0109 - Warren Brown

Warren Brown was the Bat Boy for the “Big Red Machine” Cincinnati Reds from 1970-1972. During our conversation, he referenced a handful of things and people upon which you may want to do more research. Consider this page to be your “liner notes” for the episode so you can follow along.

Warren Brown and me after recording our interview at the Mercantile Library in Cincinnati

The Mercantile Library in Cincinnati. Founded in 1835, it has been at its present site since 1908.

Pete Rose in Vietnam

During the Vietnam War, it was somewhat common for pro athletes to join the Reserves to avoid the draft. Pete did so in 1963, after his rookie season with the Reds.

Pete and Joe DiMaggio USO Tour

The State Department wanted Rose to go on a USO tour to help boost troop morale. To help persuade Pete, they told him, “Well, Joe DiMaggio's going.”
Pete asked "Do I get to meet Joe?”
“You get to live with him for 23 days,” came the response.
“If it's good enough for Joe DiMaggio, it's got to be good enough for me.”

Charlene R. Brown

Warren’s mom was an RN at USPH. A chance encounter with Pete Rose led to the best job her son could ever dream of.

Bernie Stowe

As a former Reds bat boy who worked himself all the way up to being the team’s equipment manager, Bernie Stowe knew exactly what he was offering Warren during their interview together in July of 1969:
- Hard Work
- Long Hours
- Virtually No Pay

Warren’s First Game

The first game Warren attended was on August 13, 1963, when the Reds’ Jim Maloney bested Juan Marichal and the Giants with a 2-hit shutout, making him 18-4 on the season.

Working Before The Game

Many people think being a bat boy is just sitting on a stool near the on-deck circle and bringing the umpire new baseballs every few pitches. But it’s hours and hours of long, hard work.

Here is Warren pulling a cart before a game in 1970.

Putting the Uniforms in the Lockers

Bat boys and equipment managers have to arrive before any players so they can prepare their lockers for the day’s game, and be ready to help with whatever may be needed. Here is Bernie Stowe doing just that.

Glamorous Drudgery and Hard Work

An article which appeared in a local newspaper captured the essence of what being a bat boy is truly all about.

Crosley Field Clubhouse

This Life Magazine photo shows how different Major League locker rooms used to be.

Riverfront Stadium Clubhouse

The Reds made the locker room in Riverfront Stadium much more luxurious. Much more space, wider lockers, and carpeted floors!

Sparky Anderson

Sparky was introduced as the Reds’ new Manager before the 1970 season. He would manage the team through the 1978 season, winning four pennants and two World Series titles with the club.

SABR Bio by Cindy Thomson

1970 Reds

Sparky’s first year with the team was also Warren’s first year with the team. The Reds got off to a 70-30 start in their first 100 games, but were decimated by injuries by the time the World Series rolled around.

First Plane Ride

Warren’s first time on an airplane was when he traveled with the team on Ozark Air Lines to Baltimore for the 1970 World Series.

Houston Astrodome

Warren also traveled with the team during their 1972 road trip to Houston, where he got to see the Astrodome. The “Eighth Wonder of the World” featured the “Astrolite,” a four-story high scoreboard comprised of thousands of light bulbs. It was the world’s first animated scoreboard.

The Roof at the Astrodome

The dome's ceiling originally contained thousands of semitransparent panes made of Lucite. Players complained that glare from the panes made it hard for them to track fly balls. Two sections of the roof were painted white, but within a few months, the field’s natural grass died from lack of sunlight. The solution? A new, synthetic turf called “ChemGrass,” which came to be known as “Astroturf.”

Relationships

The work was hard, sure, but the relationships Warren developed made everything worth it.

1970 All-Star Game

The MLB All-Star Game was held at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium on July 14, 1970.

First Pitch

President Nixon, seen here with the First Lady and Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, threw out the first pitch at the 1970 All-Star Game.

Roberto Clemente

Seen here, batting during the 1970 All-Star Game at Riverfront Stadium, Roberto Clemente was Warren’s favorite non-Reds player. In 11 All-Star appearances, Clemente went 10-31 (.323) with 2 doubles, a triple, a home run, 4 RBI, and 3 runs scored.

Pete Rose and Ray Fosse

Rose bowled over Fosse to score the winning run in extra innings. Fosse was never the same.

Fosse’s SABR Bio by Joseph Wancho

Commemorative All-Star Game Bats

Commissioner Bowie Kuhn inspecting the commemorative bats that would be given to each of the participants of the 1970 All-Star Game. Willie Mays gave one of his to Warren.

1970 World Series

The first World Series ever played on Astroturf, the 1970 edition pitted the American League’s Baltimore Orioles against the Reds.

Riverfront Stadium

After over two years of construction, the Reds played their first game at Riverfront Stadium on June 30, 1970. Its circular shape trapped heat inside, where it baked the playing surface.

Jackson 5

Before Game 1 of the 1970 World Series, the Jackson 5 sang the National Anthem.

