The famous Louisville Slugger line of baseball bats made by the Hillerich & Bradsby Company is named after the Louisville-born, bred, and employed Browning, who ordered the first customized bat in 1884. Browning himself was called "The Gladiator" for his desperate fights with fly balls. The epitome of the clumsy slugger (lifetime fielding average, .874), he was nearly deaf from mastoiditus, illiterate, and alcoholic. But he also compiled the third-highest career BA for a righthanded batter and won three batting titles. (JK)
Contribute your recollections of Pete Browning by clicking here.
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»March 1, 1891: Pittsburgh and Cleveland are the two NL clubs making the heaviest raids against AA player contracts. Pittsburgh further earns its new nickname of "Pirates" by signing Pete Browning and Scott Stratton away from Louisville.
»May 5, 1891: Pittsburgh's Pete Browning bunts into a triple play in the top of the 6th inning and makes an error to allow a run in the bottom of the frame, causing Pittsburgh to lose to the Chicago Colts 1–0.
BALLPLAYERS | TEAMS | CHRONOLOGY | TODAY | BOOKS | NEWSLETTER | ERRATA | FAQ
