Tommy Brown (baseball)

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Tommy Brown
Home runs
31
Run batted in159
Teams

Thomas Michael Brown (born December 6, 1927) is an American former

player. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with his hometown Brooklyn Dodgers at 16 years and 241 days old, starting at shortstop at Ebbets Field against the Chicago Cubs, on August 3, 1944, during the World War II manpower shortage. Brown thus became the youngest non-pitcher to ever play in a major league game,[1] and the second-youngest overall after Joe Nuxhall, who was 15 years and 316 days old when he first appeared as a hurler for the Cincinnati Reds on June 10, 1944. In Brown's debut game, he collected his first big-league hit, a double off the Cubs' Bob Chipman, and in the field handled three chances, with one error, as the Dodgers fell, 6–2.[2]

Nicknamed "Buckshot", Brown threw and batted

American Association, and appeared in another 57 contests for Brooklyn, becoming a 103-game big-league veteran before his 18th birthday. He became the youngest player ever to hit a home run in the major leagues on August 20, 1945, at the age of 17.[3]

Brown spent 1946 in the United States Army, then in 1947, the second postwar season, returned to a Dodgers team with a set lineup that included Baseball Hall of Fame shortstop Pee Wee Reese. He became a utility man for the remainder of his MLB career, appearing in 166 games as a shortstop, 94 as an outfielder, 50 as a third baseman, 24 as a second baseman, and 21 as a first baseman. The Dodgers traded Brown to the Philadelphia Phillies in June 1951, and the Phils sold his contract to the Chicago Cubs a little more than a year later.

As a hitter, Brown batted over .300 twice in part-time duty (1949 and 1952). On September 18, 1950, against the Cubs at Ebbets Field, Brown hit three home runs and a single, with a base on balls, in five

runs batted in (RBI).[4]
The Dodgers, however, lost the game, 9–7.

Brown's big-league career came to an end September 25, 1953, as a member of the Cubs; he had played in 494 games during all or parts of nine

minor league baseball
through 1959 before retiring.

References

  1. SABR
    . Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  2. ^ "Chicago Cubs 6, Brooklyn Dodgers 2 (1)". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet. August 3, 1944. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  3. ^ "Home Run Records by Age". baseball-almanac.com. Baseball Almanac. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  4. ^ "Chicago Cubs 9, Brooklyn Dodgers 7". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet. September 18, 1950. Retrieved March 18, 2020.

External links

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