Al Brazle – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Al Brazle really pulled off one of baseball’s most impressive comebacks. He was a left-handed pitcher whose career almost ended before it even started.

Born Alpha Eugene Brazle in 1913, this Oklahoma native started out as a hard-throwing overhand pitcher. Arm injuries forced him to change everything, so he reinvented himself as a crafty sidearm specialist.

His journey took him from the dusty semipro fields of Oklahoma all the way to the bright lights of Major League Baseball. That determination and adaptability pretty much defined who he was.

Brazle played his entire Major League Baseball career from 1943 to 1954 with the St. Louis Cardinals. He racked up a 97-64 record, 59 saves, and a 3.31 ERA in 446 games. His unique sidearm delivery and sinker ball made him tough to hit, whether he was starting or coming out of the bullpen during the Cardinals’ best years.

Fans loved the tall, lanky pitcher for more than just his skills. That cowboy persona and his distinct look made him a character in the Cardinals clubhouse.

He broke through in 1943, helping St. Louis reach the World Series. By 1954, he was the oldest player in the National League. Brazle’s story includes military service, championship runs, and a complete personal reinvention.

He went from struggling in the minors to standing out in the majors. His career gives us a glimpse into baseball’s golden age and the kind of resilience it takes to make it at the top.

Early Life and Baseball Beginnings

Alpha Eugene Brazle grew up in a farming family in rural Oklahoma in the early 1900s. He found his knack for baseball while dealing with some pretty tough personal challenges.

His path from local teams to professional baseball really started in the mid-1930s, after a random encounter changed everything.

Family and Childhood in Oklahoma

Alpha Eugene Brazle was born on October 19, 1913, in Kiel, Oklahoma. He was the youngest of three kids—Willis Elmer and Mary Frances (Wight) Brazle were his parents.

The Brazle family worked as farmers in Kiel, a tiny town about 70 miles northwest of Oklahoma City. The place had a big German and Russian immigrant community.

During World War I, Kiel changed its name to Loyal. Not long after Alpha was born, the family moved about 80 miles south to Lone Mound Township.

Tragedy hit in 1923 when Willis died, leaving Frances (everyone called her Fannie) to raise William, Flossie, and Alpha by herself during hard economic times.

Alpha went to Sickles school, but he quit at 15 to help support the family. Around then, the tall, lanky teen started playing for a local town team.

Introduction to Baseball

Brazle worked his way up from local town teams to a semipro squad in Binger, Oklahoma. He got a reputation as a hard-throwing lefty who could rack up strikeouts, traveling all over the state.

His big break came in 1935, and it was pretty random. After a promoter stiffed the players on pay, Brazle was walking home when a car pulled up.

Bully McLean, a cotton buyer from Geary, Oklahoma, was driving. McLean knew Ray Winder, who managed the Little Rock club.

McLean introduced Brazle to the Little Rock Travelers in the Southern Association. When Brazle met manager Doc Prothro, the team claimed they didn’t need any more pitchers.

Instead, they sent him to play for a semipro team called Coco-Cola in Hot Springs. “I struck out 23 men in one game,” Brazle said. “I guess that made an impression, because I got signed to a Little Rock contract in 1936.”

Early Semipro and Minor League Teams

Brazle’s first three seasons in pro baseball didn’t turn heads. In 1936, he went 7-8 with a 5.92 ERA for the Class A1 Travelers, who were a Boston Red Sox affiliate.

Things didn’t get much better in 1937, when he landed with the Hazleton Red Sox in Pennsylvania’s New York-Pennsylvania League. He improved a bit, finishing 10-14 with a 4.02 ERA.

He returned to Little Rock in 1938 and put up another 7-8 record. Then, in 1940, he suddenly became the staff ace.

That year, Brazle finished in the league’s top ten for wins, innings, starts, and ERA. He had 14 wins, 217 innings, 28 starts, and a 3.40 ERA. Scout Billy Evans noticed, and the Boston Red Sox bought his contract after the season.

But arm problems popped up during 1940 spring training in Sarasota, Florida. The Red Sox sent him back to Little Rock, where he struggled to a 6-10 record and a 4.70 ERA, dealing with pain and what he said was food poisoning.

