Willard Brown (brownwi01)
From BR Bullpen
Willard Brown (Big Bill or California)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2", Weight 190 lb.
- Debut May 10, 1887
- Final Game May 20, 1894
- Born 1866 in San Francisco, CA USA
- Died December 20, 1897 in San Francisco, CA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Willard Brown played seven seasons in the major leagues. He was mostly a catcher in his early years and then became mostly a first baseman.
Brown was playing professional baseball as early as 1882 in San Francisco, his hometown. When he broke into the majors with the 1887 Giants, he was approximately the same age as outfielder Mike Tiernan. Also on the team were several future Hall of Famers: John Ward, Buck Ewing, Roger Connor, Mickey Welch, Jim O'Rourke and Tim Keefe. Brown played more catcher than anyone else on the team.
In 1888 and 1889 he appeared in post-season play as the Giants won both times. He hit an excellent .462 in 13 at-bats.
In 1892 he played in California instead of in the majors. He spent part of 1894 in the minors and spent 1896 in Seattle.
He died in 1897.
He is not to be confused with a later Willard Brown, a Hall of Famer whose career was mostly in the Negro Leagues and in Puerto Rico.
Here is a baseball card of Willard Brown, referred to on the card as "California Brown".
