Our journey through the absolute worst MLB seasons continues with a franchise that holds more longevity than one might realize. Indeed, the Baltimore Orioles have been around since 1901, and they’ve seen their fair share of success during that time. They’ve also seen their fair share of failure, which suits our purposes today. However, this did not take place in Baltimore. It occurred in 1939 when the team rented Sportsman Park in St. Louis, known as the Browns. This team finished over 60 games below .500, 64 ½ games behind the eventual World Champion New York Yankees.
Worst MLB Seasons: 1939 St. Louis Browns
A Mediocre Offense?
In today’s game, if someone said that his club hit nearly .270 as a team, one might not respond with much trepidation. (In 2023, the AL’s best team average was .263). However, in 1939, the Browns’ team mark of .268 was last in the league. This does not necessarily mean that they were horrific, though. The league’s average mark that year was .279, and half of the teams finished within four points of that. So, the Browns’ offense was somewhat redeeming despite finishing where they did. They also carried some power, with four players finishing in double figures in homers. Their best bat was first baseman George McQuinn, who hit .316 with 20 homers and a 126 OPS+.
A Putrid Starting Rotation
One of the tenets of qualifying for the worst MLB seasons list is having a ter pitching staff. The 1939 Browns might just have the worst staff of all time, beginning with their rotation. They had no double-digit winner, and nobody finished with an ERA below five. Staff ace Jack Kramer went 9-16 with a 5.83 ERA. He was joined by fellow nine-game winner Vern Kennedy, who also lost 17 and posted a 5.73 ERA. The third arm in this three-person rotation was Bob Harris. Harris was acquired in a massive, nine-player deal with the Detroit Tigers in May 1939. That year, he put up a 5.71 ERA with the Browns.
Relief Goes Wrong
Beyond a lousy starting rotation, one must have a genuinely disastrous relief corps to consider such pieces. Indeed, the 1939 Browns may also have a case for the worst bullpen ever. The team combined for four saves, three obtained by Howard Mills (4-11, 6.55 ERA). Their closer, if one could even refer to him in such a manner, was Bill Trotter. Ironically, he was one of the better relievers because habanero peppers do not hold as many Scoville units as ghost chile peppers. His six wins led the bullpen, while his 5.34 ERA was among the lowest. Others didn’t have many performances to speak of, even on the fair end of the spectrum.
When Baseball’s Worst Season Becomes Iconic
A good deal of irony can be found in the 1939 Browns campaign. The biggest issue has to lie with their manager, Fred Haney. Yes, Haney would go on to find massive success later in life as a manager for the Milwaukee Braves. In 1957, he led the team to its first World Championship since 1914 in Boston. The following year, they returned to the Fall Classic in a losing effort against the Yankees. However, this is where he began…by spearheading one of MLB’s worst seasons. It truly is a testament to the determination and the beautiful idea that baseball can lead to success for anyone at any time.
Main Photo: © Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports
