Ron Brand--1969
The call to the manager’s office is
like a double-edged sword. On one
hand, a manager may call a young
man into the big chair with the news
that he is going realize a dream of
making it to the big leagues. On the
other hand, a struggling player may
find himself being demoted or worse
yet, released.
While a player’s life is put in limbo
until the manager speaks, the player
usually knows why he was
summoned. That is unless you were
Ron Brand in 1963.
Signed by the Pirates in 1958 out of
high school, the sparkplug of a
receiver systematically worked his
way up the Pittsburgh minor league
system. Known for his defensive
skills, as Brand physically matured,
so did his bat. The hind snatcher hit
an impressive .316 in his return trip
to Burlington of the Three-I League
in 1961. He tore up Class B Kinston
to start 1962 to the tune of .318,
before being called in by the
manager to learn that he was
skipping Double-A ball to join the
Columbus Jets of the Triple-A
International League, where Brand
would hit .267.
Returning to Columbus to open
1963, Brand was just a few good
weeks of hitting or an injury away
from a big league call up. Yet, the 5’
8” receiver went just 6-for-64 to open
the season when he got word to see
Jets’ manager, Larry Shepard.
Off to the worst start of his career,
Brand tells the story of carrying
his .094 average into Shepard's
office certain that he was being sent
down to Double-A Asheville.
However, much to his amazement,
Brand was told by Shepard that he
was big league bound to help with
backup duties behind the plate, with
occassional work at third and second
base for the Pirates.
Brand would go on to hit a career
high .288 in 46 games during his
rookie campaign. Though he would
receive a little more minor league
seasoning the next season, Brand
would ultimately enjoy an 8-year
major league career that closed out
with the Montreal Expos in 1971.
And so goes the saying, “It’s always
darkest, just before the dawn.”
(5/25/09)
like a double-edged sword. On one
hand, a manager may call a young
man into the big chair with the news
that he is going realize a dream of
making it to the big leagues. On the
other hand, a struggling player may
find himself being demoted or worse
yet, released.
While a player’s life is put in limbo
until the manager speaks, the player
usually knows why he was
summoned. That is unless you were
Ron Brand in 1963.
Signed by the Pirates in 1958 out of
high school, the sparkplug of a
receiver systematically worked his
way up the Pittsburgh minor league
system. Known for his defensive
skills, as Brand physically matured,
so did his bat. The hind snatcher hit
an impressive .316 in his return trip
to Burlington of the Three-I League
in 1961. He tore up Class B Kinston
to start 1962 to the tune of .318,
before being called in by the
manager to learn that he was
skipping Double-A ball to join the
Columbus Jets of the Triple-A
International League, where Brand
would hit .267.
Returning to Columbus to open
1963, Brand was just a few good
weeks of hitting or an injury away
from a big league call up. Yet, the 5’
8” receiver went just 6-for-64 to open
the season when he got word to see
Jets’ manager, Larry Shepard.
Off to the worst start of his career,
Brand tells the story of carrying
his .094 average into Shepard's
office certain that he was being sent
down to Double-A Asheville.
However, much to his amazement,
Brand was told by Shepard that he
was big league bound to help with
backup duties behind the plate, with
occassional work at third and second
base for the Pirates.
Brand would go on to hit a career
high .288 in 46 games during his
rookie campaign. Though he would
receive a little more minor league
seasoning the next season, Brand
would ultimately enjoy an 8-year
major league career that closed out
with the Montreal Expos in 1971.
And so goes the saying, “It’s always
darkest, just before the dawn.”
(5/25/09)
