Johnny O'Brien facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Johnny O'Brien |
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O'Brien with 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) Seattle, Washington, 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 | ||
| Strikeouts | 30 | ||
| Teams | |||
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John Thomas O'Brien (December 11, 1930 – June 13, 2025) was an American athlete. He was famous for playing both baseball and basketball at a very high level. In baseball, he was a second baseman and pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, and Milwaukee Braves.
John also had a twin brother, Eddie, who was also a professional baseball player. Before playing professionally, John was an amazing college basketball player. He was even named an All-American for Seattle University.
Contents
Early Life and College Sports
Growing Up in New Jersey
John O'Brien grew up in South Amboy, New Jersey. He went to Saint Mary's High School, which is now called Cardinal McCarrick High School. He was so good at sports that he was put into the school's sports hall of fame.
After high school, John and his brother Eddie tried out for the basketball team at Seton Hall University. They were not accepted, so they ended up working in a factory.
Discovering Their Talent
While playing in a semi-professional baseball tournament, John and Eddie caught the eye of Al Brightman. He was a coach for both basketball and baseball at Seattle University. Brightman saw their talent and invited them to play for Seattle University.
Basketball Star at Seattle University
At Seattle University, John and Eddie played for both the baseball and basketball teams. John O'Brien became a huge basketball star. On January 21, 1952, he scored 43 points in a big upset win. His team beat the famous Harlem Globetrotters 84–81.
In 1953, John made history in the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association). He was the first player ever to score 1,000 points in a single season. Even though he was only 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) tall, he was named an All-American. This made him the shortest player to achieve that honor at the time.
John O'Brien still holds many records at Seattle University. He is first in career points with 2,733. He is also first in field goals made and free throws made.
Choosing Professional Baseball
After college, both John and Eddie were drafted by the Milwaukee Hawks in the NBA Draft. However, they decided to play professional baseball instead. They both signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Baseball Career Highlights
Playing in Major League Baseball
John O'Brien played in Major League Baseball for six seasons. He had a batting average of .250. This means he got a hit 250 times out of every 1,000 chances. He hit four home runs and had 59 RBI (runs batted in). He played in 339 games played.
From 1956 to 1958, John also pitched in some games. He appeared in 25 games, mostly as a relief pitcher. He had a record of one win and three losses.
Playing with His Twin Brother
While playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates, John and Eddie O'Brien made history. They became only the second set of twins ever to play for the same team in the same game in Major League Baseball.
They are also one of only four pairs of brothers to play second base and shortstop together on the same major league team. Other famous brother duos include Garvin and Granny Hamner for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1945.
After Major League Baseball
In 1960, John O'Brien returned to Seattle, the city where he played college sports. He played for the Seattle Rainiers, which was a minor league team for the Cincinnati Reds.
Later Life and Legacy
After retiring from baseball, John O'Brien had several different jobs. He worked as a city councilman in Seattle. He was also a sportscaster for Seattle University basketball games. He even worked as the head of security and sales at the Kingdome, a famous stadium in Seattle.
John O'Brien passed away on June 13, 2025, at the age of 94. His grandson, Riley O'Brien, is also a professional baseball player who pitches for the St. Louis Cardinals.
