Tommy Brown, Youngest MLB Home Run Hitter and Last Survivor of 1947 Dodgers, Dies at 97

Brown debuted at 16, set records, and stood against racism as part of Jackie Robinson's groundbreaking team.

Tommy Brown, who passed away at 97, was the youngest player to hit a home run in MLB history, a record he set at age 17 in 1945.
He debuted at just 16 years old in 1944, becoming the youngest position player in MLB history during a World War II manpower shortage.
Brown was a member of the historic 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers, the team that included Jackie Robinson breaking baseball's color barrier.
He refused to sign a petition opposing Robinson's addition to the team, an action his daughter described as a reflection of his strong character.
Brown's MLB career spanned nine years, including playing in the 1949 World Series, before continuing in the minor leagues until 1959.