> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.grumpybuck.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # On This Date: The American League Lets the St. Louis Browns Leave for Baltimore, and the Map of Baseball Starts Moving (Sept. 29, 1953) - URL: https://www.grumpybuck.com/on-this-date-the-american-league-lets-the-st-louis-browns-leave-for-baltimore-and-the-map-of-baseball-starts-moving-sept-29-1953/ - Published: 2026-09-29T12:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-29T15:05:47.000Z - Description: On Sept. 29, 1953, AL owners approved the Browns' move to Baltimore, two days after refusing Bill Veeck. Every relocation and expansion since, year by year, and the cities in line for the next two teams. - Author: Brad Riddell - Tags: Sports History, On This Date, Baseball, MLB On this date in 1953, at a meeting in New York, the owners of the American League voted to approve the sale of the St. Louis Browns to a Baltimore group for **$2,475,000** and to let the new owners move the team. Two days earlier the same men had refused to let Bill Veeck move the same team to the same city. The difference was that Veeck was gone. ![St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Sept. 28, 1953: the morning after the last game, the Browns' future is "at stake again tonight" as the owners meet in New York.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/09/st-louis-post-dispatch-1953-09-28-browns-future-at-stake.jpg) St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Sept. 28, 1953: the morning after the last game, the Browns' future is "at stake again tonight" as the owners meet in New York. ![St. Louis Globe-Democrat, Sept. 30, 1953: sold to a Baltimore syndicate for $2,475,000.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/09/st-louis-globe-democrat-1953-09-30-browns-sold-2475000.jpg) St. Louis Globe-Democrat, Sept. 30, 1953: sold to a Baltimore syndicate for $2,475,000. The franchise had lost **100 games** that season. It had drawn 297,238 fans, the worst in baseball, playing in a ballpark Veeck had already been forced to sell to the Cardinals. Its last game, on Sept. 27, was a 2-1 loss in 11 innings to the White Sox in front of 3,174 people. When the game ended the umpires had run out of baseballs, and the Browns had run out of city. ![Sportsman's Park, Sept. 27, 1953. A crowd of 3,174 watches the last Browns home game, a 2-1 loss to the White Sox in 11 innings.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/09/sportsmans-park-last-browns-home-game-1953-09-27.jpg) Sportsman's Park, Sept. 27, 1953\. A crowd of 3,174 watches the last Browns home game, a 2-1 loss to the White Sox in 11 innings. Nobody in the room understood it that day, but they had just started a chain reaction. Within fifteen years the two most famous teams in New York would be in California, and baseball would have gone from 16 teams in 10 cities, the same 16 teams and 10 cities it had had since 1903, to 24 teams on both coasts and in Canada. Here's the whole chain, one year at a time. ![Browns players in the "St. Louis" road grays of the early 1950s.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/09/st-louis-browns-road-uniforms-1950s.jpg) Browns players in the "St. Louis" road grays of the early 1950s. ## Why the Browns Had to Go Veeck, the showman who had sent 3-foot-7 Eddie Gaedel to the plate in 1951, bought the Browns in 1951 with the idea of driving the Cardinals out of St. Louis. Instead the Cardinals were bought by Anheuser-Busch in February 1953, and Veeck, who could not outspend a brewery, knew he was the one leaving. He asked the league in March for permission to move to Baltimore. The owners said no. He asked again on Sept. 27, the night of the last game, and got a 4-4 vote, two short of what he needed. ![Satchel Paige, whom Veeck signed to the Browns in 1951 at age 45.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/09/satchel-paige-st-louis-browns.jpg) Satchel Paige, whom Veeck signed to the Browns in 1951 at age 45. ![St. Louis Globe-Democrat, March 17, 1953: the American League vetoes the first Baltimore move, and Veeck is "ready to peddle" the club.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/09/st-louis-globe-democrat-1953-03-17-veeck-baltimore-veto.jpg) St. Louis Globe-Democrat, March 17, 1953: the American League vetoes the first Baltimore move, and Veeck is "ready to peddle" the club. The other owners disliked Veeck, who had spent years insulting them, and they had a plan: force him to sell, then approve the move for somebody else. On Sept. 29 he sold his stock to a syndicate led by Baltimore attorney Clarence Miles and backed by Mayor Tommy D'Alesandro, and the league approved the move unanimously. The Baltimore Orioles opened Memorial Stadium on April 15, 1954, beat the White Sox 3-1 in front of 46,354, and drew more than a million fans that year. The Browns had never drawn a million in 52 seasons. ![The Baltimore Sun, April 16, 1954: 46,354 see the Orioles beat the White Sox 3-1, and 350,000 line the parade route.