Willard Brown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Willard Brown |
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: June 26, 1915 Shreveport, Louisiana |
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| Died: August 4, 1996 (aged 81) Houston, Texas |
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| Professional debut | |||
| NgL: 1936, for the Kansas City Monarchs | |||
| MLB: July 19, 1947, for the St. Louis Browns | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| MLB: August 17, 1947, for the St. Louis Browns | |||
| NgL: 1951, for the Kansas City Monarchs | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .347 | ||
| Hits | 529 | ||
| Home runs | 49 | ||
| Runs batted in | 354 | ||
| Teams | |||
Negro leagues
Major League Baseball
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2006 | ||
| Election Method | Committee on African-American Baseball | ||
Willard Jessie Brown (born June 26, 1915 – died August 4, 1996) was a famous American baseball player. People called him "Home Run" Brown because he hit so many home runs. He played as an Outfielder in the Negro leagues for the Kansas City Monarchs. He also played a short time in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Browns.
Willard Brown was amazing at hitting the ball. He led the Negro American League in hits eight times. This ties him with baseball legend Ty Cobb for the most in history! He also led the league in runs batted in (RBI) seven times. This ties him for second-most in baseball history with Josh Gibson. Both Gibson and Brown were often the top two players in batting average. Willard Brown is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
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Willard Brown's Early Life
Willard Brown was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on June 26, 1915. He grew up in both Shreveport and Natchitoches, Louisiana. His father worked in a mill and later owned a shop that made cabinets. When he was young, Willard was a batboy for the Kansas City Monarchs. This Negro league team held their spring training in Shreveport.
Willard Brown's Baseball Career
Willard Brown started his baseball journey in 1934. He played for the Monroe Monarchs, a smaller Negro league team. In 1937, he joined the famous Kansas City Monarchs. He played for them for many years.
A Strong Start in Baseball
In his first year with the Monarchs, he played 56 games. He had a great batting average of .379. He also hit ten home runs, got 81 hits, and had 60 RBI. He led the league in hits, home runs, and RBI that year! This showed everyone how powerful he was as a hitter.
Willard Brown was known for his incredible hitting power. Many people thought he had the most raw power in Negro league history. Some even said he might have had the most power in all of baseball history! He hit home runs more often than even the famous Josh Gibson. This is why Gibson himself gave Brown the nickname "Home Run" Brown.
Leading the Monarchs to Wins
Brown also had a batting average of .374 in 1948. He often hit over .350. He was one of the fastest players in baseball during the late 1930s and 1940s. He was also a very good outfielder. From 1937 to 1946, Brown helped the Monarchs win six pennants (league championships). He finished second in batting average three times during this period.
In 1940, Brown left the Monarchs for a short time. He went to play in the Mexican League. Many players were offered more money there, about $1,000 per month. Brown played in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.
World Series Champion
In 1942, the Monarchs played against the Homestead Grays in the 1942 Negro World Series. This was a very important series. Brown stole a base in one game and hit a home run in another. He got seven hits in total during the four official games. The Monarchs won the series!
Willard Brown also played baseball in other countries during the winter. He played in Puerto Rico and California. In 1944, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He returned to the Monarchs in 1946. In 1947, he batted .371, leading the league for the first time.
Willard Brown's MLB Career
In 1947, Willard Brown briefly played in Major League Baseball (MLB). He signed with the St. Louis Browns. On July 20, Brown and Hank Thompson played against the Boston Red Sox. This was a historic moment. It was the first time two African-American players played together in an MLB game.
On August 13, 1947, Willard Brown made history again. He became the first African-American player to hit a home run in the American League. It was an inside-the-park home run off pitcher Hal Newhouser. Even with these achievements, Brown faced many challenges. He struggled because of unfair treatment. He hit .179 in 21 games before he was released from the team.
Willard Brown's Later Career
After his time in MLB, Brown went to Puerto Rico for the winter. He had one of his best seasons ever there. He batted .432 with 27 home runs and 86 RBI in just 60 games. He won the Triple Crown (leading in batting average, home runs, and RBI). People in Puerto Rico called him Ese Hombre, which means "That Man". He won another Triple Crown in Puerto Rico in 1949–1950. He also once hit for the cycle, meaning he hit a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game.
He returned to the Monarchs for the 1948 season. He played 44 games and batted .404. He had 67 hits and 53 RBI, leading the league in both. His total number of career home runs is not fully known. However, he is considered one of the top home run hitters in Negro league history.
Willard Brown continued to play for the Monarchs until the early 1950s. He also kept playing winter baseball in Puerto Rico. He played in Canada, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic. From 1953 to 1956, he played in the Texas League and Western League. He finished his Puerto Rico career in 1956-57, with a .350 career batting average there. He was inducted into the Puerto Rican Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. He played his last professional games in 1957 and retired in 1958. He then moved back to his home in Houston.
Willard Brown's Legacy
Willard Brown holds a record for leading a league in Extra-base hits eight times. This record still stands today. He also tied Hank Aaron for leading a league in total bases eight times.
After retiring from baseball, Willard Brown lived in Houston, Texas. He passed away in 1996 at the age of 81. He had been sick with Alzheimer's disease for several years. Many people remember him as a great player. Buck O'Neil, another baseball legend, said Brown was "the most natural ballplayer I ever saw."
Willard Brown was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. In the same year, he was also inducted into the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame. In 2013, he was honored with the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award. This award recognized his service in the United States Army during World War II.
