Johnnie Chambers

Johnnie Monroe Chambers (September 10, 1911 – May 11, 1977) was an American professional baseball pitcher who appeared in two games with the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball in 1937. He also played in the minor leagues from 1931 to 1945.

Johnnie Chambers
Pitcher
Born: (1911-09-10)September 10, 1911
Copperhill, Tennessee
Died: May 11, 1977(1977-05-11) (aged 65)
Palatka, Florida
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 4, 1937, for the St. Louis Cardinals
Last MLB appearance
May 14, 1937, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
Win–loss record0–0
Earned run average18.00
Strikeouts1
Teams

Early life and career

Chambers was born on September 10, 1911, in Copperhill, Tennessee.[1] Chambers attended and played baseball at Technological High School in Atlanta.[2][3]

A right-handed pitcher, he began his professional baseball career in 1931 playing in spring training with the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern Association.[4] and was scheduled that season to try out for the Blue Ridge League, but the league disbanded.[4] Chambers had brief stints with the Huntington Boosters of the Middle Atlantic League and the Southern League's Atlanta Crackers and Knoxville Smokies before being signed by the St. Louis Cardinals and reporting to their Piedmont League affiliate, the Greensboro Patriots, in 1933.[4] He finished the season with a 23-8 win-loss record in 38 games for Greensboro.[5] He was purchased by the Houston Buffaloes in April 1934, but returned to Greensboro in May after going winless in six games.[6][7][5] During a game against the Richmond Colts, he struck out 22 batters in 13 innings.[8] Chambers joined the Columbus Red Birds in 1934, winning five games in 45 games pitched.[9][10][5] The Cardinals transferred Chambers to the Sacramento Solons in the Pacific Coast League for 1936.[11][12]

Major leagues

After going 17-19 for Sacramento in 1936, the Cardinals purchased his contract on January 7, 1937.[13][14]

Chambers made his major league debut on May 4, entering a game against the Boston Braves in the eighth inning and allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one of the five batters he faced.[15][16] His second and final game came on May 14 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he once again entered in the eighth inning and allowed four hits and earned runs while facing eight hitters as the Pirates beat St. Louis 14–4.[15][17]

He was optioned to back to Columbus on May 21 and would remain with the club for the remainder of 1937, ending the year with a 12–7 record and 3.78 ERA. [18][5]

After the season ended, Cardinals general manager Branch Rickey told Sid Keener of the St. Louis Star-Times that he believed Chambers had the best chance of the club's pitching prospects to make the team in 1938.[19]

Return to minor leagues

Chambers battled for a roster spot with the Cardinals in spring training 1938 before he was sent down to Columbus on April 4.[20][21] On July 19, he was obtained on waivers by the Brooklyn Dodgers for $6,000.[22][23] The Dodgers optioned Chambers to the Minneapolis Millers on August 12 after the club acquired Lee Rogers from the Boston Red Sox.[24] Chambers dealt with a sore arm for much of the 1938 season.[23][25] After the minor league season ended, he was among eight players recalled to the Dodgers on September 4.[26] He did not appear in a game before the season ended on October 2.[27]

On January 4, 1939, he returned to the Chattanooga Lookouts as the player to be named later in an August 23 trade that sent Fred Sington from the Lookouts to the Dodgers.[1][28][29] Named the opening day starter for Chattanooga, Chambers battled more arm trouble in 1939 and was ultimately placed on the injured list before returning on May 9.[30][31] He was sold to the Selma Cloverleafs of the Southeastern League on July 24.[32] Chambers remained with Selma for the remainder of 1939 and all of 1940, ending the 1940 season with a 9–14 record and 3.70 ERA.[33][5] After beginning the 1941 season with Selma, Chambers was acquired by the Richmond Colts in the Piedmont League On May 6.[34] However, he failed to report to Richmond and instead joined the Charleston Rebels of the South Atlantic League.[35] He then was signed by the Southern Association's Memphis Chickasaws on August 31.[36]

He did not play organized baseball from 1942 to 1944 due to arm issues, but returned in May 1945 when he signed with the Minneapolis Millers.[37] Chambers split the season with the Millers and the Little Rock Travelers before ending his professional career.[5]

Post-playing career and death

Following his playing career, Chambers worked as a college and professional umpire for 18 years.[38] He worked in the Southern League, American Association and Southeastern Conference and served as president of the Atlanta Baseball Umpires Association.[39][40][41][42]

He retired from umpiring in 1971 to work as a fishing guide in Florida.[43] While working as a boat guide for an elderly woman, Chambers drowned on May 11, 1977, in Lake George after his fishing boat was tipped by waves and he fell overboard. His body was recovered two days later.[38][44]

