Brown earned the nickname “Downtown” by hitting 40 homers for Fresno in 1964, but he was disappointed in San Francisco. San Diego’s first choice in the 1968 expansion draft, he hit 20 homers for the Padres in 1969 and had career highs of 23 homers and 89 RBI in 1970. Originally signed as a pitcher, his strong arm was an asset in the outfield. His older brother Oscar was a Braves outfielder, and another brother, Willie, played in the NFL.
