Frank Brill

Francis Hasbrouck Brill
born Francis Hasbrouck Briell

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 8", Weight 155 lb.

• Debut June 23, 1884
• Final Game August 8, 1884
• Born March 30, 1864 in Astoria, NY USA
• Died November 19, 1944 in Flushing, NY USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Frank Brill played in the majors for one year with the 1884 Detroit Wolverines, and afterwards played five seasons in the minors. He is remembered primarily as a pitcher at the major league level but he seems to have been primarily a position player outside of the big leagues. The name Brill was already well-known before that. An "F. Brill" played for the Ashland team (not a minor league team) in 1883, along with a John Brill, and in its March 26, 1884 issue, Sporting Life noted as follows:

"Quite a large crowd gathered at the Manhattan Athletic Grounds... to witness the opening base ball game of the season between the Monitor and Geiss teams... Several noted professionals took part in the game. Dugan plays with the Virginias, of Richmond, and Brill with the St. Louis Reserves this season."

However, most likely, that was a different Brill, because when Frank Brill made his major league debut, Sporting Life called him "a pitcher named Brill from Astoria, Long Island".