Today in Brewer History: Happy Birthday, Burleigh Grimes

On this day in 1893 Burleigh Arland Grimes was born in Emerald, Wisconsin, a small town between Eau Claire and the Twin Cities. By age 23 he was a major leaguer for the first time, pitching six games for the Pirates.

In early 1918 the Pirates traded Grimes to the Brooklyn Robins (later to become the Dodgers) as part of a five player deal and he had most of his best years there. Over a 19-year journeyman career Grimes led the league in wins twice, starts three times, complete games four times, innings pitched three times and hit batsmen twice.

Grimes played in the majors for nearly two full decades between his 1916 debut and final game in 1934, pitching for the Pirates, Robins, New York Giants, Pirates again, Boston Braves, Cardinals, Cubs, Cardinals again, Yankees and Pirates again. He finished his career with 270 wins, a 3.53 ERA and 4180 innings pitched, the 36th most in major league history.

Grimes also appeared in four World Series, winning as a member of the 1931 Cardinals and coming up short as a member of the 1920 Robins, 1930 Cardinals and 1932 Cubs. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Veterans' Committee in 1964.

Grimes passed away in 1985 and is buried in Clear Lake, Wisconsin, or he would have turned 119 today. With help from the B-Ref Play Index we'd also like to wish a happy birthday to:

• 2003-04 Brewer Jayson Durocher, who turns 38.
• Marinette, Wisconsin native and UW-Oshkosh alum Jim Magnuson, who would have turned 66. Magnuson pitched three major league seasons as a member of the 1970-71 White Sox and 1973 Yankees.
• Seattle Pilot and 1972 Brewer Mike Ferraro, who turns 68.
• 1972 Brewer Joe Azcue, who turns 73.
• 1970 Brewer Bob Humphreys, who turns 77.

On this day in 1997 the Brewers managed just one hit in a game against Rick Helling and the Rangers. We covered that event in this space last year.