There have been a number of individuals from Lafayette, and the Acadiana area, that have played in Major League Baseball over the years.

Obviously, the entire state of Louisiana has produced even more.

As a matter of fact, 246 people born in the state of Louisiana have appeared in a Major League Baseball game, beginning in 1874, with John Peters of New Orleans, who played 11 years, with the likes of the Chicago White Stockings, Milwaukee Grays, Providence Grays, Buffalo Bisons, and Pittsburgh Alleghenys.

All summer, we’ll preview a player from the state of Louisiana that appeared in Major League baseball, starting with players from Lafayette, before spotlighting players from the Acadiana area, and then a few from the state itself.

Yesterday, we spotlighted Fred Andrews.

Today, we feature Tom Brown.

Born in Lafayette in 1949, Brown, a right-handed pitcher, played one season in Major League Baseball, for a small part of the 1978 campaign, becoming the fourth person born in Lafayette to appear in the big leagues.

After playing his college baseball at ULM, which at the time was Northeast Louisiana, Brown was signed by the Kansas City Royals as an undrafted free agent in 1971.

The 6-foot-1, 170-pound Brown played for the Royals' minor league affiliate in Kingsport, Tennessee, going 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA. in 17 games, before being released, and then retiring.

Out of baseball for the next four seasons, Brown made a comeback, pitching with the Baton Rouge Cougars, where, at the age of 26, went 9-1 with a sparkling 1.51 ERA.

The Houston Astros' organization signed Brown in 1977, and he paid big dividends, compiling a 1.94 in relief for AA Columbus, Georgia.

In 1978 Brown signed with the Seattle Mariners, and pitched well for AAA San Jose, before being called up to the big league club in September.

Brown pitched in 6 games for the Mariners, all in relief. In 13 innings, he allowed 14 hits and 6 runs, while walking four and striking out 8.

Unfortunately, Brown would never pitch in Major League Baseball again.

He would pitch in the minor leagues for three more years, with moderate success, but did not get another shot in the big leagues.

In seven seasons in the minor leagues, Brown compiled an overall record of 31-27, to go along with 22 saves, and a 3.31 ERA.

In one Major League Baseball season, covering 6 games, Brown went 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA.

Brown made his debut on September 14 of 1978, while making his final appearance on October 1 of 1978.

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