Minor League Career

Al Brazle spent seven and a half years grinding through the minors before he made it to the big leagues. He bounced around from the Southern Association to the Pacific Coast League, slowly turning from an inconsistent power pitcher into a clever sidearm specialist.

Playing for Southern Association and Little Rock Travelers

Brazle started his pro career in 1936 with the Little Rock Travelers of the Southern Association. He got his shot after striking out 23 batters in a semipro game for Hot Springs’ Coca-Cola team. Scouts couldn’t ignore that.

His first season with the Class A1 Travelers was rough. Brazle managed a 7-8 record and a bloated 5.92 ERA. Clearly, he had a lot to learn.

He returned to Little Rock in 1938 after a stop in Pennsylvania. He put up another 7-8 record but showed a little more promise.

By 1940, Brazle finally broke through as the ace. He won 14 games and ended up among the league leaders in several categories. That 3.40 ERA and all those innings got the attention of the big leagues.

Boston Red Sox Organization and Early Struggles

The Boston Red Sox bought Brazle’s contract after his strong 1940 season. He went to spring training in Sarasota, Florida, and even roomed with a young Ted Williams.

Things went downhill fast with the Red Sox organization. Brazle developed some nasty arm problems while trying to impress manager Joe Cronin with his overhand fastball and curve.

That injury sent him back to Little Rock for the 1940 season. He pitched through pain and finished with a disappointing 6-10 record and a 4.70 ERA.

After the season, the Red Sox traded Brazle to the St. Louis Cardinals for veteran Mike Ryba. That trade changed everything for him.

Turning Point with Sacramento Solons

Brazle’s arm problems forced him to change his pitching style completely. He switched to a sidearm delivery and learned to throw a sinker, moving away from his overhand fastball.

He spent two seasons with the Houston Buffaloes in the Texas League, trying to rebuild his arm. His records—11-5 in 1941 and 8-13 in 1942—showed he was still figuring things out.

When the Texas League folded before 1943, Brazle landed with the Sacramento Solons in the Pacific Coast League. Manager Ken Penner didn’t know about his old overhand style, so Brazle just pitched sidearm.

He absolutely dominated. Brazle threw 42 consecutive scoreless innings—a league record—and finished with a 1.69 ERA. His 11-9 record got him called up to the Cardinals when Howie Pollet went off to serve in the military.

Major League Debut and Impact with the St. Louis Cardinals

Al Brazle went from struggling in the minors to becoming a key contributor for the St. Louis Cardinals. Arm problems forced him to change everything, but his sidearm delivery and sinkerball made him an immediate force in 1943—right before military service interrupted his career.

Trade to St. Louis Cardinals

The Boston Red Sox traded Al Brazle to the St. Louis Cardinals in September 1940 for 37-year-old Mike Ryba. Brazle was still fighting arm problems from his time with the Red Sox.

During spring training in 1940, he roomed with Ted Williams and tried to impress manager Joe Cronin with his overhand fastball and curve. That led to an injury and a lousy 6-10 record with a 4.70 ERA at Little Rock.

The Cardinals had a reputation for great pitching depth throughout their system. Brazle’s prospects didn’t look good at first—he could barely lift his left arm above his head. Oddly enough, that injury ended up being the best thing that could’ve happened to him.

Rookie Season and World War II Interruption

Brazle made his MLB debut on July 25, 1943, at age 29. He threw a complete-game seven-hitter and beat the Boston Braves 5-1 at Sportsman’s Park.

He took over for Howie Pollet, who had just been drafted into the military. Brazle’s rookie year was fantastic. He went 8-2 with a 1.53 ERA in 88 innings over the last nine weeks of the season.

He finished seven of his eight starts and tossed his first major league shutout against the Chicago Cubs.

The Cardinals won the National League pennant, and Brazle started Game Three of the World Series against the Yankees. He allowed just two hits through five innings, but poor fielding let the Yankees score six runs in the sixth and seventh. The Cardinals lost the Series in five games.

