Marshall Phillip "Mark" Brownson III[1] (June 17, 1975 – February 1, 2017) was an American professional baseball right-handed pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies (1998–1999) and Philadelphia Phillies (2000).[2]
| Mark Brownson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: June 17, 1975 Lake Worth Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| Died: February 1, 2017 (aged 41) Wellington, Florida, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 21, 1998, for the Colorado Rockies | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| July 20, 2000, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 2–2 |
| Earned run average | 6.94 |
| Strikeouts | 32 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
Career
editBrownson was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 30th round (856th overall) of the 1993 Major League Baseball draft,[2] out of Wellington High School.[3] He spent one semester at Palm Beach State College.
Brownson made his big league debut on July 21, 1998,[2] hurling a 4-hit, complete game shutout, against the Houston Astros. As of 2020[update], his game score of 85 is the highest by any National League debutant pitcher in the Wild Card Era.[4] Unfortunately, he struggled throughout the remainder of his short MLB career, compiling an 8.54 earned run average (ERA) in the 10 games after his magical debut. Brownson pitched in his 11th and final major league game on July 20, 2000,[2] just a short time after his 25th birthday.
Brownson had pitched through a torn labrum during the 2000 season and required surgery after the season, from which he never fully recovered.[5]
Personal and death
editMark Brownson was born in Lake Worth Beach, Florida.[6][7][8] He was married with two daughters, Madisyn and Aliah.[9] According to his wife, he struggled to adjust to life after baseball. Brownson developed a dependence on painkillers related to nagging arm injuries which eventually developed into a heroin problem. The couple divorced in 2012, after which Brownson spent time homeless in Florida.[5]
After Brownson retired from baseball, he and his wife opened a pool cleaning business in Florida, before relocating the business to Arizona.[3]
Brownson died on February 1, 2017, aged 41. He was predeceased by his brother Travis and survived by his mother Ginny Brownson and father Jack Brownson.[9]
References
edit- ^ "Marshall "Mark" P. Brownson III - View Obituary & Service Information". Palms West Funeral Home. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Mark Brownson Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
- ^ a b Diunte, Nick (February 13, 2017). "How Drugs Prematurely Derailed Mark Brownson's MLB Career, Life". primesportsnet.com. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
- ^ "Pitching Game Finder". Stathead.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
- ^ a b "Mark Brownson | A bitter tale of a MLB career derailed by drugs ends at 41". Baseball Happenings. January 3, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
- ^ "MARK BROWNSON - Relief Pitcher". ESPN.
- ^ "Mark Brownson". MLB.
- ^ "Mark Brownson". baseball-reference.com.
- ^ a b "Marshall Brownson Obituary". legacy.com. Legacy. February 6, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
External links
edit- Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- MLB Players Alumni Association Necrology, December 19, 2017