Hitting above .300 but currently bed ridden with a kidney ailment, Pete Browning was unceremoniously released by the Cincinnati Reds on July 15, 1892, after the club had signed outfielder Curt Welch who had been released two days earlier by the Baltimore Orioles.
Browning had joined the Reds on May 22 after being released by Louisville.
Browning
Just before the Reds released Browning, manager Charles Comiskey told The Cincinnati Enquirer:
“There has been some complaint about fielder Pete Browning, I don’t see where it comes in. I know he isn’t the best fielder in the world, but I can get along with a little poor fielding, providing he keeps up his current batting lick.”
Business Manager Frank Bancroft disagreed with his manager. The Reds beat the New York Giants 3 to 1 on July 10, after Welch made two catches in center field The Enquirer said robbed Jack Boyle and Harry Lyons of extra base hits.
The paper reported on a conversation at the team hotel between Bancroft and Comiskey after the game:
“’If Browning had been in Welch’s place today when that hard hit went out the batter would have been running yet. The game would have been tied and perhaps lost to us. Welch save us twice. It’s a boss fielding team, isn’t it, Charley?’”
Comiskey responded:
“’It is for a fact, and I’m glad to see it, after what I’ve had to handle for the past three months.”
Browning remained sick in bed at Baltimore’s Eutaw House for several days, when he returned to Cincinnati, he told The Cincinnati Times-Star:
“I tell you, Cincinnati’ll be sorry if they let me go and keep a man like Welch. Pete’s got kidney troubles, I guess. I will go down to West Baden Springs (Indiana) if Comiskey says so, I think that will help my batting.”
Over the next month Browning’s whereabouts, state of mind, and next destination were the stuff of speculation.
The Times-Star said in early August that Browning remained in Cincinnati “although he does not attend the games or associate with his former baseball playing friends.”
The Philadelphia Inquirer said he was “brokenhearted since his release,” and there was “absolutely no demand for his services.”
The Boston Globe and The Washington Times said he was about to sign with the Senators.
On August 14, The Louisville Times said Browning was getting in shape in West Baden, two days later The Cincinnati Enquirer said, “Browning is lost again,” and had left Indiana. The paper also announced that day that Welch had been released after hitting just .202 in 25 games.
Browning
At the same time, Browns owner Chris von der Ahe was telling The S. Louis Post-Dispatch:
“I’ve got a man scouring Indiana after Pete Browning.”
After he found him, The St. Louis Republic said Browning “was offered $3500 to sign” by von der Ahe but refused. In response von der Ahe said he had “no use” for Browning.
On July 31, The Louisville Times reported that former Louisville Colonels Director Larry Gatto received a telegram from Bancroft:
“Requesting that he see Pete Browning and notify him that if he wanted a place on the team he could report at once. When Larry showed the telegram to Pietro the latter at once started on a run for his home to pack his grip. He will leave this morning for Cincinnati to resume his old place with the Reds.”
Browning returned to the Reds lineup on September 2nd against Brooklyn, The Enquirer said:
“He had his ‘lampteenies’ trimmed and hit the ball in good style (he was 3 for 4). Pete however, seemed to lose his head on the bases, and was caught twice after he reached first. In the third inning he ran as far as second on a long fly from Comiskey’s bat, (Bill) Hart caught the ball and threw it in before the Gladiator could scramble back to first. Then in the fifth he was caught napping off first by (Tom) Kinslow.”
The fifth place Reds were 17-17 the rest of the way with Browning back in the lineup. He hit .303 for the season.
Browning was let go again by the Reds and joined the Louisville Colonels in 1893.
Baseball History Daily 