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/09/baltimore-sun-1954-04-16-orioles-opener-46354.jpg) The Baltimore Sun, April 16, 1954: 46,354 see the Orioles beat the White Sox 3-1, and 350,000 line the parade route. ![April 15, 1954: manager Jimmy Dykes waves from a convertible in the downtown Baltimore parade before the Orioles' first game.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/09/baltimore-orioles-opening-day-parade-1954-jimmy-dykes.jpg) April 15, 1954: manager Jimmy Dykes waves from a convertible in the downtown Baltimore parade before the Orioles' first game. ![Spring 1954: the new road grays read "Baltimore," the home whites "Orioles."](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/09/1954-baltimore-orioles-road-uniforms.jpg) Spring 1954: the new road grays read "Baltimore," the home whites "Orioles." ![The 1954 Baltimore Orioles. They went 54-100, the same record as the 1953 Browns, and drew 1,060,910.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/09/1954-baltimore-orioles-team-photo.jpg) The 1954 Baltimore Orioles. They went 54-100, the same record as the 1953 Browns, and drew 1,060,910. ## The Chain Reaction, Year by Year **1953: Braves to Milwaukee.** The Browns were actually second. On March 18, 1953, the National League let Lou Perini move the Boston Braves to Milwaukee, the first franchise move in 50 years. Veeck had wanted Milwaukee himself; Perini, who owned the territory, took it first. The Braves drew 1.8 million and every owner in baseball noticed. ![Boston Evening Globe, March 19, 1953: "Few Fans Grieving for Braves, but Business Loses."](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/09/boston-evening-globe-1953-03-19-braves-milwaukee.jpg) Boston Evening Globe, March 19, 1953: "Few Fans Grieving for Braves, but Business Loses." **1955: Athletics to Kansas City.** With the Browns gone, the Philadelphia A's were the last team sharing a city with a richer neighbor. Connie Mack's sons sold to Arnold Johnson, and the American League approved Kansas City on Nov. 8, 1954. ![The Kansas City Times, Nov. 9, 1954: "Kansas City Gets the A's."](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/09/kansas-city-times-1954-11-09-kansas-city-gets-the-as.jpg) The Kansas City Times, Nov. 9, 1954: "Kansas City Gets the A's." ![Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, home of the A's from 1955 to 1967.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/09/municipal-stadium-kansas-city-aerial-1.jpg) Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, home of the A's from 1955 to 1967. **1958: Dodgers and Giants to Los Angeles and San Francisco.** Walter O'Malley wanted a new ballpark in Brooklyn and couldn't get the land. Horace Stoneham's Giants were drawing barely 650,000 at the Polo Grounds. On May 28, 1957, the National League gave both permission to go west together; the Giants voted to leave on Aug. 19 and the Dodgers announced Oct. 8\. New York, which had had three teams since 1903, had one. ![Los Angeles Examiner, Oct. 9, 1957: "It's Settled; They're LA Dodgers Now!"](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/09/los-angeles-examiner-1957-10-09-la-dodgers-now.jpg) Los Angeles Examiner, Oct. 9, 1957: "It's Settled; They're LA Dodgers Now!" **1961: Angels and the new Senators, and the old Senators to Minnesota.** The threat of a third major league, the Continental League, forced the issue. On Oct. 26, 1960, the American League let Calvin Griffith move the Washington Senators to Minneapolis, then put an expansion team back in Washington so Congress wouldn't notice, and added a team in Los Angeles owned by Gene Autry. First expansion in the modern game. ![Post-Bulletin (Rochester, Minn.), Oct. 27, 1960: "At Last! Big League Ball in Minnesota!"](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/09/post-bulletin-1960-10-27-big-league-ball-minnesota.jpg) Post-Bulletin (Rochester, Minn.), Oct. 27, 1960: "At Last! Big League Ball in Minnesota!" ![The Los Angeles Angels' first media guide, 1961.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/09/1961-los-angeles-angels-media-guide.jpg) The Los Angeles Angels' first media guide, 1961. **1962: Mets and Colt .45s.** The National League had beaten the AL to it, approving New York and Houston on Oct. 17, 1960\. The Mets went 40-120\. Houston got the Astrodome three years later. ![New York Daily News, Oct. 18, 1960: the National League votes to return to New York in 1962, with Houston included.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/09/daily-news-1960-10-18-nl-votes-return-to-gotham.jpg) New York Daily News, Oct. 18, 1960: the National League votes to return to New York in 1962, with Houston included. ![The Polo Grounds, 1962: a broadcaster interviews two of the original Mets.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/09/1962-mets-polo-grounds-interview.jpg) The Polo Grounds, 1962: a broadcaster interviews two of the original Mets. ![Colt Stadium, Houston, the Colt .45s' home from 1962 until the Astrodome opened in 1965.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/09/colt-stadium-houston-1962.jpg) Colt Stadium, Houston, the Colt .45s' home from 1962 until the Astrodome opened in 1965. **1966: Braves to Atlanta.