Johnny O'Brien facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Johnny O'Brien |
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O'Brien with the 1960 Seattle Rainiers
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| Second Baseman / Pitcher | |||
| Born: December 11, 1930 South Amboy, New Jersey, U.S. |
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| Died: June 13, 2025 (aged 94) New Jersey, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 19, 1953, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| July 19, 1959, for the Milwaukee Braves | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .250 | ||
| Home runs | 4 | ||
| Runs batted in | 59 | ||
| Win–loss record | 1–3 | ||
| Earned run average | 5.61 | ||
| Innings pitched | 61 | ||
| Teams | |||
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John Thomas "Johnny" O'Brien (December 11, 1930 – June 13, 2025) was an American athlete who played professional baseball in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was mainly a second baseman but also worked as a pitcher. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, and Milwaukee Braves.
What made O'Brien's career special was that he played alongside his identical twin brother, Eddie, who was also a major league infielder. His grandson, Riley O'Brien, is also a professional baseball pitcher.
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Early Life and College Stardom
Johnny O'Brien grew up in South Amboy, New Jersey, where he attended Saint Mary's High School. He was a talented athlete from a young age and was later added to his high school's sports hall of fame.
A Two-Sport Star at Seattle University
After high school, O'Brien went to Seattle University, where he became famous for playing two sports: baseball and basketball. He and his brother Eddie were both key players for the university's teams, known as the Chieftains (now the Redhawks).
In basketball, O'Brien had an amazing college career. On January 21, 1952, he led his team to a surprising 84–81 victory over the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters, scoring 43 points himself. The next year, in 1953, he made history by becoming the first player in NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) history to score over 1,000 points in a single season.
His incredible skill earned him the title of an All-American, meaning he was recognized as one of the best college basketball players in the entire country. Even though he was drafted by the Milwaukee Hawks to play in the 1953 NBA Draft, he and his brother decided to pursue a career in professional baseball instead.
Major League Baseball Career
O'Brien played in the major leagues for six seasons. As a hitter, he had a career batting average of .250, which means he got a hit in about one out of every four at-bats. Over his career, he hit four home runs and had 59 RBIs (runs batted in).
He was also a skilled pitcher. He pitched in 25 games, mostly as a relief pitcher, and had a record of one win and three losses.
Making History with His Brother
One of the most memorable parts of O'Brien's career happened while he was with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He and his twin brother, Eddie, became the first twins in MLB history to play for the same team in the same game.
They were also one of only four pairs of brothers to play the difficult middle infield positions of second base and shortstop for the same team. The other brother duos to do this were:
- Garvin and Granny Hamner for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1945.
- Frank and Milt Bolling for the Detroit Tigers in 1958.
- Billy and Cal Ripken Jr. for the Baltimore Orioles in the 1980s.
Life After Baseball
After retiring from baseball, O'Brien had a very active and interesting life. He served as a city councilman in Seattle, showing his dedication to his community.
He also stayed connected to sports by working as a sportscaster for Seattle University basketball games. Later, he worked in sales and promotions and was the head of security for the Kingdome, a large stadium in Seattle. He also worked as an energy consultant.
O'Brien passed away on June 13, 2025, at the age of 94.
