Tag: Homer

Tommy Brown, who made history as the youngest Major League Baseball position player of all-time when he made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1944, has died.

He was 97.

ESPN reported that Brown died Wednesday at a rehabilitation center in Altamonte Springs, Florida, according to his oldest daughter, Paula Brown Caplice. She said he was there because he broke his hip and arm in a fall.

“Buckshot” was just 16 years and 241 days old when he started for the Dodgers at Ebbets Field against the Cubs on Aug. 3, 1944. ESPN said that came during the “World War II manpower shortage.”

The only player younger to play in a Major League game was pitcher Joe Nuxhall, who started for the Cincinnati Reds on June 10, 1944 when he was just 15 years and 316 days old.

ESPN said Brown doubled in the Dodgers’ loss in his debut. Per ESPN, Brown also became the youngest player to homer in Major League history when he took Pittsburgh Pirates starter Preacher Roe deep on Aug. 20, 1945. Brown was 17 years and 257 days old at the time.

Brown spent 1946 in the United States Army and returned to the Dodgers in 1947. The team had a pair of All-Stars, shortstop Pee Wee Reese and second baseman Jackie Robinson, in the middle infield then.

He played for the Dodgers through 1951 and then joined the Phillies. He was in Philadelphia through the 1952 season and then spent time the Clubs before his team came to a close following the 1953 season.

Brown finished his career with a .241 average to go with 31 home runs and 159 RBIs.