Joe Brown (utility player)

Joe Brown
Joe Brown
	Pitcher/Outfielder
	Born: April 4, 1859; Canada
	Died: June 28, 1888 (aged 29); Warren, Pennsylvania, U.S.
	Batted: Unknown Threw: Unknown
MLB debut
	August 16, 1884, for the Chicago White Stockings
Last MLB appearance
	July 16, 1885, for the Baltimore Orioles
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	4–6
Earned run average	5.11
Strikeouts	36
Batting average	.200
Home runs	0
Runs batted in	3
	Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
	Chicago White Stockings (1884); Baltimore Orioles (1885);

Joseph E. Brown (April 4, 1859 – June 28, 1888) was a Canadian pitcher/utility player in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Stockings and Baltimore Orioles.

It was relatively common in the 19th century for baseball teams to use a reserve fielder as a pitcher, and this appears to be true in Brown's case. He appeared in 15 games for the 1884 Cubs (debuting August 16), pitching in seven of those games, six as a starter. His mark that season was 4–2 with a 4.68 ERA. He also played center field, right field, first baseman, and catcher for the Cubs that season, hitting .213 with 3 RBI in 61 trips to the plate.

Brown found himself with the American Association's Orioles in the 1886 season in a similar role for a brief period of time. He pitched in four games, completing and losing each one for a record of 0–4 and an ERA of 5.68. He also appeared in one game as a second baseman. Brown was 3-for-19 at the plate in 1886 to finish his career with a batting average of exactly .200 (16-for-80).

Brown died on June 28, 1888, in Warren, Pennsylvania, aged just 29.

External links

Career statistics from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)