Detroit Tigers: The Tigers who wore stripes

Gates Brown

The left-handed batter spent his entire major league career in a Detroit Tigers uniform (1963 to 1975). But things were not all roses for the young Brown.

Growing up in a small town in central Ohio, Brown ran with a rough gang. He was eventually sentenced for burglary. He served time in the Ohio State Reformatory. While imprisoned, a jail guard who served as a baseball coach convinced Brown try out for the prison team. Brown excelled.

Word spread of Brown’s ability at the bat. In spite of interest from numerous clubs, he would eventually sign with the Detroit Tigers.

After an early parole, assisted in part by the Detroit Tigers,  the “Gator” made his Major League debut as a 24-year-old rookie. In his first at-bat Brown became the 11th player in Major league history to hit a home run.

That initial hit would be indicative of the long career ahead of him. Brown retired in 1975 as the most prodigious pinch hitter in MLB history.

Brown had a total of 16 pinch home runs and 107 pinch hits in his illustrious career.  As a part-time outfielder, first baseman and designated hitter Brown posted a .257 average while hitting 84 home runs and 322 RBI.

In the 1968 championship season Brown had a batting average of .370 with an OBP of .442.

After his retirement, Gator went on to be the Tigers hitting coach. He acquired his second World Series ring as the hitting coach for the 1984 Tigers.

The Hot Dog Incident

Although the story has been told many times, it was given its proper place in MLB baseball lore in an article written by MLB.com titled “Great Moments in Hot Dog History“.

On August 8th,1968, Brown found himself hungry and not in the daily line up. To satisfy his ravenous hunger, Brown decided to buy two dogs with everything on ’em.

After wolfing down the first,  and while sitting on the bench, Gator heard his name being called on by manager Mayo Smith.  Brown was being called on to pinch hit.

Never one to throw away good food, Brown shoved the second dog, condiments and all, into his uniform. To Brown’s dismay, he not only got a hit but had to slide into second base for an extra base hit.

After crushing the dog inside his uniform, catsup bled through the jersey. An ump thought Brown had injured himself and told him to stay put until the trainers arrived.

Players on the field quickly realized what was happening and started laughing.  When manager Smith realized what happened, he fined Gator $100.

So the legend of the hot dog incident was born.

Gates Brown died in Detroit on September 27, 2013.