Blackie Schwamb: STL Browns prospect, murderer

By Tom Weber, KWMU

St. Louis, MO –

One of the greatest prospects in St. Louis baseball history had his career sidelined by a rap sheet.

Few people know the name Blackie Schwamb. He pitched briefly for the Browns in 1948.

But he killed a man the next year while working his other job as a gangster, and went on to a storied prison baseball career.

Author Eric Stone has written a book about Blackie Schwamb, called Wrong Side of the Wall.

Stone told KWMU's Tom Weber that Schwamb's talent was once compared with Hall of Famer Bob Feller. But Schwamb ended up pitching just 12 games in the majors.

extended interview (10 minutes)