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A Sad Baseball Milestone:

Last Two Surviving Members of the St. Louis Browns Pass Away

Over the years, my friend and St. Louis Browns expert, Victoria Martin, has always kept me updated with all things related to the Browns. Vicki is a devoted member of the St. Louis Browns Historical Society and ably serves as its unofficial “social secretary.” 

Vicki happens to be the niece of former major leaguer Babe Martin, and her father was a long-time baseball scout for the Dodgers and Giants, starting after WWII. Vicki describes herself as perhaps “the only ‘little Scout’s girl’ at spring training in Sanford, Florida in the 1950s.” Vicki has told me many times she has very fond memories of those wonderful days from her youth, and her love of baseball has never diminished. 

A couple days ago, Vicki informed me that the last two surviving members of the St. Louis Browns have recently passed away: Ed Mickelson, on June 27, 2025, age 98; and Billy Hunter, on July 3, 2025, age 97. Their deaths bring down a sad final curtain on one of the original American League franchises. Over the decades between 1901 and 1953, 763 major league players wore the Browns uniform. Now all are gone.

Before their memory fades completely away over time, I’d like to use the occasion of their passing to say a few words about these two ball players, Ed Mickelson and Billy Hunter.

Ed Mickelson

I’ve always maintained that anyone who makes it to the major leagues – star or sub – is special, as they have accomplished something that 99.99 percent of the population has never achieved. That’s the case with the career of Ed Mickelson, a native of Ottawa, Illinois. Although he played in professional ball for eleven seasons, his major league career consisted of just 18 games and took place during three separate call-ups for the Cardinals (1950),  Browns (1953), and  Cubs (1957).  At 6’ 3”, the 205-lb Mickelson was a powerful right-handed-hitting first baseman.  One item of note in Ed’s career is that on September 27, 1953, prior to the team’s move to Baltimore to become the Orioles, he drove in the final run in St. Louis Browns history. The RBI single was Mickelson’s last big-league hit. Ed’s passing left Billy Hunter as the only surviving former Brown.

Billy Hunter

Unfortunately, Billy Hunter passed away just four days later. A native of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, shortstop Billy Hunter was a player, scout, coach, and manager. Besides the Browns/Orioles, Billy played for the Yankees, Athletics, and Indians. In addition to being the last surviving player of the Browns, he was also the last survivor of the 1954 inaugural season of the Baltimore Orioles. Billy has the distinction of hitting the last home run in the Browns’ franchise history.

In 1953, the first year of his six-season major league career, Billy played 154 games for the Browns, hitting .219 with one home run. He made the All-Star team that year, but did not have an at-bat, entering the game as a pinch runner for Mickey Mantle. Billy was a reserve shortstop on the 1956 World Series Champion New York Yankees; and, after his playing days, he was the third base coach (1963-1977) on Baltimore Orioles teams that won four pennants and two World Series championships. As manager of the Texas Rangers (1977-’78), he posted a 146-108 record (.575). He became head baseball coach (1979-1988) and athletic director (1984-1995) at Maryland’s Towson State University, retiring in 1995.

The St. Louis Browns

The St. Louis Browns had an overall win–loss record of 3,414–4,465–96 (.434) during their 52 years in St. Louis. The franchise started as the Milwaukee Brewers in 1901 as a charter member of the American League. After the 1901 season, the franchise moved to St. Louis and became the Browns. They’re regarded as the least successful of the eight original members of the American League, winning only one pennant and finishing fifth or worse 40 times. The Browns are represented by two players in the Hall of Fame, Bobby Wallace and George Sisler. The franchise’s lone pennant came in 1944, under manager Luke Sewell. They lost the World Series to their cross-town rival, the St. Louis Cardinals.

Many older fans in St. Louis remember the Browns fondly, and some have formed societies to keep the memory of the team alive. Here on Baseball History Comes Alive, we pledge to do our part in remembering this great baseball franchise. 

Gary Livacari

We’d love to hear what you think about this or any other related baseball history topic…please leave comments below.

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Information: Excerpts edited from the St. Louis Browns Wikipedia page

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