Paul Brown---1962
“The Philadelphia management
thinks that they have a real hot-shot
in this youngster,” reads the first line
of Paul Brown’s 1962 Rookie Card.
And there’s probably good reason for
the statement, as the right-hander
rocketed through the Phillies’ chain.
After starting in the New York-Penn
League in 1960 with an 11-9, 3.95
mark, Brown went 8-5, 3.90 for
Double-A Williamsport to open the
1961 season and by July found
himself in the bigs with the Phillies.
Unfortunately, the 20-year-old had a
difficult time finding the plate, walking
eight in ten innings of work, and
picking up a loss at St. Louis on
August 5, his lone start for the
Phillies that season. He finished the
campaign going 3-2, 2.20 for Triple-A
Buffalo of the International League.
Life was good though as his first card
came out in 1962 with a “Rookie
Star” label.
In 1962, Brown broke with the Phillies
and shuttled between the pen and
grabbing a few starts for manager
Gene Mauch, but the results were
similar as Brown went 0-6, 5.94 as he
walked his way back to the minors
(33 free passes in 64 innings). He did
well in Buffalo to finish the season,
giving Topps reason to issue a 1963
card of Brown.
The right-hander again opened the
season with the Phils, enduring a
hard luck loss in his first outing,
tossing five innings allowing just an
unearned run to the Milwaukee
Braves. However, after two more
outings Brown was shipped back to
Triple-A where he logged some good
work for the majority of the 1963
season. He went 14-11, 3.37 for
Arkansas, thus earning a September
call up. Three more relief outings
didn’t net Brown a win, as the right-
hander was still searching for his first
major league victory.
Topps continued the Paul Brown
collection in 1964, but he toiled
exclusively in the minors. He didn’t
make it back to Philadelphia until
1968, when he pitched in just two
games before hanging up his glove.
By then, Topps had long stopped
making Paul Brown cards as it was
becoming apparent that he really
wasn’t a hot shot after all.
(/7/13/08)
thinks that they have a real hot-shot
in this youngster,” reads the first line
of Paul Brown’s 1962 Rookie Card.
And there’s probably good reason for
the statement, as the right-hander
rocketed through the Phillies’ chain.
After starting in the New York-Penn
League in 1960 with an 11-9, 3.95
mark, Brown went 8-5, 3.90 for
Double-A Williamsport to open the
1961 season and by July found
himself in the bigs with the Phillies.
Unfortunately, the 20-year-old had a
difficult time finding the plate, walking
eight in ten innings of work, and
picking up a loss at St. Louis on
August 5, his lone start for the
Phillies that season. He finished the
campaign going 3-2, 2.20 for Triple-A
Buffalo of the International League.
Life was good though as his first card
came out in 1962 with a “Rookie
Star” label.
In 1962, Brown broke with the Phillies
and shuttled between the pen and
grabbing a few starts for manager
Gene Mauch, but the results were
similar as Brown went 0-6, 5.94 as he
walked his way back to the minors
(33 free passes in 64 innings). He did
well in Buffalo to finish the season,
giving Topps reason to issue a 1963
card of Brown.
The right-hander again opened the
season with the Phils, enduring a
hard luck loss in his first outing,
tossing five innings allowing just an
unearned run to the Milwaukee
Braves. However, after two more
outings Brown was shipped back to
Triple-A where he logged some good
work for the majority of the 1963
season. He went 14-11, 3.37 for
Arkansas, thus earning a September
call up. Three more relief outings
didn’t net Brown a win, as the right-
hander was still searching for his first
major league victory.
Topps continued the Paul Brown
collection in 1964, but he toiled
exclusively in the minors. He didn’t
make it back to Philadelphia until
1968, when he pitched in just two
games before hanging up his glove.
By then, Topps had long stopped
making Paul Brown cards as it was
becoming apparent that he really
wasn’t a hot shot after all.
(/7/13/08)
