Gene Brabender
Encyclopedia
Eugene Mathew Brabender (August 16, 1941 - December 27, 1996), nicknamed "Lurch", was an American
Major League Baseball
pitcher
. He was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers
as an amateur free agent before the 1961 season. He pitched for the Baltimore Orioles
(1966–1968), Seattle Pilots
(1969), and the Milwaukee Brewers
(1970). During a 5-year baseball career, Brabender compiled 35 wins
, 440 strikeouts, and a 4.25 earned run average
. He stood 6'6" and weighed 225 lbs.
Brabender, described by pitcher Steve Barber
as "a hard-throwing right-handed country boy", made his Major League debut in relief on May 11, 1966. He entered a tie game against the Chicago White Sox
in the top of the 10th inning at Memorial Stadium
and gave up a run
in the 11th, resulting in a 3-2 Orioles loss.
He was part of the 1966 World Series
champion team, but did not appear in a World Series
game. Brabender was 16-14 during his time in Baltimore. The best game of his career was on August 7, 1967 against the Cleveland Indians
, pitching a four-hit shutout
and striking out 12. He was traded to the expansion Seattle Pilots on March 31, 1969.
Brabender led Seattle with 13 wins in their only season in the Pacific Northwest
. His finest effort for this infamous team came on June 21, 1969 at Sick's Stadium
as he hurled a three-hit shutout against the Kansas City Royals, striking out five. The Pilots moved to Milwaukee during 1970 spring training
and became the Brewers, and in what would be his final season, Brabender compiled a 6-15 record with a 6.02 ERA.
Brabender died in his hometown of Black Earth, Wisconsin
at the age of 55.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
as an amateur free agent before the 1961 season. He pitched for the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
(1966–1968), Seattle Pilots
Seattle Pilots
The Seattle Pilots were an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington for one season, . The Pilots played home games at Sick's Stadium and were a member of the West Division of Major League Baseball's American League...
(1969), and the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1970). During a 5-year baseball career, Brabender compiled 35 wins
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
, 440 strikeouts, and a 4.25 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. He stood 6'6" and weighed 225 lbs.
Brabender, described by pitcher Steve Barber
Steve Barber
Stephen David Barber was an American Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1960-1974 for seven different teams, but is noted primarily for his time with the Baltimore Orioles...
as "a hard-throwing right-handed country boy", made his Major League debut in relief on May 11, 1966. He entered a tie game against the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in the top of the 10th inning at Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)
Memorial Stadium was a sports stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, that formerly stood on 33rd Street on an over-sized block also bounded by Ellerslie Avenue , 36th Street , and Ednor Road...
and gave up a run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
in the 11th, resulting in a 3-2 Orioles loss.
He was part of the 1966 World Series
1966 World Series
The 1966 World Series matched the Baltimore Orioles against the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers, with the Orioles sweeping the Series in four games to capture their first championship in franchise history...
champion team, but did not appear in a World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
game. Brabender was 16-14 during his time in Baltimore. The best game of his career was on August 7, 1967 against the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, pitching a four-hit shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
and striking out 12. He was traded to the expansion Seattle Pilots on March 31, 1969.
Brabender led Seattle with 13 wins in their only season in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
. His finest effort for this infamous team came on June 21, 1969 at Sick's Stadium
Sick's Stadium
Sick's Stadium, also known as Sick's Seattle Stadium and later as Sicks' Stadium, was a baseball stadium located in Seattle, Washington's Rainier Valley at the corner of S. McClellan Street and Rainier Avenue S. The site was previously the location of Dugdale Park, a 1913 ballpark that was the home...
as he hurled a three-hit shutout against the Kansas City Royals, striking out five. The Pilots moved to Milwaukee during 1970 spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
and became the Brewers, and in what would be his final season, Brabender compiled a 6-15 record with a 6.02 ERA.
Brabender died in his hometown of Black Earth, Wisconsin
Black Earth, Wisconsin
Black Earth is a village in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,320 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Black Earth...
at the age of 55.