RHP Negro Leagues 1925-48 Kansas City Monarchs, Washington Pilots, Chicago American Giants, Philadelphia Stars, New York Cubans, Cleveland Buckeyes, Tennessee Rats
Brewer was one of a stable of Kansas City Monarch pitchers that included the legendary
Satchel Paige and Bullet Joe Rogan. He defeated some of the best hurlers of his day,
both black and white - Willie Foster, Slim Jones, Smokey Joe Williams, Bob Feller,
and Paige. He had a lively fastball and a devastating overhand "drop ball," which
was especially tough on lefthanded hitters. He also threw a legal emery ball.
In
1926, his first full season with the Monarchs, Brewer went 12-1 with eight complete
games. His .842 winning percentage (16-3) led the league in 1929; that season, he
pitched 31 consecutive scoreless innings against league competition. One of his greatest
performances came under the lights in 1930 against the Homestead Grays' Smokey Joe
Williams. Brewer struck out 19, including 10 in a row, only to lose 1-0 in 12 innings
on a fluke hit by Chaney White. Brewer won 30 games that year. He won 16 straight
games in 1934 and finished the season with 33 victories against league and non-league
opponents. Pitching in Mexico in 1939, he threw two no-hitters.
Brewer was a Pittsburgh
Pirates scout from 1957 to 1974 and later worked for the Major League Scouting Bureau.
(LL)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»August 2, 1930: Playing under Kansas City's portable light system, the Pittsburgh (later Homestead) Grays 44-year-old hurler Smokey Joe Williams (27 strikeouts) spins a one-hitter to defeat the Monarchs' Chet Brewer (19 strikeouts, including 10 in a row starting in the 7th) 1–0 in a fiercely contested 12-inning matchup. Oscar Charleston scores the only run.