hundred times is fierce!
And when Jim Dyck flew out to end - the Browns' last time at bat,
The SL Browns were here no more, and that was that, - was that!
Oh, somewhere in this favored land, the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light;
And somewhere men are laughing, - and little children shout,
But there's no joy in Sislerville, - the Brownies have pulled out.