Jackie Brandt

John George Brandt Jr.
(Flakey)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 170 lb.
• High School Benson High School (Omaha)
• Debut April 21, 1956
• Final Game September 2, 1967
• Born April 28, 1934 in Omaha, NE USA

BR page

Biographical Information

"I had over 1,000 base hits and 100 home runs in the majors, but my greatest thrills and memories are of the people I was around. Willie Mays and Brooks Robinson were my teammates. When I first came up my locker was right next to Stan Musial's and when Ted Williams homered in his last at-bat, he hit it over my head." - Jackie Brandt

Known to be somewhat eccentric, Jackie Brandt was nicknamed "Flakey" [1] but on the field was a dependable hitter and Gold Glove-winning outfielder.

Jackie was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as an amateur free agent before the 1953 season and, after three good seasons in the minors, had worked his way up to the Cardinals' roster to start the season in 1956. Brandt stated: "I wasn't getting much playing time and Frank Lane, the general manager, figured I was going to be drafted into the service and traded me to the New York Giants." Jackie hit .298 for the season, split between St. Louis and New York, before entering the United States Army, missing all of 1957 and getting back in time to appear in 18 games in 1958. He was ready for the start of the 1959 season, though, when he hit .270 for the now San Francisco Giants and won his lone Gold Glove.

Brandt was traded to the Baltimore Orioles before the 1960 season and was a fixture in the Orioles' outfield until 1965, hitting .297 with 93 runs scored in 1961, his All-Star season, with career highs of 19 homers and 75 RBI the following year. He concluded his eleven-year big league stay back in the National League with the Philadelphia Phillies and the Houston Astros in 1967. Jackie had 17 active playing seasons in professional baseball from 1953 through 1970. As a big leaguer, he hit .262 with 112 home runs and 540 runs scored.

He managed from 1971 through 1974 in the minors in the Astros and San Diego Padres organizations before returning home to Omaha and becoming a driver for UPS. "It was a great job for me with lots of physical activity with good wages, benefits and a pension plan," he said.

Notable Achievements

• AL All-Star (1961)
• NL Gold Glove Winner (1959/LF)

Year-by-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs	Notes
1971	Sumter Astros	Western Carolinas League	47-80	5th	Houston Astros
1972	Columbus Astros	Southern League	59-80	7th	Houston Astros
1973	Alexandria Aces	Texas League	59-77	8th	San Diego Padres
1974	Alexandria Aces	Texas League		--	San Diego Padres	--	replaced by Ken Bracey

Sources

Baseball-Reference.com
Baseball Players of the 1950s
SABR MILB Database:page