Mordecai Brown
Inducted:
1949
Player Details
Stats
5-10, 175lb (178cm, 79kg)
Born:
October 19, 1876
Nyesville, Indiana, U.S.
Died:
February 14, 1948
Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S.
Position:
Pitcher
College:
NA
Mordecai Peter “Three‑Finger” Brown (October 19, 1876 – February 14, 1948) earned his legendary status as one of baseball’s greatest pitchers despite a severely injured right hand, which granted him a devastating drop‑curve. Debuting in 1903 with the St. Louis Cardinals, he found his stride after joining the Chicago Cubs in 1904.
Brown won 20+ games six straight seasons (1906–1911), led the NL in ERA (1.04) in 1906, and helped Chicago to World Series titles in 1907 and 1908. Over a 14‑year career, he recorded a 239–130 record with a stunning 2.06 ERA—the lowest in MLB history among pitchers with 200+ wins—and 1,375 strikeouts. Known for reliability, Brown also led the National League in saves four times (1908–1911). After brief stints with Cincinnati and in the Federal League, he returned to pitch one final season for the Cubs in 1916.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1949, Brown remains revered for transforming a handicap into a pitching advantage and dominating his era with craft and tenacity.
Brown's Awards and Records
- 2× World Series champion (1907, 1908)
- NL wins leader (1909)
- MLB ERA leader (1906)
- Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame
MLB Records
- Two-time World Series champion (1907, 1908)
- Six straight 20-win seasons (1906–1911)
- Four consecutive seasons leading the NL in saves (1908–1911)
- Career ERA of 2.06 – third-lowest in MLB history
MLB Teams
As player
St. Louis Cardinals (1903)
Chicago Cubs (1904–1912)
Cincinnati Reds (1913)
St. Louis Terriers (1914)
Brooklyn Tip-Tops (1914)
Chicago Whales (1915)
Chicago Cubs (1916)
As manager
St. Louis Terriers (1914)
MLB Stats
Complete Games
271
Win–Loss
239–130
Win %
.648
ERA
2.06
Strikeouts
1,375
WHIP
1.07
Innings Pitched
3,172.1
Shutouts
55
Saves
49 (led NL 4×)