** The team that started the whole thing did it again. Milwaukee's attendance had collapsed, the Braves' owners wanted the South, and a court injunction kept them in Wisconsin for one lame-duck season before they moved. ![Oct. 9, 1966: Dave McNally (19) after the final out of the World Series sweep at Memorial Stadium. Twelve years after leaving St. Louis, the franchise was a champion.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/09/1966-orioles-world-series-celebration-mcnally.jpg) Oct. 9, 1966: Dave McNally (19) after the final out of the World Series sweep at Memorial Stadium. Twelve years after leaving St. Louis, the franchise was a champion. **1968: Athletics to Oakland.** Charlie Finley finally got out of Kansas City on Oct. 18, 1967\. Missouri Senator Stuart Symington called Oakland "the luckiest city since Hiroshima" and threatened baseball's antitrust exemption. The league promised Kansas City a replacement that same day, then moved the date up to 1969 when Symington kept talking. ![Oakland Tribune editorial page, Oct. 19, 1967: "The Oakland Athletics."](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/09/oakland-tribune-1967-10-19-oakland-athletics-cartoon.jpg) Oakland Tribune editorial page, Oct. 19, 1967: "The Oakland Athletics." **1969: Royals, Pilots, Expos and Padres.** Kansas City got the Royals as the price of Symington's silence. Seattle, Montreal and San Diego came along, and baseball went to 24 teams and two divisions per league in one year. ![The Expos logo on the grass at Jarry Park, the team's home from 1969 to 1976.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/09/montreal-expos-jarry-park-logo.jpg) The Expos logo on the grass at Jarry Park, the team's home from 1969 to 1976. ![The expansion Padres at spring training.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/09/1969-san-diego-padres-spring-training.jpg) The expansion Padres at spring training. **1970: Pilots to Milwaukee.** The Seattle Pilots lasted one season and went bankrupt in spring training. On March 31, 1970, a bankruptcy referee sold them to a Milwaukee car dealer named Bud Selig for $10.8 million, a week before Opening Day. The truck carrying the team's equipment was parked in Provo, Utah, waiting to hear which direction to drive. ![A Seattle Pilots player at spring training. The franchise lasted one season.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6a/b0/6ab0eb2f-edcf-411e-aaff-39e6be3d4e39/content/images/2026/09/seattle-pilots-spring-training-1969.jpg) A Seattle Pilots player at spring training. The franchise lasted one season. **1972: Senators to Texas.** The second Washington Senators lasted eleven years, and on Sept. 21, 1971, Bob Short got permission to move them to Arlington. Washington would wait 33 years. **1977: Mariners and Blue Jays.** Seattle sued over the Pilots and got a team as the settlement. Toronto, which had nearly gotten the Giants in 1976, got the Blue Jays instead. **1993: Rockies and Marlins.** Chosen June 10, 1991\. Denver drew 4.4 million in its first season, still the record. **1998: Diamondbacks and Devil Rays.** Approved March 9, 1995, during the strike. Tampa Bay had spent a decade luring the White Sox, Giants and Mariners with a domed stadium nobody wanted. It finally got a team of its own to play in it. **2005: Expos to Washington.** Announced Sept. 29, 2004, **51 years to the day** after the Browns vote. The one owner who voted against the move was Peter Angelos of the Baltimore Orioles, the franchise the Browns had become. **2025: Athletics to Sacramento, then Las Vegas.** The A's, on their fourth city, left Oakland after 57 years to play three seasons in a Triple-A park while a $2 billion domed stadium goes up on the Strip, scheduled to open in 2028. ## What's Next: 32 Teams Commissioner Rob Manfred has said for years that he wants to expand to 32 teams before he retires in January 2029, once the A's and Rays have permanent homes. The A's have a shovel in the ground. The Rays, whose roof blew off in Hurricane Milton in 2024, were sold in 2025, and on Aug. 28, 2026, Tampa and Hillsborough County approved a $2.3 billion domed park to open in 2029\. Manfred says he wants the two cities picked before he leaves, with first pitch around 2031, and the expansion fee is expected to top **$2 billion** per team. The one thing still in the way is a new labor deal; the current one expires Dec. 1. The cities in line, roughly in order of how ready they are: **Salt Lake City** (the Larry H. Miller Company has an owner, a site and $900 million in state money, and is by most accounts the front-runner), **Nashville** (Dave Stewart's Music City Baseball group has been at it longest but still has no owner and no site), **Portland** (an $800 million state bond and a waterfront site, but no billionaire), **Raleigh** (Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon, the dark horse), **Orlando**, **Montreal** (which would like its Expos back), **Charlotte**, **Austin/San Antonio**, **Vancouver** and **Mexico City**. Two of them will get a team. The rest will get the same phone call the Browns' fans got in 1953. **Which two cities should get the next teams? Comments below.**