Fred Brown

Fred Herbert Brown

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10½", Weight 190 lb.
• School Dartmouth College, Boston University
• High School Dow Academy
• Debut May 4, 1901
• Final Game April 19, 1902
• Born April 12, 1879 in Ossipee, NH USA
• Died February 3, 1955 in Somersworth, NH USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Fred Brown is much better known as a politician than as a ballplayer. He was governor of New Hampshire from 1923 to 1925 and a United States Senator from 1933 to 1939. His name was placed in nomination for President of the United States at the Democratic National Convention in 1932. He was named Comptroller General of the United States by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1939, although a debilitating stroke forced him to resign.

Brown was born in Ossipee, NH, and was the 14th player born in New Hampshire to come to the major leagues. Brown made his major league debut in May 1901, playing nine games in the majors in 1901 and 1902 with the Boston Beaneaters. He patrolled the outfield, and in the nine games where he had appearances, he went 4-for-20 (.200). In 1903, he was briefly with the Jersey City Skeeters, a top minor league team which went 92-33 and featured a number of former and future major leaguers such as Mickey Doolan and Moose McCormick. He played at least during 1900-1905 in the minors, although one source says he had a sore arm in 1903 which forced him to quit temporarily. He coached his alma mater, Dartmouth, in 1903.

Fred later went back to school to get his law degree from Boston University. He served as city solicitor for Somersworth, NH beginning in 1910, was mayor of the town beginning in 1914, and had a number of other political positions in addition to the ones noted above.

Related Sites

• Fred Brown at the SABR Bio Project
• Congressional Biography for Fred Brown
• New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources biography