Eugene Field House cuts ribbon on “Rounding the Bases: The History of the St. Louis Browns” exhibit

Great news for St. Louis Browns fans: from March 31 to Oct. 22, 2023, the Eugene Field House is hosting the “Rounding the Bases: The History of the St. Louis Browns” Exhibit.  The ribbon-cutting for the exhibit was Saturday.

From 1902 to 1953, the St. Louis Cardinals and the St. Louis Browns split the city’s loyalties–and, eventually, their stadium.Many people still alive today remember going to Browns games and in fact they have their own historic society and website: https://www.thestlbrowns.com/

The St. Louis Browns Historical Society was founded in 1984 and boasts a national membership while hosting a Reunion Luncheon and other activities yearly. Two films produced by the Historical Society in conjunction with Nine PBS have been shown on the PBS network and received regional EMMY Award nominations and a win. The society is dedicated to preserving every stat and story of the St. Louis Browns, so the legend of baseball’s most colorful underdogs can endure forever.

It looks to be a top-knotch exhibit that anyone who experienced the Browns will want to see and also for the younger set who did not live during the time of the St. Louis Browns, this exhibit will serve as a window into the past and a true piece of history.

Dr. Ed Wheatley is a leader of the St. Louis Browns Historical Society, he works to preserve the history and legacy of this transplanted American League team.

Wheatley is also the author of several books including these baseball books: “St. Louis Browns: The Story of a Beloved Team”  (which he co-wrote with with Bill Borst and Bill Rogers,); St. Louis Sports Memories: Forgotten Teams and Moments from America’s Best Sports Town,” and “Baseball in St. Louis, from Little Leagues to Major Leagues”published by Reedy Press –and   he worked on the aforementioned St. Louis Browns documentary that aired on PBS.

The connection between Eugene Field and baseball is that the writer was a big baseball fan and often wrote about it in a column he did called “Sharps and Flats.”

While the Browns didn’t bring home many victories, the team  had more than its fair share of legendary players, colorful owners, and rowdy stories. the Field House encourages visitors to “come with us on this journey to rediscover the team in a city that was ‘First in shoes, first in booze, and last in the American League’” in Rounding the Bases!”

“The old St. Louis Brown are now the Baltimore Orioles, and the Orioles don’t acknowledge their existence,” said sportscaster Todd Blackstock who went to see the exhibit with author and Browns historian, Ed Wheatley. “This despite the greatest Brown of all– George Sisler– who still holds the All Time A.L. Batting record of .420.

“I’m glad to see they now have a home for the summer across from Busch Stadium stadium at The Eugene Field House. Thank you, Dr. Ed Wheatley”

Wheatley is shown, left with Blackstock and Stephanie Bliss, Director of The Field House Museum at the  ribbon-cutting for the recently introduced  Browns exhibit. They chose Fridayday as their ribbon-cutting as it was an off-day during the first homestand of the 2023 Cardinals season and they wanted to showcase that the museum is in walking-distance to Busch Stadium.

Those planning to make the trip to St. Lous for a game might want to build in time to check out the exhibit.  Eugene Field House is located at  634 S Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63102.

The Eugene Field House has a historical significance in St. Louis as it was the childhood home of writer Eugene Field and also the home of his father, Roswell Field, an attorney for Dred Scott in the landmark Dred Scott v. Sandford court case.

Both of the Fields became very prominent in their own right and the house is worth the tour for the local and national history it holds. It was built in 1845, and they often host exhibits, so this baseball exhibit is nothing new. It is very professionally done with exhibits like the one shown, right.

Ed Wheatley is an award-winning author, film producer, and sports historian. His writings have been recognized by Sports Collectors Digest as the best book published on baseball.

His films have received Emmy nominations and a win and were also selected for the prestigious Annual Film Festivals at the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Visitor Information for the Eugene Field House

Admission: Adults: $10.00, children 7-16: $5.00, members and children 6 & under: free

Museum Hours: Wednesday – Saturday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Sunday Noon to 4:00 pm

For general information, call 314.421.4689, email: info@fieldhousemuseum.org or visit their website at fieldhousemuseum.org.