Tommy Brown, teenage expertise for the Brooklyn Dodgers, has died at 97

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Tommy Brown, teenage talent for the Brooklyn Dodgers, has died at 97

Tommy Brown, who grew to become the youngest place participant in fashionable main league baseball when he debuted as a participant for the Brooklyn Dodgers in August 1944. at age 16, died Wednesday in Altamont Springs, Florida. He was 97 years outdated.

His daughter, Pamela Brown Leon, mentioned the trigger was problems from a current fall at a rehabilitation heart close to the place he lived in Altamonte Springs, north of Orlando.

Within the spring of 1943 Brown is amongst about 3,000 youngsters attending the Brooklyn Dodgers’ tryout camp on the Parade Floor, the baseball advanced in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. The Dodgers signed him to their farm system early subsequent season.

On August 3, 1944, newly referred to as up by the Dodgers from their farm staff in Newport Information, Virginia, Brown made his main league debut enjoying shortstop in a recreation in opposition to the Chicago Cubs at Ebbets Discipline, the Dodgers’ dwelling stadium.

Enjoying in each video games, Brown had a double and a single, however he let a floor ball undergo his legs and his throws within the infield warmups sailed out of attain of the Dodgers’ 6-foot-6 first baseman. Howie Schultzwhich was often called the Steeple.

Though he was nervous that lengthy August afternoon, Brown entered the baseball file books and stayed there.

“I used to be one in all their starters for some time, and essentially the most I knew about baseball was that the ball was spherical,” he instructed The Los Angeles Instances lengthy afterward, recalling his early Dodger years.

Brown joined the Dodgers at a time when many main league gamers had entered the navy throughout World Battle II, forcing groups to seek out alternative gamers. Brown was an addition to the longer term Corridor of Famer Pee Wee Reesewho was out enjoying shortstop for the Navy groups.

At his loss of life, Brown additionally held the file because the youngest participant to hit a significant league dwelling run. He was 17 years, 8 months and 14 days outdated when he was contacted on August 20, 1945. with the Pittsburgh Pirates Preacher Rowewho later was the highest starter within the Dodgers rotation.

Brown was additionally the final surviving member of the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers staff wherein Jackie Robinson debuted integrating Main League Baseball.

Brown had a batting common of simply .164 and dedicated 16 errors whereas enjoying usually at shortstop through the ultimate two months of the 1944 season. Supervisor Leo Durocher referred to as him Buckshot for his splashy throws.

However Brown went on to a nine-year main league profession, principally with the Dodgers. He was often a backup however performed each place besides catcher.

Thomas Michael Brown was born on December 6, 1927. within the Bensonhurst space of ​​Brooklyn. He left faculty at age 12 to work on the docks in Brooklyn with an uncle.

Brown was hitting .297 when he was referred to as up from Newport Information, the place he performed for supervisor Jake Pitler, who later grew to become the Dodgers’ first base coach.

“Pittler referred to as me and instructed me to pack, that Durocher wished me to play shortstop for his Dodgers,” Brown recalled in an interview with the Society for American Baseball Research. “I mentioned, ‘No, I don’t need to go.’ I instructed him to let me end the 12 months. I hit nicely and discovered quite a bit. However he mentioned, “No, you could go away now.”

“I had been touring on that practice all evening,” he continued, “and I went into the clubhouse and instructed them I had simply obtained off the practice. Durocher mentioned he would not care that we’re enjoying a doubleheader and I am enjoying.”

Brown’s debut, when he was 16 years and 241 days outdated, got here two months later Joe Naxhallleft-handed pitcher from Hamilton, Ohio, grew to become the youngest modern-day main league participant when he pitched for the Cincinnati Reds at 15 years and 10 months.

In 1945 Brown shares his work on the Dodgers Eddie Basinskione other of the navy hopefuls who was applauded extra for his excellence in violin enjoying. After spending the primary postwar season within the Military, Brown returned to the Dodgers.

He did not hit a lot for common. However the right-handed hitting Brown, at 6-foot-1 and 170 kilos — good measurement for a participant of his period — had some energy, connecting for 3 dwelling runs in September 1950. in a recreation at Ebbets Discipline in opposition to the Cubs. He led the Nationwide League in hits with seven that season.

However with Reese again at shortstop and Billy Coxgood fielder, at third base and with Duke Snyder and Carl Furillo occupying two outfield spots the place Brown performed at instances, there wasn’t a lot room for him within the lineup.

He was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in June 1951. They despatched him to the Cubs in June 1952. and he hit .320 for them in 61 video games within the second half of the season. However he disappeared in 1953. and was returned to the minors. He retired at age 31 with out returning to the majors.

Brown settled in Nashville after his enjoying years, having spent a number of minor league seasons with Nashville’s Southern Affiliation staff. He labored in a Ford glass manufacturing facility for a few years, then moved to Florida.

Along with his daughter, Mrs. Leon, his survivors embody his spouse, Ellen Brown; his son, Invoice; and two different daughters, Paula and Michele.

Brown had a profession batting common of .241 with 31 dwelling runs.

Though his bat had some pop, he missed the same old killer reward from a 1940 Dodgers sponsor, Outdated Gold cigarettes.

“We referred to as the homers the ‘Outdated Golds,’ the Dodgers present.” Red barber as soon as remembered. “We’ll throw a field of outdated gold down the display screen when a participant hits a house run. There was a gap within the display screen and the dad caught them by the participant. When Tommy Brown hit one, Durocher mentioned, “Give me the cigarettes, he is too younger to smoke.”

Hank Sanders contributed reporting. Sheila McNeil contributed analysis.

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