Brunet made over 30 minor and major league moves before sticking with the Angels
for four-plus years starting in 1965. A hard-luck pitcher, he led the AL in losses
in 1967 (19) and '68 (17) despite good ERAs of 3.31 and 2.85. In 15 of his losses
in 1967, his teammates scored two runs or less. Brunet was still pitching in the
Mexican League past age fifty. He holds the minor league strikeout record with more
than 3100.
(JCA)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»April 22, 1959: The White Sox, down 6-1 after two innings, storm back and score 11 runs in the 7th inning on one hit; there are three errors, a near-record 10 walks, a HBP, stolen base, and single in the frame. Kansas City Athletics relief P George Brunet gives up five bases-loaded walks and a bases-loaded HBP, as the White Sox garner just one hit, by John Callison. Jim Landis makes two outs, both grounders to the pitcher, in the strange inning. Nellie Fox drives in two runs in the inning, both times by walking. Fox does collect four hits in the game, while Aparicio has a 3-run homer. There are three other bases-loaded walks as Kansas City loses, 20–6.
»April 10, 1968:
In New York, just 15,744 show up for the opener at the Stadium between the Yanks and California. Poet Marian Moore tosses out the first ball and rookie catcher Frank Fernandez catches it. Fernandez then belts a home run off George Brunet and Mel Stottlemyre wins, 1–0. Fernandez has one of three hits off Brunet, while Stottlemyre allows just four hits. This is one of four shutouts (out of ten games) pitched on Opening Day.
»March 13, 1969: In addition to this year's lower mound and tightened strike zone, the majors try an experiment ball with 10% more resiliency for a spring training game between the Mets and Tigers in Lakeland. It has an all-rubber center instead of a cork and rubber core, and the seams are higher than the regular ball. The Mets' Don Cardwell surrenders three homers in the 4th to Dick McAuliffe, Norm Cash, and Gates Brown in the Tigers' 7-4 win. Tomorrow, in Phoenix, the same ball is used in the Giants 13–1 win over the Angels, with Bobby Bonds hitting the only two homers (off George Brunet). The players agree the ball is definitely livelier and sounded louder coming off the bat.
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