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American baseball player (1960–2022)
the American baseball player

Thomas Leo Browning (April 28, 1960 – December 19, 2022) just the third perfect game by a lefthander; it was the highlight of a season in which he was 18–5, posting the league's second highest winning percentage. He helped the Reds to a sweep in the 1990 World Series, winning Game 3 against the defending champion Oakland Athletics. In 1991, his last full season, Browning was named to the NL All Star team. Browning's 123 wins with the Reds ranked fourth among lefthanders when he retired, and remain the most by any Reds pitcher active since 1971; his 298 starts trail only Eppa Rixey among the team's lefthanders. He later became a broadcaster and minor league pitching coach, and co authored the book Tom Browning's Tales from the Reds Dugout. Browning was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 2006.

Browning played college baseball at Le Moyne College in Syracuse from 1979 to 1981 and Tennessee Wesleyan College in Athens, Tennessee from 1981 to 1982.

Browning was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the ninth round of the 1982 June draft out of Tennessee Wesleyan College in Athens, Tennessee. Three months earlier, on June 6, 1988, Browning had a bid for a no hitter broken up by Tony Gwynn, who singled with one out in the ninth. Browning just missed becoming the first pitcher to hurl two perfect games, taking another bid into the ninth on July 4, 1989, against the Philadelphia Phillies at Veterans Stadium; a lead off double by Dickie Thon broke up this attempt.

In 1990, the Reds went to the postseason for the first and only time in Browning's career. He won 15 games that season and picked up a key win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series. The Reds would meet the heavily favored Oakland A's in the World Series that year, but thanks in part to Browning's victory in Game 3, the Reds pulled off an unlikely sweep to become champions. "That 1990 season was, without a doubt, the most enjoyable season of baseball I have ever been a part of," he said. Browning's wife went into labor late in Game 2 of the World Series. Browning left the stadium to be with his wife at the hospital. However, as the game entered extra innings and the Reds' manager Lou Piniella realized his pitcher was absent, the Reds called the announcers and had them issue a statement on radio and TV asking Browning to return to the ballpark in case he had to pitch. While Browning did hear the message, he stayed with his wife. The Reds won in the 10th inning.

Browning battled injuries from 1991 to 1993—going 27–26—but after a 10–4 start to the 1991 season, he earned a spot on the All Star team, though he did not appear in the NL's 4–2 loss. Two years later on July 7, 1993, he sneaked out of Wrigley Field during a Reds Cubs game and spent a half inning with fans on the rooftop of 3643 North Sheffield Avenue in full uniform in one of baseball's most legendary pranks. The gag earned Browning a $500 fine from Reds manager Davey Johnson. Browning entered the 1994 season healthy. However, during a start in San Diego on May 9, Browning's arm broke while delivering a pitch to Archi Cianfrocco. The injury was gruesome, with spectators and television viewers able to see Browning's arm separate from his shoulder, and hearing a popping sound simultaneously. He missed the remainder of the season. He attempted a comeback with the Kansas City Royals in 1995, starting two games in May but losing both with an 8.10 ERA, but he decided to take the rest of the season off and to continue rehabbing his arm. He entered camp with the Royals again in 1996 but retired before the season began. Browning retired with a 123–90 record, a 3.94 ERA, and 31 complete games. His 123 wins with the Reds rank 12th on Cincinnati's all time leaders list.

In December 2005, Browning led fan balloting wire to wire to become a 2006 Reds Hall of Famer. In February 2006, new Reds CEO Bob Castellini invited Browning to spring training as a special instructor. He broadcast Dayton Dragons (a Class A affiliate of the Reds) games during the 2006 season and was the pitching coach for the Dragons' 2012 and 2015 seasons. In 2007, Browning was named the pitching coach for the Reds' Rookie Advanced level Billings Mustangs farm club.

On December 19, 2022, Boone County, Kentucky Sheriff's Department officers and emergency personnel responded to Browning's home in Union, Kentucky. Upon arriving they found Browning not breathing. Attempts at resuscitation were unsuccessful.