Tommy Brahan

Thomas M. Brahan
(Little Tommy, Banty, Colonel)

• Bats Unknown, Throws Left

• Born June 1869 in Buffalo, NY USA
• Died May 30, 1920 in Buffalo, NY USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Despite being among the smallest players in organized baseball, Tommy Brahan, often called "Little Tommy", "Banty", or "Midget", enjoyed a successful minor league career from 1889 to 1897. A red-headed, left-handed pitcher, the diminuitive Brahan could not overpower hitters, but instead was instead an early prototype of the crafty lefty: a "clever twirler" who handled the ball "like a wizard" and had "elusive curves".

A native of Buffalo, NY, Brahan began pitching as a teenager for the city's West End club, striking out 14 in a "remarkable game" in his first notice in a city newspaper in 1886. He would maintain his association with the West Ends throughout his career, pitching for the club regularly around his stints in the minor leagues. His older brother Michael also regularly featured as the team's shortstop and was the club's manager for a time as well. In 1888, newspaper's from several cities sponsored teams of "newsboys" in a baseball contest and Brahan starred as the pitcher for the Buffalo Evening News club, having a 20-strikeout game against the Philadelphia Call club and a 21-strikeout game against a team from Olean, NY.

In 1889 Brahan moved into the minors, debuting with a 14-strikeout game for Elmira in the New York State League. He had a strong year with the club, going 14-6, with 100 strikeouts in 167 innings. In 1890 and 1891 he pitched for Troy, NY, leading the New York State League with 20 wins in 1890. He opened 1891 strong, pitching like a potential major leaguer in two exhibition games against the New York Giants, then went 9-15 in Eastern Association play, suffering from a lame arm by the end of season. He opened 1892 with Syracuse, though was released before league play began, and spent the season mostly playing outfield with the West Ends back in Buffalo, allowing his pitching arm to get back into shape.

Brahan went to Harrisburg, PA in 1893, where he went 14-16 in the Pennsylvania State League. He returned to the club in 1894, but was released after pitching just four league games. He then spent almost two months pitching with Brockton and then played four games for Bangor, both of the New England League. He had a bounce-back year in 1895, leading the New York State League with 11 wins for Elmira before that team and league disbanded, then went 16-4 for Bangor, leading the New England League in winning percentage. While with Bangor, he began to be referred to as "Col. Tomaso Braham", and though he was usually referred to as "Braham" in New England and Canada, his given name of "Brahan" was much more commonly used, particularly in New York and Pennsylvania.

By 1895, Brahan had put on weight, was said to be "stumpy" and "waddled" to the pitcher's box, and that fall he opened a confectionary and cigar store in Buffalo, which would become a meeting place for the Buffalo city baseball league. While he would remain in that line of work for the rest of his life, he did pitch for two more years before moving his full focus to his business. He returned to Bangor in 1896, where he went 14-8 in 23 games and was praised for his brains and work-ethic at the time of his release from the club in August. He then had a brief trial with London in the Canadian League, then played four games with the West Ends to finish the season, striking out 16 in a 1-hitter to win the Buffalo city championship. In 1897 he mostly pitched in the city league, though also won 3 of his 4 games back in Canada with Hamilton, which was his final league stint.

Brahan would live in Buffalo with his wife and son until his death in 1920.

Related Sites

• Find-A-Grave Memorial for Thomas M. Brahan