Ray Brown
| Birthdate | 2/23/1908 |
| Death Date | 2/8/1965 |
| Debut Year | 1930 |
| Year of Induction | 2006 |
| Teams | Negro Leagues |
| Position | Pitcher |
Armed with an array of breaking pitches highlighted by a devastating curveball, Ray Brown led the Homestead Grays to 8 pennants in 9 years.
Leave a commentIn the collection:
Hall of Fame plaque of Ray Brown
Hall of Fame plaque of Ray Brown
In 1938 the Pittsburgh Courier listed Negro Leaguers who’d be certain big leaguers if allowed to play: Ray Brown, Cool Papa Bell, Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard, and Satchel Paige.
All five players ended up in the Hall of Fame. As the initial Negro Leaguer in Cooperstown, Paige received the honor in 1971. He was followed in ’72 by Gibson and Leonard; Bell got inducted in ’74.
It wasn’t until more than 30 years later that the Hall recognized Brown in 2006.
His plaque reads, “A mainstay of the Homestead Grays pitching staff for 14 seasons, utilizing a variety of breaking balls, including a devastating curveball, to help them to eight pennants in nine years from 1937-1945. Ranks among All Time Negro Leagues leaders win, winning percentage, and shutouts. Selected to three East-West All Star games. Tossed one-hitter against Birmingham Barons in 1944 Negro Leagues World Series. Spent several standout seasons pitching in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.”
Brown remains elusive for even the most advanced autograph collectors. His autograph is not in the collection at this time.
2006 Hall of Fame yearbook
2006 Hall of Fame yearbook
In 2005, the Hall of Fame put together a special screening committee to find people associated with the Negro Leagues who were most deserving of induction.
An original list of 94 nominees was cut to 29 candidates and finally 17 new members of the Hall of Fame to be inducted in 2006. The cover of the 2006 Hall of Fame yearbook shows those 17 including Ray Brown.
According to the Hall of Fame there are 35 Negro Leaguers enshrined in Cooperstown as of 2020.
using a computer analyst system could the negro leagues all-time greats have a 7 game world series against a all white major league team ? how would those players match up ! reading their history and parks they played in back in the early years I wonder how would today’s parks would change their approaches ! love to see Brown versus Johnson ! or Ruth versus Leonard!