Jackie Brandt
Encyclopedia
John George Brandt Jr. is a former Major League Baseball
outfielder
. He was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals
as an amateur free agent before the 1953 season, and played for the Cardinals (1956), New York Giants
(1956), San Francisco Giants
(1958–1959), Baltimore Orioles
(1960–1965), Philadelphia Phillies
(1966–1967), and Houston Astros
(1967).
Brandt made his major league debut on April 21, 1956 against the Milwaukee Braves
at Sportsman's Park
, then was traded to the New York Giants almost two months later. He had a very good rookie
season, batting .298 in 125 games with 12 home runs and 50 runs batted in. In 1959 he won a Gold Glove for his stellar play as the San Francisco Giants regular left fielder
, then was traded to Baltimore, where he would have his most productive years.
His best season was 1961, when he was named to the American League
All-Star
team. Brandt finished ninth in the A.L. batting race with a .297 average, and he had career highs in hits
(153), at bats (516), runs batted in (72), runs scored
(93), and on base percentage
(.371). The Orioles had a great year, winning 95 games and only losing 67.
One of the most famous games he was ever involved in took place at Memorial Stadium
on September 12, 1964. He drove in the only run in a rare battle of complete game
one-hitters between Orioles left-hander Frank Bertaina
and Kansas City Athletics
southpaw Bob Meyer
. Teammate Bob Saverine
entered the 0-0 game in the bottom of the 8th as a pinch runner
for John Orsino
, who had doubled
, advanced to third on a Bertaina sacrifice bunt
and then scored when Brandt hit a clutch sacrifice fly
to right field.
Career totals include 1,221 games played
, 1,020 hits
, 112 home runs, 485 runs batted in, 540 runs scored
, a .262 batting average
, and a slugging percentage of .412.
As a Phillie, Brandt was the last player to bat against Sandy Koufax
during a regular-season game, striking out for the final out of the 1966 season finale.
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...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
. He was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
as an amateur free agent before the 1953 season, and played for the Cardinals (1956), New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
(1956), San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
(1958–1959), 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...
(1960–1965), Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1966–1967), and Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
(1967).
Brandt made his major league debut on April 21, 1956 against the Milwaukee Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
at Sportsman's Park
Sportsman's Park
Sportsman's Park was the name of several former Major League Baseball ballpark structures in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, all but one of which were located on the same piece of land, the northwest corner of Grand Boulevard and Dodier Street on the north side of the city.- History :From...
, then was traded to the New York Giants almost two months later. He had a very good rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
season, batting .298 in 125 games with 12 home runs and 50 runs batted in. In 1959 he won a Gold Glove for his stellar play as the San Francisco Giants regular left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
, then was traded to Baltimore, where he would have his most productive years.
His best season was 1961, when he was named to the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
team. Brandt finished ninth in the A.L. batting race with a .297 average, and he had career highs in hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
(153), at bats (516), runs batted in (72), runs scored
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...
(93), and on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
(.371). The Orioles had a great year, winning 95 games and only losing 67.
One of the most famous games he was ever involved in took place 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...
on September 12, 1964. He drove in the only run in a rare battle of complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
one-hitters between Orioles left-hander Frank Bertaina
Frank Bertaina
Frank Louis Bertaina was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Baltimore Orioles , Washington Senators , and St. Louis Cardinals . Listed at 5' 11", 177 lb., Bertaina batted and threw left-handed...
and Kansas City Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
southpaw Bob Meyer
Bob Meyer
Robert Bernard Meyer is an American former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He was signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1960. Meyer pitched for the Yankees , Los Angeles Angels , Kansas City Athletics , Seattle Pilots , and Milwaukee Brewers...
. Teammate Bob Saverine
Bob Saverine
Robert Paul Saverine is a former Major League Baseball infielder/outfielder. He was signed by the Baltimore Orioles as an amateur free agent before the 1959 season and played for the Orioles and the Washington Senators...
entered the 0-0 game in the bottom of the 8th as a pinch runner
Pinch runner
A pinch runner is a baseball player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing a player on base. In the typical case, the pinch runner is faster or otherwise more skilled at base-running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted...
for John Orsino
John Orsino
John Joseph Orsino is a former Major League Baseball catcher. He was signed by the New York Giants as an amateur free agent before the 1957 season, and played for the San Francisco Giants , Baltimore Orioles , and Washington Senators .Orsino made his major league debut on July 14, 1961 against the...
, who had doubled
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, advanced to third on a Bertaina sacrifice bunt
Sacrifice hit
In baseball, a sacrifice bunt is a batter's act of deliberately bunting the ball in a manner that allows a runner on base to advance to another base. The batter is almost always sacrificed but sometimes reaches base due to an error or fielder's choice...
and then scored when Brandt hit a clutch sacrifice fly
Sacrifice fly
In baseball, a sacrifice fly is a batted ball that satisfies four criteria:* There are fewer than two outs when the ball is hit.* The ball is hit to the outfield....
to right field.
Career totals include 1,221 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, 1,020 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, 112 home runs, 485 runs batted in, 540 runs scored
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...
, a .262 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
, and a slugging percentage of .412.
As a Phillie, Brandt was the last player to bat against Sandy Koufax
Sandy Koufax
Sanford "Sandy" Koufax is a former left-handed baseball pitcher who played his entire 12-year Major League Baseball career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers...
during a regular-season game, striking out for the final out of the 1966 season finale.