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Joe Brown Obituary
He died Sunday in Albuquerque, N.M., the team said Monday. Less than two months ago, he attended a reunion of the 1960 Pirates.
"As the architect behind the 1960 and 1971 World Series teams, we were honored that Joe was able to return to Pittsburgh in June to help us celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1960 team," team president Frank Coonelly said in a statement. "The ovation he received prior to the game was a special moment for Joe and his family."
Brown, the son of famed comedian Joe E. Brown, succeeded Branch Rickey as the Pirates' general manager following a last-place season in 1955. He stayed on the job through 1976, a span in which the Pirates won the 1960 and 1971 World Series and five NL East titles after divisi on play began in 1969.
Brown traded for 1960 Pirates standouts Don Hoak, Smoky Burgess, Bill Virdon, Harvey Haddix, Dick Schofield and Vinegar Bend Mizell - deals that helped reshape what was the majors' worst club during much of the 1950s into a champion.
His best move might have been bringing in Danny Murtaugh, who managed the 1960 and 1971 World Series teams despite retiring briefly during the 1960s. Murtaugh is the only manager in Pirates history to oversee two World Series winners.
Murtaugh died of a stroke in 1976, two months after he and Brown retired together.
Brown also promoted to the majors Hall of Famers Willie Stargell and Bill Mazeroski as well as Al Oliver, Dave Parker, Steve Blass, Richie Hebner and Manny Sanguillen. By constantly identifying, drafting and signing strong prospects, the Pirates were a contender for much of the 1960s and all the 1970s before Brown retired.
"To put it quite simply, he was one of the classiest guys th at I ever ran across in the game," said Blass, who pitched the Pirates to a Game 7 victory over Baltimore in the 1971 World Series. "Straight up, straight-on honest with you, a very good judge of talent. ... I was not a big bonus baby, I was not a big prospect. But he cared about me from day one, and that never ended."
The 1960 team upset the heavily favored New York Yankees in one of the most unpredictable World Series, overcoming losses of 16-3, 12-0 and 10-0 to win Game 7 on a ninth-inning home run by Mazeroski - one of the most storied games in major league history.
Despite his success, Brown wasn't popular among some players. He also negotiated contracts during the time before free agency, when salaries weren't high and even a modest drop in production could mean a pay cut. Still, the players recognized his organizational skills and his passion for maintaining a strong farm system.
"I tried to hold out one year, and I made the fatal mistake of going down to spring training, kind of hanging on the fence watching the guys work out," Blass said. "He came over and said, 'You know you're done.' I said, 'Give me a pen, let's go. Let's sign.' "
Brown's talent gathering was greatly aided by the Pirates' Caribbean scout, Howie Haak, one of the most successful scouts in baseball history.
Brown returned as general manager early in the 1985 season amid a clubhouse cocaine scandal and began overhauling a 104-loss team before Syd Thrift was hired full time later that year.
For the reunion trip to Pittsburgh in June, Brown was in a wheelchair. Former players said he was talkative, enthusiastic and up to date with the game. He spent much of his time talking to Vera Clemente, the wife of the late Hall of Famer.
After retiring, Brown served as the longtime chairman of the Baseball Hall of Fame Veterans Committee. The committee was restructured after Mazeroski was chosen in 2001.
Brown resided in Newport Beach, Calif., but had been staying recently in an assisted living center in Albuquerque near his daughter Cynthia's home. He would have been 92 on Sept. 1. He also is survived by a son, Don. Funeral arrangements are incomplete.
Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press
37 Entries
Tom Blake
July 21, 2020
I owned Tutor and Spunky's Deli in Dana Point, California, from 1988 until January 2015. In the early 1990s, Joe Brown came to the deli often. We became friends. He was one of the classiest men I ever met--friendly, smart, witty, intelligent, simply the best. At the time, I was also a fledgling newspaper columnist writing about dating and relationships for people age 55 plus. Among the myriad number of stories that Joe shared with me, which were mainly baseball-related, was the story of how he, a recent widower, met Paulita, a recent widow. I wrote a column about them that was published November 29, 1995, in the Dana Point News newspaper about their love story. I still have a copy of it, although it was written 25 years ago. Me, growing up as a Tigers fan in Michigan, was often teased by Joe. But his friend Jim Leland became the Tigers manager so the teasing eased up a bit. I have incredible memories of Joe and think of him often to this day.
Lorrie Barkins
February 8, 2017
Wonderful memories!!!
Terry Gordon
June 22, 2012
I have great memories of Joe L Brown. He had his good trades and his bad trades, but the minor league/scouting system was terrific!
Rose Ann Fusina
November 11, 2010
I got to know Joe L. Brown through his lovely daughter, Cynthia, who is a special friend of mine. He was smart, witty, and full of vinegar--a huge presence wherever he was! He was a great dad to Cynthia and made me feel welcome whenever I was in his company. He will be missed by all who knew him.
