Willard Brown
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Note: This page links to Hall of Fame outfielder Willard Brown. For the former major league first baseman and catcher who played from 1887 to 1894, click here.
Willard Jessie Brown
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 0", Weight 200 lb.
- Debut July 19, 1947
- Final Game August 17, 1947
- Born June 26, 1915 in Shreveport, LA USA
- Died August 8, 1996 in Houston, TX USA
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006
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[edit] Biographical Information
When playing baseball in Puerto Rico, Willard Brown was known as Ese Hombre which translated to English would be That Man. His home run for the St. Louis Browns on August 13, 1947 was the first hit by a black player in the history of the American League; it was an inside-the-park shot off future Hall of Famer Hal Newhouser of the Detroit Tigers.
[edit] Negro Leagues Career Statistics
| Year | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | BA | SLG |
| 1935 | Kansas City Monarchs | 5 | 17 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | .529 | 1.118 |
| 1936 | Kansas City Monarchs | 3 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | .200 | .200 |
| 1937 | Kansas City Monarchs | 47 | 174 | 40 | 61 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 30 | 9 | 14 | .351 | .626 |
| 1938 | Kansas City Monarchs | 32 | 118 | 20 | 41 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 16 | 7 | .341 | .568 |
| 1939 | Kansas City Monarchs | 24 | 94 | 11 | 33 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 2 | .351 | .532 |
| 1940 | Kansas City Monarchs | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 |
| 1941 | Kansas City Monarchs | 29 | 111 | 24 | 37 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 24 | 6 | 10 | .333 | .541 |
| 1942 | Kansas City Monarchs | 36 | 147 | 28 | 50 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 28 | 3 | 9 | .340 | .531 |
| 1943 | Kansas City Monarchs | 26 | 96 | 17 | 31 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 2 | 5 | .323 | .490 |
| 1944 | Kansas City Monarchs | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .250 | .250 |
| 1945 | military service | ||||||||||||
| 1946 | Kansas City Monarchs | 58 | 230 | 47 | 80 | 21 | 7 | 5 | 42 | 13 | 6 | .348 | .565 |
| 1947 | Kansas City Monarchs | 50 | 211 | 38 | 71 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 22 | 1 | 3 | .336 | .427 |
| 1948 | Kansas City Monarchs | 66 | 262 | 65 | 98 | 20 | 5 | 18 | 13 | 24 | .374 | .695 | |
| Total | 13 seasons | 378 | 1478 | 297 | 514 | 88 | 37 | 53 | 194 | 71 | 82 | .348 | .565 |
Source: Committee on African-American Baseball
[edit] Notable Achievements
- Baseball Hall of Fame: Class of 2006