Reds Coaching Staff

George Scherger and Alex Grammas were among the coaches Warren bonded with during his time with the Reds.

Winning Streak

Warren was the bat boy on the field from April 28 to May 5, 1970. The Reds won 8 consecutive games during that stretch, and Warren was immediately thought of as the team’s “good luck charm.”

Pete Rose

After every at-bat, Pete would come back to the dugout and inspect his bat to see exactly how and where the ball left its mark. After analyzing the contact to be able to make adjustments for his next AB, Pete would wipe the scuff marks clean with rubbing alcohol so he could start fresh, and easily see the next ball’s mark.

Ted Kluszewski

“Klu” played for the Reds from 1947-1957, but returned to the organization after retirement where he served as their Batting Coach for nine seasons in the 1970s.

SABR Bio by Paul Ladewski

The Human Vacuum Cleaner

Brooks Robinson stole the show (and a bunch of hits from the Reds) during the 1970 World Series. This masterpiece, robbing Lee May of a hit during Game 1, is one of the most memorable.

Bernie Stowe’s Advice

“Everybody is going to be your friend now. You have to learn how to say no.”

1971 Reds

Warren’s first full year on the field wasn’t a great one for the team. The 1971 Reds were No-Hit twice: once by Ken Holtzman of the Cubs, and another time later that month by Rick Wise of the Phillies, who also hit two home runs that day.

1972 Reds

After enduring injuries the year before, and the new season being shortened due to the first strike in MLB history, the 1972 Reds were itching to get back on the field.

1972 NLCS

Johnny Bench came up with the biggest home run in Reds’ history when he tied the game in the bottom of the 9th inning of the decisive 5th Game of the 1972 NLCS against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

That is Warren with his (BB) back to us in this photo.

The Genius of Bob Howsam

Not only did Reds GM Bob Howsam have the foresight to make the trade for Joe Morgan, he knew to put his locker next to Pete Rose to keep him accountable and motivated.

Hairs vs. Squares

Ed Gruver’s 2016 book remembers the 1972 World Series just as much for the aesthetics as for the athletics.

Buy it HERE

1970 World Series Share

Players Rep Woody Woodward informed Warren that he would be receiving a share of the 1970 World Series pot.

1972 World Series Share

In 1972, the Players Rep was Darrel Chaney. He told Warren the same thing Woody had in 1970. Warren used that money to pay for college.

Traveling to the 1972 World Series

Warren got to travel with the team to Oakland for the road games during the 1972 World Series.

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

The Oakland Coliseum opened in 1966 after nearly two and a half years of construction.

In The Dugout

Not many people in the history of the planet can say they were in the dugout during two separate World Series. Warren Brown is one of them. Here he is in Oakland in 1972.

Heavy Storms

Rain pushed back Game 3 in Oakland from October 17 to October 18, but that didn’t deter the Reds from winning. Coming to Oakland after losing the first two games at home, Game 3 was a must-win for the Reds. They won.

That’s the Ticket!

Warren was hired to work in the ticket office for the Reds in January of 1977. He worked there until May of 1979.

Admit One

While working in the ticket office, Warren met a coworker named Marsha Beal. They would eventually get married.

Scoreboard Operator

After working in the ticket office, Marsha was the Scoreboard Operator for the Reds from 1978 to 1980.

A Family Affair

Not only did Warren and his wife, Marsha, both work for the Reds organization, their son Kyle worked in Stadium Operations in 2002, as well.

Paul Derringer

Derringer pitched for the Reds from 1933 until 1942. He was a 6-time All-Star with the team, averaging 17 wins per season. He finished top-10 in MVP voting three times, led the league in starts three times, in winning percentage once (1939 when he went 25-7) and helped the Reds win the 1940 World Series.

SABR Bio by Ralph Berger

Marsha’s Family

Marsha's Aunt Iona Whitely and her Mom Elizabeth Ann Beal were first cousins with Paul Derringer.

A Special Bond

Warren and Pete Rose have been close for 50 years.

1975 World Series

Carlton Fisk’s iconic home run in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series gave the Red Sox one more breath. But it wasn’t enough to overcome the Big Red Machine, who won Game 7 and the championship.

Pete and Warren

Warren with 1975 World Series MVP Pete Rose.

1976 Reds

By beating the Yankees in the 1976 World Series, the Reds became the first National League team to win back-to-back World Series titles since the 1921-22 Giants. This painting by artist Graig Kreindler depicts the famous team.

The Great Eight

The starting lineup of Bench, Rose, Morgan, Pérez, Concepción, Foster, Griffey, and Gerónimo played 88 games together during the 1975 and 1976 seasons. They went 69-19 in those games, good for a .784 winning percentage. At that pace over 162 games, they would have won 127 games.

Pete Rose’s Season Goals

200 hits, 100 walks, 100 runs

He never reached all three in the same season, but he had 200 hits and 100 runs in the same season five times.

