Mordecai "Three-Finger" Brown

Vital Statistics:

Born: Oct. 19, 1876 in Nyesville, Ind.

Died: Feb. 14, 1948

Teams: St. Louis Cardinals (1903), Chicago Cubs (1904-1912, 1916), Cincinnati Reds (1913), Brooklyn Tip-Tops (1914), St. Louis Terriers (1914), Chicago Whales (1915)

Inducted into Hall of Fame: 1949

Batted: Both

Threw: Right

Primary position: Pitcher

Career Highlights:

Nicknamed "three-finger" Brown because he lost part of his index finger in a farm-machinery accident at age 7. He used his malady to his advantage, as he was able to add more spin to the ball.

He worked for several years in a coal mine before beginning in baseball at age 24.
He won 20 or more games for six consecutive years, starting in 1906, and four of his five World Series wins were shutouts.
Went 239-130 in 14 seasons with a 2.06 career ERA, the third-best in major-league history.
Went 23-11 and had 13 saves in 1911 for the Cubs.

After Playing Career:

From 1920 to 1945, Brown ran a filling station in Terre Haute, Ind., that also served as a town gathering place and an unofficial museum.
At age 51, he pitched three innings as a favor to a local team, and struck out all nine batters he faced against the House of David touring team.