Гейтс Браун: Американдық бейсболшының өмірі мен мансабы

American baseball player and coach (1939 2013)

William James "Gates" Brown (May 2, 1939 – September 27, 2013) was an American Major League Baseball left fielder who spent his entire career with the Detroit Tigers (1963–1975). He batted left handed and threw right handed.

Brown was born in 1939 in Crestline, Ohio. He attended Crestline High School and played tailback for the school's football team. After his sophomore year, Brown "got in with the wrong crowd" and spent his junior year at the Boys Industrial School for juvenile offenders in Lancaster, Ohio. He returned to Crestline High for his senior year, but he was not permitted to compete in sports. He was encouraged by a prison guard who also coached the reformatory's baseball team to join the squad as a catcher. The coach contacted several major league teams after being impressed by Brown's batting ability. Tigers scouts Frank Skaff and Pat Mullin helped Brown get paroled a year early and signed him for US$7,000. He chose to join the Tigers despite interest from other teams such as the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians. He explained, "The primary reasons I signed with Detroit is because they didn't have any black players and eventually I figured they would, plus, I had been told about the short right porch at Tiger Stadium."

After signing with the Tigers, Brown spent four years in the team's farm system. He began his professional baseball career in 1960 with the Class C Duluth Superior Dukes of the Northern League. In his first season, he played in the outfield, compiled a .293 batting average with 10 home runs and 68 RBIs, and was selected for the All Star team. He also ranked among the Northern League's leaders with 13 triples (first), 30 stolen bases (second), and 105 runs scored (second). He also played winter league ball at Tampa in 1961. He played winter ball at Dunedin in 1962. Brown began the 1963 season with the Class AAA Syracuse Chiefs of the International League. He hit .257 with 13 home runs and 43 RBIs in 60 games.