Norm Branch

Born: 3/22/1915 in Spokane, WA, USA

Died: 11/21/1971 in Navasota, TX, USA

MLB Debut: 1941-05-05 | Final Game: 1942-08-20

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'3" | Weight: 200 lbs

Full name: Norman Downs Branch

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Biography

Norm Branch, born in 1915, was a professional baseball pitcher whose career spanned from 1941 to 1942. He made his mark in the early 1940s, a time when the sport was significantly impacted by World War II, which led to many players leaving for military service. Branch's tenure in Major League Baseball was brief but noteworthy, as he compiled a career record of 5-2 with a 3.73 earned run average (ERA) over his time on the mound. His ability to strike out batters was evident, as he recorded 41 strikeouts and demonstrated effectiveness in high-pressure situations, earning 4 saves during his career. Branch's playing style was characterized by a competitive spirit and a strong work ethic, qualities that resonated with fans during an era when the game was evolving amidst global challenges. Though his career was short-lived, Norm Branch remains a part of the rich tapestry of baseball history, remembered for his contributions to the game during a turbulent time in American history.

Career Pitching Statistics

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA	Pitcher PIV
5	2	37	0	0	0	4	62.7	55	26	5	42	41	3.73	0

Career ERA 3.73 vs. league average 3.75 across their career seasons — near league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year	Team	Lg	W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	BB	SO	ERA	Lg ERA	Pitcher PIV
1941	NYY	AL	5	1	27	0	0	0	2	47.0	37	15	26	28	2.87	3.94 (+27%)	-
1942	NYY	AL	0	1	10	0	0	0	2	15.7	18	11	16	13	6.32	3.57 (-77%)	-

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
37	13	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	1	5	0.077	0.143	0.077	0.220	0.0

Career AVG .077 vs. league average .258 across their career seasons — 70.2% below league average.

Career OBP .143 vs. league average .328 across their career seasons — 56.4% below league average.

Career SLG .077 vs. league average .361 across their career seasons — 78.7% below league average.

Career OPS 0.220 vs. league average 0.689 across their career seasons — 68.1% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS	PIV
1941	NYY	AL	27	10	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	0.000	—	—	—	—	0.0
1942	NYY	AL	10	3	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0.333	—	—	—	—	0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
P	37	0	0	17	0	0

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year	Team	Pos	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1941	NYA	P	27	0	0	12	0	0
1942	NYA	P	10	0	0	5	0	0

Career Games by Position

Position	Games
Pitcher	37

College History

School Name	City	State	Years Attended
University of Texas at Austin	Austin	TX	1934, 1935, 1936