The day after the Series ended, Brazle joined the US Army at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis. He served at the Cavalry Replacement Training Center at Fort Riley, Kansas, and played for the camp team, the Centaurs.

Pitching Style Evolution and Sinkerball Development

Brazle’s arm injury made him rethink everything about pitching. “Perhaps the best break of my career was to develop a sore arm,” he said in 1943. “The injury forced me to pitch side-arm and I developed my sinker.”

He started experimenting with the side-arm delivery while playing for Houston in the Texas League in 1941 and 1942. The results were mixed, and people pretty much thought he was washed up.

His real breakthrough came with the Sacramento Solons in 1943. Manager Ken Penner didn’t know Brazle was supposed to pitch overhand, so he let him do his thing. Brazle responded with 42⅔ consecutive scoreless innings and a 1.69 ERA.

The side-arm sinkerball became his trademark. It “tails off, drops sharply, and is effective at medium speed,” according to The Sporting News. His delivery looked “herky-jerky” and threw off hitters, making him seem faster than he was.

MLB Career Highlights and Achievements

Al Brazle put together a 97-64 record with a 3.31 ERA in 10 seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals. He played in two World Series and became one of the National League’s best relief pitchers in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

World Series Appearances

Brazle pitched in two World Series for the Cardinals, in 1943 and 1946. He made his debut just months after arriving in the majors, starting Game Three of the 1943 World Series against the New York Yankees.

He held the Yankees to two hits over five innings, but defensive mistakes cost him. The Yankees scored six runs in the sixth and seventh, with only three earned. Brazle took the 6-2 loss, and the Cardinals dropped the Series in five games.

The 1946 World Series against the Boston Red Sox went better for the Cardinals. Brazle relieved Howie Pollet in Game Five after Pollet got just one out in the first inning. Brazle pitched 6⅔ innings, giving up seven hits and six walks in a 6-3 loss.

Even though the Cardinals lost Game Five, they won the championship thanks to Harry Brecheen’s heroics in Games Six and Seven. Brazle finished his World Series career with an 0-2 record and a 4.50 ERA in 14 innings.

Leading the National League in Saves

Brazle turned himself into a modern relief pitcher during the later years of his career. He actually led the National League in saves twice by today’s standards, even though nobody officially tracked saves back then.

As he got older, Brazle’s relief work became even more valuable. At 37, long after most pitchers had hung up their gloves, he switched things up and basically invented the role of closer for himself.

The Cardinals leaned on his rubber arm and his knack for warming up fast. Manager Eddie Dyer started calling him “Ol’ Boots and Saddles” since Brazle barely needed a few tosses before he was game-ready.

Cardinals Franchise Records

Brazle set a Cardinals record for most appearances by a pitcher during his time there. The team counted on his durability and versatility through the late 1940s and early 1950s.

He averaged about 55 games a season during his best relief years. That kind of workload was rare back then and said a lot about his conditioning and arm strength.

The lefty stuck with the Cardinals for his entire MLB career from 1943 to 1954, only missing the 1944 and 1945 seasons because he served in the military.

With 97 career wins, Brazle sits high on the franchise leaderboard among pitchers who spent the back half of their careers mostly in relief.

Top Pitching Categories and League Rankings

Brazle wrapped up his career with solid numbers across the board. He finished with a 97-64 record, which gave him a .602 winning percentage—a mark that puts him well above the average pitcher.

Career Statistics:

• Games Pitched: 446
• Wins: 97
• Losses: 64
• ERA: 3.31
• Strikeouts: 554
• Saves: 59

His 3.31 ERA stands out, especially considering how much offense dominated the late 1940s and early 1950s. That earned run average shows how well he could keep opponents from scoring, whether he started or came in from the bullpen.

In 1954, at age 40, Brazle became the oldest player to pitch in a National League game that year. Not many of his peers lasted that long—most called it quits in their mid-30s.

He logged 1,377 innings in his career, which is kind of wild. After arm injuries forced him to ditch his overhand delivery, he switched to a side-arm sinker and stuck with it for more than a decade.

Final MLB Seasons and Retirement in 1954

Al Brazle spent his last years in Major League Baseball as a veteran presence on the Cardinals. His 1954 season wrapped up a career that started in 1943, ending with him as the National League’s oldest player at 40.

