Mike Brown believed in his players, managed 5 years, played

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Mike Brown 1990 Reno Silver Sox card

His team on a 10-game losing streak in July 1990, Reno manager Mike Brown called a meeting to  try and snap the club out of it, The Reno Gazette-Journal wrote.

Brown's words appeared to do the trick as his Silver Sox took the win that night with four runs in the ninth, The Gazette-Journal wrote.

"I just wanted the guys to know that I still believed and cared about them," Brown told The Gazette-Journal afterward. "I just thought it was a good time to let them know. I wanted to let them know that I appreciated their effort. They never give up."

That season marked Brown's second as a manager after three seasons spent as a player. He went on to manage in at least three more seasons, each of those three with single-A Columbus.

Brown's baseball career began in 1985, signed by the Astros as an undrafted free agent out of Pan American University.

Brown started with the Astros at short-season Auburn. He hit .217 in 31 games. He then moved to single-A Osceola for 1986 and 1987. He hit .240 his first year there and .207 his second. That second year at Osceola proved his last as a player.

By 1989, Brown had started his coaching and managing career. He served then as manager for the Indians in the rookie Gulf Coast League.

He moved to high-A Reno for 1990. His initial challenge was to ensure his players understood Reno was on par with the Indians' Kinston club, also in high-A, according to The Gazette-Journal.

"They think they're going to a lower class-A league because they're not going to Kinston," Brown told The Gazette-Journal. "I've told them the Cal League is as good or better. We'll struggle a bit early, but I'm going to try and make them all players."

Brown then moved to manage single-A Columbus for 1991. He took his squad to the playoffs in 1992 and 1993, finishing second both years. Dating back to 1989, he also didn't have a losing season. He also won league manager of the year honors in 1992.

Brown's last recorded time as a coach came in 1994 at AA Canton-Akron.

Mike Brown 1990 Reno Silver Sox card

1990 Minor League Tally
Players/Coaches Featured:3,531
Made the Majors:1,227-34.8%
Never Made Majors:2,304-65.2%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:509
10+ Seasons in the Minors:304


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