Johnnie Monroe Chambers (September 10, 1911 – May 11, 1977) was an American professional baseball
pitcher who appeared in two games with the
St. Louis Cardinals of
Major League Baseball in 1937. He also played in the
minor leagues from 1931 to 1945.
After going 17-19 for Sacramento in 1936, the Cardinals purchased his contract on January 7, 1937.[13][14]
Chambers made his major league debut on May 4, entering a game against the
Boston Braves in the eighth inning and allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one of the five batters he faced.[15][16] His second and final game came on May 14 against the
Pittsburgh Pirates, where he once again entered in the eighth inning and allowed four hits and
earned runs while facing eight hitters as the Pirates beat St. Louis 14–4.[15][17]
He was optioned to back to Columbus on May 21 and would remain with the club for the remainder of 1937, ending the year with a 12–7 record and 3.78 ERA.
[18][5]
After the season ended, Cardinals
general managerBranch Rickey told Sid Keener of the St. Louis Star-Times that he believed Chambers had the best chance of the club's pitching prospects to make the team in 1938.[19]
Return to minor leagues
Chambers battled for a roster spot with the Cardinals in spring training 1938 before he was sent down to Columbus on April 4.[20][21] On July 19, he was obtained on
waivers by the
Brooklyn Dodgers for $6,000.[22][23] The Dodgers optioned Chambers to the
Minneapolis Millers on August 12 after the club acquired
Lee Rogers from the
Boston Red Sox.[24]
Chambers dealt with a sore arm for much of the 1938 season.[23][25] After the minor league season ended, he was among eight players recalled to the Dodgers on September 4.[26] He did not appear in a game before the season ended on October 2.[27]
On January 4, 1939, he returned to the Chattanooga Lookouts as the
player to be named later in an August 23 trade that sent
Fred Sington from the Lookouts to the Dodgers.[1][28][29] Named the opening day starter for Chattanooga, Chambers battled more arm trouble in 1939 and was ultimately placed on the
injured list before returning on May 9.[30][31] He was sold to the
Selma Cloverleafs of the
Southeastern League on July 24.[32] Chambers remained with Selma for the remainder of 1939 and all of 1940, ending the 1940 season with a 9–14 record and 3.70 ERA.[33][5] After beginning the 1941 season with Selma, Chambers was acquired by the
Richmond Colts in the Piedmont League On May 6.[34] However, he failed to report to Richmond and instead joined the
Charleston Rebels of the
South Atlantic League.[35] He then was signed by the Southern Association's
Memphis Chickasaws on August 31.[36]
He did not play organized baseball from 1942 to 1944 due to arm issues, but returned in May 1945 when he signed with the Minneapolis Millers.[37] Chambers split the season with the Millers and the
Little Rock Travelers before ending his professional career.[5]
He retired from umpiring in 1971 to work as a fishing guide in
Florida.[43] While working as a boat guide for an elderly woman, Chambers drowned on May 11, 1977, in
Lake George after his fishing boat was tipped by waves and he fell overboard. His body was recovered two days later.[38][44]