Duane Brown's career spanned decade, saw high-A, Taiwan
Asheville Tourists starter Duane Brown went seven innings in this May 1991 game, giving up two hits and no runs for the win, The Asheville Citizen-Times wrote.
The outing drew high praise from Asheville manager Frank Cacciatore afterward.
"That was a very, very clutch pitching performance by Duane Brown," Cacciatore told The Citizen-Times, noting the staff had suffered a letdown in recent games. "So it was very important that Brown came in and did the job tonight."
Brown eventually worked to do the job over a career that spanned more than a decade. He topped out at high-A, though he briefly saw Taiwan.
Brown's career began in 1989, taken by the Astros in the 37th round of the draft out of South Umpqua High School in Oregon.
Brown started with the Astros between short-season Auburn and the rookie Gulf Coast League. He saw 15 outings, 13 starts between them. He went 3-8, with a 2.61 ERA.
Brown played 1990 between the Gulf Coast League, Auburn and single-A Asheville. He saw 13 outings, 11 starts. He went 3-5, with a 4.74 ERA overall.
Brown then returned to Asheville for 1991 and 1992, transitioning to nearly full-time relief. He went 6-13 in 1991 and 5-3 in 1992. Brown's final season with the Astros came in 1993 at high-A Osceola.
Brown isn't listed as playing in 1994, but he returned for 1995 at independent Surrey. In one June game that year, he went eight innings and gave up just one hit, The Desert Sun wrote. He took a no-hitter into the seventh.
"Just control, that was the main thing," Brown told The Sun afterward. "At the beginning of the season, I was kind of struggling a little bit, but I had a talk with myself and went out there and focused tonight."
Brown went 4-9 for Surrey in 19 outings, with a 5.54 ERA. He then is recorded as returning in 1998 with independent Elmira and in Taiwan with Brother. He saw five outings in Taiwan.
Brown's final pro time came in 1999, with independent Reno. He started seven games, went 0-3 and had a 7.96 ERA to end his career.
- Asheville Citizen-Times, May 18, 1991: Tourist Pair Combines For Shutout Of Rainbows
- Desert Sun, June 25, 1995: Glaciers cool off Suns, end 7-game win streak
Made the Majors:1,427-31.8%
Never Made Majors:3,065-68.2%-X
