Major League
He played briefly in the major leagues, in 1947, having signed with the floundering St. Louis Browns. On 20 July, Brown and Henry Thompson played against the Boston Red Sox. It was the first time that two black players appeared in a Major League game together. Throughout the season, he struggled because of the racism endemic in his new surroundings and his frustration with the lack of talent of his new teammates.
After batting .179 in 21 games, he left the majors, but not before becoming the first black player to hit a home run in the American League. That winter, he went to Puerto Rico and had one of his greatest seasons ever, batting .432 with 27 home runs and 86 RBI in just 60 games, winning the Triple Crown and earning the nickname Ese Hombre or "That Man". Brown won the Puerto Rican Winter League Triple Crown in the 1949-1950 season. He also hit for the cycle once in his career.
Read more about this topic: Willard Brown (outfielder)
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