Gates Brown
Born: 5/2/1939 in Crestline, OH, USA
Died: 9/27/2013 in Detroit, MI, USA
MLB Debut: 1963-06-19 | Final Game: 1975-09-26
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 220 lbs
Full name: William James Brown
Biography
Gates Brown was a prominent American Major League Baseball player who played primarily as a position player from 1963 until his retirement in 1975. Born in 1939, Brown made his mark in the sport during an era characterized by changing offensive strategies and the growing importance of power hitters. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 1,051 games, recording 582 hits and showcasing his ability to contribute both as a reliable hitter and a valuable bench player.
Brown finished his career with a batting average of .257, hitting 84 home runs and driving in 322 runs, which underscored his role as a consistent offensive presence. Known for his versatility on the field, he also displayed speed on the bases, stealing 30 bases during his time in the league. Gates Brown's legacy is highlighted not just by his statistics but also by his ability to adapt to the evolving game, making him a respected figure in baseball history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1051 | 2262 | 330 | 582 | 78 | 19 | 84 | 322 | 30 | 242 | 275 | 0.257 | 0.330 | 0.420 | 0.750 | 3740.5 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | DET | AL | 55 | 82 | 16 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 2 | 8 | 13 | 0.268 | 105.8 |
| 1964 | DET | AL | 123 | 426 | 65 | 116 | 22 | 6 | 15 | 54 | 11 | 31 | 53 | 0.272 | 977.7 |
| 1965 | DET | AL | 96 | 227 | 33 | 58 | 14 | 2 | 10 | 43 | 6 | 17 | 33 | 0.256 | 427.4 |
| 1966 | DET | AL | 88 | 169 | 27 | 45 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 27 | 3 | 18 | 19 | 0.266 | 361.6 |
| 1967 | DET | AL | 51 | 91 | 17 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 15 | 0.187 | -185.8 |
| 1968 | DET | AL | 67 | 92 | 15 | 34 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 0.370 | 1115.6 |
| 1969 | DET | AL | 60 | 93 | 13 | 19 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 17 | 0.204 | -369.7 |
| 1970 | DET | AL | 81 | 124 | 18 | 28 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 24 | 0 | 20 | 14 | 0.226 | -142.8 |
| 1971 | DET | AL | 82 | 195 | 37 | 66 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 29 | 4 | 21 | 17 | 0.338 | 1399.8 |
| 1972 | DET | AL | 103 | 252 | 33 | 58 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 31 | 3 | 26 | 28 | 0.230 | 59.5 |
| 1973 | DET | AL | 125 | 377 | 48 | 89 | 11 | 1 | 12 | 50 | 1 | 52 | 41 | 0.236 | -18.7 |
| 1974 | DET | AL | 73 | 99 | 7 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 17 | 0 | 10 | 15 | 0.242 | 10.1 |
| 1975 | DET | AL | 47 | 35 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 0.171 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | ALCS | DET | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 1968 | WS | DET | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| OF | 428 | 388 | 690 | 23 | 17 | 3 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | DET | OF | 16 | 12 | 35 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 1964 | DET | OF | 106 | 101 | 205 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 1965 | DET | OF | 56 | 51 | 108 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 1966 | DET | OF | 43 | 34 | 46 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 1967 | DET | OF | 20 | 17 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1968 | DET | 1B | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1968 | DET | OF | 17 | 16 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1969 | DET | OF | 14 | 14 | 28 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 1970 | DET | OF | 26 | 26 | 37 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1971 | DET | OF | 56 | 49 | 68 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1972 | DET | OF | 72 | 67 | 122 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| 1973 | DET | OF | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 1 |
| Left Field | 420 |
| Right Field | 7 |
| Designated Hitter | 132 |