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James C. Hayes
October 13, 2010
Mr. Brown was a great man and wonderful friend of my parents. I have great memories of him and Din at parties during the Pittsburgh years. Mr. Brown also sent me a letter while I was in the Gulf War in Saudi Arabia, for which I will always be grateful. On behalf of my sister Betsy and our family, I wish to add my sincere condolences.
Jim Hayes
August 19, 2010
may the Father of tender mercies and the God of all comfort strength you in your time of need....1 Cor.2:3,4 Ann, Alanta, Ga.
Victoria~Andrew VZj
August 19, 2010
condolences to the
his family
Rest in peace
christ of angels
have your soul within
restnpeace'Joe'
Dolon Peete
August 19, 2010
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Shirley
August 19, 2010
I am sorry for your loss, may the God of all comfort and tender mercies be with you in your time of grief.
Marjorie Margel
August 19, 2010
I was very pleased to have met Mr. Brown and his wife many years ago when they lived in Monarch Beach.He was so very nice to everyone he met. He was unfailingly polite, answering fans requests for his autograph constantly with the great sense of humor he inherited from his famous father, Joe E. Brown, always on display. I remember jokingly him telling me constantly, "You can't pitch. You can't catch. What good are you?" Of course he was being funny, to this middle aged woman! What a great Irishman! God Speed to you, Mr. Brown and God Bless to your family.
August 18, 2010
Thank you Joe for the memories. Was born and raised near Pittsburgh and the teams there are still my favorites. R.I.P.
R Golay
August 18, 2010
To the the family of Jow Brown - May God give you peace and comfort through his word and the Lord Jesus Christ during this time of sorrow, I know that Joe will be missed by many.
Chuck Talboo
August 17, 2010
Good Bye Mr Brown, I feel that I have lost a friend that I have never met. Thank you for helping to make Pittsburgh some place special. 1960 was magic.
God Bless.
Beat 'em Bucs!
Mines
August 17, 2010
My deepest sympathy to the Brown family. Those we love left us gifts in the form of memories that no one can take away, wisdom that we can still recall. These are the things that we shall cherish forever. May the family continue to look to Almighty God for comfort during this difficult time. Because God is a refuge and strength, a help that is readily to be found during distresses.
Christine S.
August 17, 2010
My condolences to the family and friends of Joe L. Brown. Memories are wonderful.
I was 13 years old, watching Mazeroski hit the winning run in the 1960 world series, then a just married young woman living in S.F. Ca. in 1971 and watching my Pirates win again, and in 1979, my 3 yr old son and I marching in front of the t.v. yelling "3 more outs..2 more outs..", and, of course, the win.
Memories, oh yes, and thank you Mr. Brown for all you did to make them possible. Pittsburghers love you. May you rest in peace, and your loved ones find comfort.
T F
August 17, 2010
Mat the God of all comfort be with you during this time of grief and sorrow. (1 Corinthians 1:3). In God's due time, he will bring Joe back to life to a peaceful new world. He will being his favorite pass time, baseball and getting those grand slams.
Heidi Narr
August 17, 2010
To the Brown Family,
May all the wonderful memories you shared with Joe comfort you now during this difficult time. Thank you also, for sharing your Dad with all of us in the Pirate Family and MLB! Joe was a wonderful, loving man who brightened everyone's day with just his smile and love of his family and baseball. I will never forget when he called my sister Monica in Jan of 1973 and asked her to come for an interview at the Pirates. He welcomed her and my family into the Pirates family and always treated us like his own. What a WONDERFUL MAN who now joins the rest of the 'Angels in the Outfield' to watch over us all. God Bless You Joe! YOU will be missed! With love and huge hugs, Heidi
Tim Magas
August 17, 2010
This man was the architect of the "Lumber Company" and the "Lumber and Lightning" teams of the 70's. He retired in 1976, so his fingerprints were all over that 1979 world series championship team also. Pittsburgh baseball has not been the same since.
Bob Bennett
August 17, 2010
I often thought that Joe should have been considered, alond with Danny Murtaugh, for the Hall of Fame. His expertise in creating the 1960 as well as 1971 and to a lesser extent, the '79 World Champions, was paramount in foisting Pittsburgh into the role of 'World Class Cities'. As a Pitt guy who coinhabited Forbes Field with the Bucs, we often spoke to him and he offered advice to all, playing up the need to get an education rather than fulfill the 'one in a miliion' Major League pipedream. God Bless you on your journey, Joe, and thanks again for the fatherly wisdom...
Sandy Thomas
August 17, 2010
Thank you Joe for all of the wonderful memories. You will be greatly missed. Say hello to Roberto, Willie and Bob Prince. Let's Go Bucs.
God Bless.
Lorrie Barkins
August 17, 2010
I remember the Joe L Brown Show so well. Those great 70s teams. WOW
Lorrie Barkins
Bob Langworthy
August 17, 2010
I remember Mr. Brown from a Pirate / Cubs game I attended with a boyhood chum and his dad back in 1957 or 58. We boys were 13 or fourteen years old.
My friend and I had helped his dad paint their two story back porch, and the game and a little cash were our reward. We had the best seats in Wrigley Field, on the very first boxseat row, They had only one little flaw - they were on the first base visitors' side, at the east end of the Pirate dugout. We two lads were there and our third seat was used by my friend's dad, about ten rows up.
We had noticed two couples seated behind us. The men were all decked out in suits and ties, and the ladies looked grand, also.
During batting practice a stray foul ball came rolling gently our way, coming to a stop about two feet from the four foot wall we were seated behind. I had to walk on my hands as my buddy supported me by holding on to my inverted ancles to fetch it without touching toe on the playing field.
Just as I took hold of the soon to be treasured ball, my empty wallet slipped from my upside down back pocked, landing on the grass. A kid usher told me I could have it back only if I gave up the ball. Then, one of the gentlemen in the row behind us commanded "Give the kid his wallet." at back it came.
It was only later, after we had left the ballpark, that I learned from my friend's dad who the people behind us were; and that the man who told the usher to return my wallet was Joe L. Brown, Pirate GM and son of Joe E. Brown. Later that evening we were thrilled to see him as the guest on the sport portion of the local WBBM-TV newscast. It was hosted by former Notre Dame head football coach, the great Frank Leahy. There they were, Coach Leahy and OUR Joe L. Brown. Life was good, indeed.
I still have that ball on my office mantle, and have often thought of Joe L. Brown and that moment of kindness. I wish I could have thanked him again.
I will offer prayers for the repose of your soul, rest in His glorious peace Mr. Joe L. Brown.
Suzanne Seitzberg
August 17, 2010
Thanks Joe for all the good memories of those Pirate glory days. My Dad and I attended many games together and I am so grateful for all you did for the city. God Bless Always.
Norine
August 17, 2010
Thank you Joe for adding so much joy to my childhood.
Sandy Henry Rivet
August 17, 2010
Thanks for the Pirate memories while I was growing up in Pittsburgh. Born a Pittsburgh fan and still a Pittsburgh fan. God bless you and your family
Ken Rieder
August 17, 2010
Thanks for everything and God Bless
Patrick McCue
August 17, 2010
Thank you Joe L. Brown for all you did for the Pittsburgh community. God Bless you and your family.
MARK J. PENTLAND
August 17, 2010
TO THE ENTIRE BROWN FAMILY,
I WAS SO SORRY TO HEAR OF THE PASSING OF MR. BROWN, MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY.
GOD JUST WANTED TO COMPLETE HIS ALL-STAR TEAM IN HEAVEN TODAY, ADDING JOE AS HIS GM UPSTAIRS. HE IS NOW SMILING DOWN UPON US ALL.
TAKE SOLACE IN THE FACT THAT MR. BROWN WAS GREATLY RESPECTED & ADMIRED. HE WAS ALWAYS, ALWAYS STANDING TALL, ESPECIALLY WHEN HE WAS IN A WHEEL CHAIR THIS PAST JUNE FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE 1960 TEAM. IN MY EYES HE NEVER STOOD TALLER. A PROUD MOMENT FOR THE FANS OF PITTSBURGH TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION FOR ALL HE DID FOR THE PIRATES ORGANIZATION & TO THANK HIM FOR BEING THE FINE MAN THAT HE WAS.
YOU ARE ALL IN MY THOUGHTS & IN MY PRAYERS.
David Stewart
August 16, 2010
As a child in the 1960s, I waited each week until the Joe L. Brown show came on KDKA. To have the boss of those teams speak to me from the radio solidified my affection for the Pirates, for radio, and for Mr. Brown
Tad Askew
August 16, 2010
God bless.
harry & vicki maxwell
August 16, 2010
thank you mr.brown for making the pirates a respected team.thank you as well for being a progressive gm.god bless you and your family as well.
Linda Rambo
August 16, 2010
My father's company, Cyclops Steel, had the luxury box next to the GM box at Three Rivers. My fondest memory of Joe L. Brown was the year we took my two young sons to the game back in the 1980's. A piece of glass separated the boxes and my sons were very curious about the ticker tape machine giving Mr. Brown the statistics of games around the country. He smiled and waved, and then started feeding the used ticker tape around the front of the box to the boys. Within the hour, the Pirate Parrot showed up at our box. I will never forget the small acts of kindness shown to our family that day. Rest in peace, Joe L. Brown.
Larry Gorman
August 16, 2010
The memories that Mr.Brown helped to create are lasting my entire life.Thank you for being a class act.
Allen Stern
August 16, 2010
Joe you will be truly missed. Say hello to Roberto and Wille for me. Lets go Bucs!
Dennis Bailey
August 16, 2010
My thoughts and prayers are with the Joe L. Brown family during this time loss and sorrow. I was never fortunate enough to personally meet Mr. Brown, but as a longtime Pirate fan, I knew him vicariously. I shall always remember him by the class and fair-mindedness he exuded.
bob harrer,sr
August 16, 2010
Joe L.Brown was the epitome of a true baseball man and built the teams leading up to the 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates. he was friendly to all, and I was 16 when he signed my yearbook. I know I miss him personally, but may he rest in peace. my personal condolences to his family and the many friends he had
Joe L. Brown (2000)
August 16, 2010
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