An Enduring Memory

Warren walked into the Reds’ locker room on Opening Day of 1970, and sitting there alone, before anyone else had even gotten to the park, was Pete Rose.

Perks of the Job

At the time, Warren thought the best thing about being bat boy was having the best seat in the house.

Warren and Sparky

But over the years, he realized the best perk was actually the relationships he formed.

Joe Morgan, Warren, and Pete Rose

Sharing a locker room with someone bonds you with that person for life. Warren is living proof of that.

Jim Maloney and Warren

Warren got to catch his favorite pitcher of all time, Jim Maloney, when Maloney was rehabbing an injury. As if Warren didn’t already have enough “once in a lifetime” moments…

SABR Bio by Gregory H. Wolf

Clemente’s Last Game

Warren saw Roberto’s final game, the decisive Game 5 of the 1972 NLCS. Clemente died in a plane crash less than 3 months later.

1972 World Series Game 2

Jackie Robinson threw out the first pitch before the game. He passed away 9 days later.

The Big Red Machine

The National League’s team of the 70s.

World Series

The Reds celebrate after winning a road game in Oakland during the 1972 World Series.

Johnny Bench

Rookie of the Year. 1 time World Series MVP. 2 time World Series champion. 2 time MVP. 10 time Gold Glove Award winner. 14 time All-Star. Hall of Fame.

SABR Bio by Mark Armour

Pete Rose

Rookie of the Year. 1 time Silver Slugger. 1 time MVP. 1 time World Series MVP. 2 time Gold Glove Award winner. 3 time batting champion. 3 time World Series champion. 17 time All-Star. Baseball’s all-time career leader in hits, at-bats, plate appearances, and games played. “Charlie Hustle.”

SABR Bio by Andy Sturgill

Joe Morgan

1 time Silver Slugger. 1 time All-Star Game MVP. 2 time The Sporting News Major League Player of the Year. 2 time MVP. 2 time World Series champion. 5 time Gold Glove Award winner. 10 time All-Star. Hall of Fame.

SABR Bio by Charles F. Faber

Tony Pérez

1 time All-Star Game MVP. 2 time World Series champion. 7 time All-Star. Hall of Fame.

SABR Bio by Phil Cola

George Foster

1 time All-Star Game MVP. 1 time Silver Slugger. 1 time MVP. 2 time World Series champion. 5 time All-Star. Led the league in Runs, Home Runs, RBI, Slugging Percentage, OPS, and Total Bases in his 1977 MVP season.

SABR Bio by Cindy Thomson

Sparky Anderson

2 time Manager of the Year. 5 time Pennant winner. 3 time World Series champion. Hall of Fame.

SABR article by Steve Ames

Marge Schott

Marge Schott was the first woman to own and operate a major league team, but she was forced out of baseball because she embarrassed fellow owners with her use of offensive racial and ethnic slurs.

SABR Bio by Warren Corbett

Ken Griffey

Before there was Junior, and he needed to add the Senior, there was just Ken Griffey.

1 time All-Star game MVP. 2 time World Series champion. 3 time All-Star.

SABR Bio by Charles F. Faber

Ken Griffey, Jr.

Ken Griffey, Jr. slides into third during the Reds' Father and Son Game with his dad, Ken Griffey, Sr.

July 2, 1963

Juan Marichal bested Warren Spahn in one of the great pitching duels of all time.

Marichal’s pitching line: 16 innings, 8 hits, 0 runs, 4 walks and 10 strikeouts.

Spahn’s line: 15 1/3 innings, 9 hits, 1 run, 1 walk and 2 strikeouts.

Reds Throwback Uniforms

To help celebrate their 150th year as a baseball team in 2019, the Reds wore a number of throwback uniforms throughout the course of the season.

Here is a breakdown of what they wore, thanks to Chris Creamer and sportslogos.net.

Powel Crosley, Jr.

An endlessly interesting man, Crosley was an inventor, industrialist, and entrepreneur. He was a pioneer in radio broadcasting, and his companies manufactured everything from automobiles to radios, and operated WLW radio station.

He became one of the most innovative owners in the history of baseball, installing lights so the Reds could play the first night games in MLB history, and broadcasting their games on the radio.

SABR Bio by Charles F. Faber

Unsung Heroes

The pitching staff of the Big Red Machine may not get a ton of recognition, but they were serviceable enough to help the team win four pennants and two World Series championships from 1970 to 1976.

Stay In Touch With Warren

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Hotel Sinton

The Chicago White Sox stayed at Hotel Sinton in Cincinnati while they were on the road during the 1919 World Series. The Sinton stood at the southeast corner of 4th and Vine from 1907 to 1968.

It was in this hotel where the players finally agreed to actually go through with their plan to throw the World Series.

F.M. Andrews

Frank Mills Andrews was one of the top architects of his day. His works include the State Capitol Buildings in both Frankfurt, Kentucky and Helena, Montana, as well as the Hotel McAlpin in New York, which was the tallest hotel in the world upon its completion.