| Mace Brown | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1909-05-21)May 21, 1909 North English, Iowa, U.S. | |
| Died: March 24, 2002(2002-03-24) (aged 92) Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 21, 1935, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 10, 1946, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 76–57 |
| Earned run average | 3.46 |
| Strikeouts | 435 |
| Saves | 48 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Mace Stanley Brown (May 21, 1909 – March 24, 2002) was an American professionalbaseball player,scout andcoach. He appeared inMajor League Baseball, largely as arelief pitcher, over ten seasons (1935–1943; 1946) for thePittsburgh Pirates,Brooklyn Dodgers andBoston Red Sox. Brown posted a 76–57 record with a 3.46ERA and 44saves in 387 appearances (55 as astarter).
Brown was also a javelin thrower who attended theUniversity of Iowa on a track scholarship. He started hisprofessional baseball career after college. In 1934, he won 19 games for theTulsa Oilers of theTexas League and was purchased by the Pirates in November.
Brown became known as one of the first full-time relief specialists in the Major Leagues. In 1938, he led the Pirates with 15wins (all in relief), led theNational League with 51games pitched, and became the first reliever to play theAll-Star Game. In 1943, with the Red Sox, he also led theAmerican League in games pitched with 49.
However, Brown is also known for giving up theHomer in the Gloamin', the home run that cost the Pirates their lead in the 1938 National League pennant race. On September 28, 1938, the Pirates were playing theChicago Cubs, who trailed the Pirates by just one-half game in the league standings. Brown entered the game with the teams tied 5–5 in the bottom of the ninth inning. Darkness was falling fast, and the Cubs' Wrigley Field had no lights, meaning the game could end in a tie. ButGabby Hartnett soon smacked a pitch from Brown over the left-center field wall, giving the Cubs the victory and propelling them into first place.[1] The Pirates proceeded to lose four of their final five games, securing the Cubs' hold on the pennant.
Brown missed the 1944 and 1945 seasons while serving asLieutenant junior grade in theUnited States Navy during World War II.[2]
Following his playing career, Brown served as acoach andNorth Carolina–basedscout for the Red Sox organization from 1947 through 1989.[3] He was the Major League pitching coach for the1965 Red Sox, serving on the staff ofmanagerBilly Herman, who was the Cubs' startingsecond baseman in the "Homer in the Gloamin'" game.
As aspring training coach for the Red Sox, Brown worked with both pitchers and catchers. Among the latter wasCarlton Fisk who credited Mace with teaching him technical and leadership skills that stayed with him throughout his career.[4]
Brown died inGreensboro, North Carolina, at the age of 92.[5]
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Boston Red Soxpitching coach 1965 | Succeeded by |