Veteran Leadership in the 1950s

By the early ’50s, Brazle had become a reliable relief pitcher for St. Louis. He made the switch from starter to reliever and adjusted his side-arm style to fit the game’s changes.

He averaged 55 games a season during this stretch. Brazle broke the Cardinals’ record for appearances and twice led the team in saves, at least by today’s standards.

Younger pitchers looked up to him for his experience. Sportswriter Bob Broeg gave him the nickname “Ol’ Boots and Saddles” because he could get loose and ready to pitch in no time.

Key Performance Metrics (1950-1954):

• Games per season: 55 average
• Primary role: Relief pitcher
• Delivery style: Side-arm sinkerball

Release and Brief Chicago White Sox Stint

The 1954 season didn’t go smoothly for Brazle. In the first half, he posted a 4.82 ERA over 26 relief outings, and it was clear his long career was winding down.

Being the oldest player in the league definitely showed in his performance. The Cardinals saw that Brazle just wasn’t the same as he had been in his prime.

After the 1954 season, the Chicago White Sox picked him up. It looked like he might get a shot to keep playing in the American League.

But the White Sox released him before he ever pitched in a regular season game. That short-lived stint pretty much closed the book on his MLB career outside of St. Louis.

Last Professional Appearances

Brazle made his final MLB appearance on September 24, 1954, facing the Milwaukee Brewers. He threw two-thirds of an inning and didn’t allow a hit, walk, or run in his career finale.

His last win came just a few days earlier, on September 18, 1954, against the Boston Braves. In that outing, he pitched nine innings, gave up seven hits and one earned run, and struck out two.

Final Career Statistics:

• Total seasons: 10 (1943, 1946-1954)
• Career record: 97-64
• ERA: 3.31
• Strikeouts: 554

Brazle finished his career having played only for the Cardinals. That kind of loyalty is rare in pro sports, and even though he briefly signed with the White Sox, he never pitched a regular season game for anyone else.

Personal Life, Legacy, and Death

Al Brazle married Helen Blankenship, who was from Little Rock, on July 31, 1939. During the offseasons, they split their time between Little Rock and Montezuma County, Colorado, where Brazle worked a handful of jobs, including selling cars.

Life After Baseball

After he retired from Major League Baseball in 1954, Brazle settled down in Colorado with Helen. They’d already put down roots in Montezuma County while he was still playing.

Brazle worked a variety of jobs after baseball. He’d already sold cars in the offseasons, and his distinctive appearance and personality—nicknames like “Cotton” and even some Clark Gable comparisons—probably helped him in whatever he did next.

He always kept that connection to the American West. Brazle grew up in Oklahoma on farms, so the cowboy boots and that rugged vibe stuck with him long after his playing days ended.

Death and Burial

Al Brazle died on October 24, 1973, in Grand Junction, Colorado, just five days after turning 60.

His family buried him at Fairview Cemetery in Yellow Jacket, Colorado. That small-town spot fit him perfectly, considering his love for rural life.

The grave in Yellow Jacket feels right for someone who never really left his Western roots, even after all those years in big-league cities like St. Louis. You can actually look up his resting place through Find a Grave memorial records.

Legacy in Baseball History

Brazle started out as a hard-throwing overhand pitcher, but after injuries, he switched things up and became a successful side-arm sinkerball specialist. That shift really defined his legacy.

He bounced back from arm injuries and showed remarkable adaptability—not everyone in pro sports can pull that off. I mean, how many pitchers can reinvent themselves like that?

The Sporting News kept track of his unique delivery and how effective he was. People called his motion “herky-jerky,” and honestly, it stood out.

He pitched so often that he kind of became a prototype for modern relief pitchers. Brazle led the National League in saves in both 1952 and 1953.

He set Cardinals team records for appearances. Back in his 1943 rookie season, he went 8-2 with a 1.53 ERA—still one of the most impressive late-season debuts in Cardinals history.

By 1954, at age 40, he was the oldest player to appear in a National League game that year. That alone says a lot about his durability and how long he stuck around in the sport.