References
  1. "Johnnie Chambers statistics at Baseball-Reference". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  2. "Chambers Off To Join Engels". The Atlanta Constitution. March 4, 1931. p. 21. Retrieved July 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Cardinals Get John Chambers". The Atlanta Constitution. January 8, 1937. p. 11. Retrieved July 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. Menzing, Leroy (August 30, 1933). "This Morning's Fare for Fans". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 10. Retrieved July 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Johnnie Chambers statistics at Baseball-Reference (Minors)". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  6. United Press International (April 5, 1934). "Houston Team Rebuilt for Speed, Fight". Big Spring Herald. p. 1. Retrieved July 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Buffs Seek Rookie". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. May 16, 1934. p. 14. Retrieved July 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Struck Out 22 to Set a Season Mark". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. September 23, 1934. p. 47. Retrieved July 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Chambers in Form". Sandusky Register. March 22, 1935. p. 12. Retrieved July 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "A.A. Champs Need Help to Stay in Race". The Minneapolis Journal. April 6, 1935. p. 8. Retrieved July 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Atlanta Athletes Play Basketball To Keep in Shape for the Summer Baseball Grind". The Atlanta Constitution. January 19, 1936. p. 16. Retrieved July 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Leaves for Sacramento". The Atlanta Constitution. February 28, 1936. p. 20. Retrieved July 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. United Press International (January 7, 1937). "Johnny Chambers Bought". Santa Rosa Republican. p. 4. Retrieved July 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "Cardinals Buy Pitcher from Coast League". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. January 7, 1937. p. 17. Retrieved July 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "Johnnie Chambers 1937 Pitching Game Log at Baseball-Reference". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  16. "Boston Bees Trim Cards 8-1 Landing in First Division". The Burlington Free Press. May 5, 1937. p. 13. Retrieved July 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. "Pirates Slash Cardinals, 14-4". Miami Tribune. May 15, 1937. p. 31. Retrieved July 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. Stockton, J. Roy (May 22, 1937). "Release of Bill McGee Perplexes Cardinal Fans". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 10. Retrieved July 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. Keener, Sid (September 15, 1937). "Sid Keener's Column". St. Louis Star-Times. p. 23. Retrieved July 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. Keener, Sid (March 30, 1938). "Cards Preparing to Reduce Squad From 35 to 23". St. Louis Star-Times. p. 24. Retrieved July 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. "29 Hits as Cards Defeat Senators". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. April 5, 1938. p. 12. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  22. The Associated Press (July 20, 1938). "John Chambers Goes To Brooklyn Dodgers". Marshfield News-Herald. p. 10. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  23. The Associated Press (July 21, 1938). "Atlantan Sold to Dodgers". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 11. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  24. The Associated Press (August 13, 1938). "Brooklyn Purchases Rodgers from Red Sox". The Lewiston Daily Sun. p. 9. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  25. Troy, Jack (September 19, 1938). "All in the Game". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 12. Retrieved July 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. "Dodgers Buy Two New Players, Recall Eight from the Minors". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. September 4, 1938. p. 27. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  27. "1938 Brooklyn Dodgers Statistics at Baseball-Reference". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  28. The Associated Press (January 5, 1939). "Chambers to Lookouts". The Commercial Appeal. p. 10. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  29. Sharp, Al (February 12, 1939). "Sharp Shooting". Chattanooga Daily Times. p. 9. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  30. Sharp, Al (April 6, 1939). "Chambers Hurls Today as Lookouts Open Home Exhibitions With St. Paul". Chattanooga Daily Times. p. 8. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  31. The Associated Press (May 10, 1938). "Eddie Rose Released". The Commercial Appeal. p. 20. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  32. "Charley Gets Major Chance". Chattanooga Daily Times. July 25, 1939. p. 8. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  33. "Upward Surge of Leafs Gets Another Push". Selma Times-Journal. June 27, 1940. p. 6. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  34. "Colts Sign Two New Players; Leave on Six-Day Road Trip". Richmond Times-Dispatch. May 7, 1941. p. 12. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  35. "Prospective Players Fail To Join Colts". The Birmingham News. May 12, 1941. p. 14. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  36. "Chambers Signed". The Commercial Appeal. July 1, 1941. p. 16. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  37. "Millers Sign New Right-Hand Hurler". Star Tribune. May 8, 1945. p. 13. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  38. "'Old Guard' Is Thinned by Passing of Johnny Chambers". The Atlanta Constitution. May 20, 1977. p. 77. Retrieved July 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. Bisher, Furman (December 6, 1950). "When Dixie Moves Up, Wyatt Will Move In". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 20. Retrieved July 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. "Atlanta Umps Go All Out in Arbiters' Charm School". The Atlanta Constitution. March 17, 1956. p. 7. Retrieved July 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. "A Hearn To Match New York's: It's Billy". The Atlanta Constitution. April 14, 1956. p. 6. Retrieved July 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. "Gordon Heads Umpire Here". The Atlanta Constitution. October 19, 1966. p. 40. Retrieved July 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. "Chambers Cited by Umpires". The Atlanta Constitution. March 10, 1971. p. 45. Retrieved July 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. "Body of drowned fishing guide recovered from Lake George". Orlando Sentinel. May 14, 1977. p. 26. Retrieved July 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
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