Dick Brown

Note: This page is for Richard Ernest "Dick" Brown, major league player from 1957-1965. For other players with similar names, click here

Richard Ernest Brown

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 190 lb.
• School Florida State University
• High School Holy Name High School (Lake Worth)
• Debut June 20, 1957
• Final Game October 3, 1965
• Born January 17, 1935 in Shinnston, WV USA
• Died April 17, 1970 in Baltimore, MD USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Dick Brown was a catcher who attended Florida State. He played from 1957 to 1965 for the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles.

Brown was the high school catcher for Herb Score and dating Herb's sister, Helen, when Score signed with the Indians. Brown was planning on going to dental school, but Helen told the Indians they should sign Score's catcher also. The Indians needed catchers in their minor league system and so they did in 1953. Brown, the brother of Larry Brown, made his big league debut on June 20, 1957 against the Boston Red Sox at 22. On December 6, 1959, he was traded, with Don Ferrarese, Minnie Minoso, and Jake Striker, to the White Sox for Johnny Romano, Bubba Phillips, and Norm Cash. On December 7, 1960, he was traded by the Milwaukee Braves (who had signed him about ten days earlier) with Bill Bruton, Chuck Cottier, and Terry Fox to the Detroit Tigers for Frank Bolling and Neil Chrisley. On November 26, 1962, he was traded by the Tigers to the Orioles for Gus Triandos and Whitey Herzog.

Through all the traveling, Dick played 636 games over 9 seasons, hitting .244 with 62 home runs and 223 RBI. His best two seasons were the two he spent in Detroit: he hit 16 home runs in 93 games in 1961 and 12 home runs in his lone season as a regular, 1962, when he played 134 games. He had a .989 fielding percentage. Career highlights include back-to-back-to-back home runs he hit with Norm Cash and Steve Boros on May 23, 1961. He had hit a grand slam less than one month earlier on April 29th.

Dick played his final game October 3, 1965. He was forced to retire because of a brain tumor, which eventually proved to be inoperable and fatal. He was invited back by the O's to throw out the first pitch of Game 3 of the 1966 World Series. He worked as a scout for the Orioles until his death from the tumor in 1970. He is buried in Pinecrest Cemetery in Lake Worth, FL.

Related Sites

• Dick Brown at the SABR Bio Project