Year Inducted – 1997

As a 14-year old, Don began pitching and playing outfield for American Legion Post 209, where he immediately established himself as a winner. Throughout his baseball days he never had a losing season and usually hit over .300 averages. While successful at Brown, Jamie,Brown,Jamie,2014,0,51,Naturally, the 4 games Jamie Brown pitched in the major leagues with the Boston Red Sox during his 12-day big-league career in May 2004 rank as the highlight of his professional baseball career. But that doesn’t mean the hard-throwing 6-foot-2 right-hander has forgotten his 5-season stint with the Akron Aeros. I have a lot of great memories of the time I spent in Akron, said Brown, now 37 and living back in his hometown of Meridian, Miss., with his wife and 2 sons. The people, the town, and the atmosphere at Canal Park was awesome. It was a great place to play baseball. Brown said his final season with the Aeros in 2002 was really a crucial year for him. