Which Willard Brown?

A trivial uniform conundrum

I was making a preliminary lineup of players I would like to cover in the 8th Season of The Booklet Series, and Willard Brown came to mind.

I had written a small piece years ago that was on my old blog, and later expanded it for my book The League of Outsider Baseball. However, Willard was one of the many players I had to cut when it came down to meeting the page limitation of the publisher.

Having to cut Willard Brown was a shame, because he was a very interesting and important figure in baseball history. And because of the many paths his career took, I was at a loss as to what uniform and team I should depict him for my illustration.

Below are four of the teams I thought represented important milestones in his career. I’m posting them here because I thought maybe YOU could help me decide which uniform and team Willard Brown should be wearing in my illustration.

The team Willard Brown is most associated with is the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League. Because Willard began his pro career in the pre-MLB integration era, he played for the Negro league Monarchs (with a couple breaks) from 1935 to 1951. It was with the Monarchs that Willard Brown became Black baseball’s most prolific power hitter. And not only did he hit for a high average, but he was also one of the fastest ballplayers of the late 1930’s.

Willard Brown helped power the Monarchs to six pennants, led the league in hits six times, slugging percentage three times, and appeared in eight East-West All-Star Games.

This red-and-white uniform is arguably both the most depicted of the Monarchs’ uniforms and the most eye-catching. You can’t beat the red sleeves, the bespoke “MONARCHS” lettering across the front, and the simple yet elegant white cap with a red brim and soutache piping on the crown.

My only argument against depicting Willard in this uniform is that one can find illustrations and photographs of this style EVERYWHERE. When I started The Infinite Baseball Card Set back in 2010, one of my reasons for doing so was that I wanted to create portraits of players you won’t find anywhere else. That means not simply copying one photo detail for detail. Instead, I wanted to show players in uniforms, poses, and surroundings you won’t find anywhere else.

That’s why I wanted to try out three other uniforms and teams Willard Brown played for, which you will see next.

Willard Brown missed the 1944 and 1945 seasons while serving in the U.S. Army during World War II – but that doesn’t mean he did not play baseball. Willard teamed up with Hall of Famer Leon Day to star on the Oise All-Stars, an integrated army team. The Oise All-Stars advance to the 1945 GI World Series, where they met General Patton’s 4th Army Red Circlers team. While many of Oise’s players were former minor leaguers and semipro players, the Red Circlers team was stocked with all major league stars. But despite all odds, Oise beat Patton’s team for the European Theater Championship, and it was Willard Brown’s powerful bat that helped get them there.

Showing Willard Brown in the uniform of the Oise All-Stars allows me to illustrate one of the best David vs. Goliath stories in baseball history. I like the blue and yellow piping on the cap, and the army web belt in place of the usual black leather belt is the kind of neat, subtle detail I like.

After being discharged from the army, Willard Brown returned to the Kansas City Monarchs. However, times were changing, and in 1947, Jackie Robinson broke the color line in the major leagues. Following Robinson’s success, Larry Doby debuted with the Cleveland Indians. Other MLB teams began seeking out Black players, and in July of 1947, the St. Louis Browns signed Willard Brown and Hank Thompson. On August 13, 1947, Brown hit a home run off Tigers pitcher Hal Newhouser, becoming the first Black player to homer in the American League.

Despite their initial success, both players were released after 21 games. Thompson had a second chance with the New York Giants a few years later, but Willard Brown never made it back to the majors.

The reason a Browns uniform might be a great choice is that this was the one Willard wore when he made history by becoming the first Black player to homer in the AL. Plus, that orange-and-brown color scheme has always been one of my favorites, and you rarely see it depicted in many places. What a simple but striking uniform!

The final uniform and team I am considering is the 1948-49 Cangrejeros de Santurce. Upon its formation in 1938, the Puerto Rican Winter League became a showcase for Black and Latino players, with Willard Brown among its first great stars. In the 1947-48 season, Willard had one of his greatest seasons ever, batting .432 with 27 home runs and 86 RBI, winning the Triple Crown and the MVP Award. He followed this up the next season by winning the Triple Crown again and his third batting title in four years. He was among the first players elected to the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame.

Brown’s brilliant record in Puerto Rico merits consideration for depicting him in a Cangrejeros de Santurce uniform. The blue sleeves make this jersey stand out, and the red “Tek” (the team was sponsored by Tek Toothbrushes) adds the right amount of pop to the illustration. Plus, you don’t see early Puerto Rican Winter League uniforms around much.

Well, that’s where I need some help.

Each team has its own distinctive look, and Willard Brown achieved career milestones across all four teams. Which one do you think is the right choice?The final uniform and team I am considering is the 1948-49 Cangrejeros de Santurce. Since its formation in 1938, the Puerto Rican Winter League was a showcase of Black and Latino players, with Willard Brown one its first great stars. In the 1947-48 season, Willard had one of his greatest seasons ever; batting .432 with 27 home runs, and 86 RBI to win the Triple Crown and MVP Award. He followed this up the next season by winning the Triple Crown again and third batting title in four years. He was among the first players elected to the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame.

Brown’s brilliant record in Puerto Rico merits consideration for depicting him in a Cangrejeros de Santurce uniform. The blue sleeves make this jersey stand out and the red “Tek” (the team was sponsored by Tek Toothbrushes) adds the right amount of pop to the illustration. Plus, you don’t see early Puerto Rican Winter League uniforms around much.

Well, that’s where I need some help.

Each team has their own distinctive look, and Willard Brown accomplished career milestones for all four teams. Which one do you think is the right choice?