| Joe Brovia | |
|---|---|
 Brovia as a member of thePortland Beavers | |
| Pinch hitter | |
| Born:(1922-02-18)February 18, 1922 Davenport, California, U.S. | |
| Died: August 15, 1994(1994-08-15) (aged 72) Santa Cruz, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 3, 1955, for the Cincinnati Redlegs | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| August 5, 1955, for the Cincinnati Redlegs | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .111 |
| Home runs | 0 |
| Runs batted in | 4 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Joseph John Brovia (February 18, 1922 – August 15, 1994) was an American professionalbaseball player. Anoutfielder, Brovia played almost 1,800 games over 15 seasons inminor league baseball but only 21 games as apinch hitter at theMajor League level with the1955 Cincinnati Redlegs. The native ofDavenport, California, threw right-handed, battedleft-handed, and was listed at 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) tall and 195 pounds (88 kg).
He graduated fromSanta Cruz High School in 1940.[1]
Brovia was a longtime staroutfielder in thePacific Coast League with theSan Francisco Seals,Portland Beavers,Sacramento Solons, and theOakland Oaks from 1941–42 and from 1946–55. He served in theUnited States Army duringWorld War II and missed the 1943–45 seasons.
Known best for his batting, Brovia had a lifetime .311 average in 1,805 minor league games (.304 lifetime in the PCL) producing 1,846 hits, 1,144 RBIs and 214 home runs. As a prolific hitter, Brovia was popular with the fans, especially for his home runs over the four-story high fence atSeals Stadium, called the "Green Monster" of the Coast League.
He had a short stint at age 33 with the1955 Redlegs, but only batted as a pinch hitter. In 21 games and plate appearances, he collected twosingles and onebase on balls, anddrove in four runs.
After his shot with the Redlegs, he played the next season in Mexico, after which he retired.
Brovia died fromcancer inSanta Cruz, California. He was inducted posthumously into thePacific Coast League Hall of Fame in 2005.
Media related toJoe Brovia at Wikimedia Commons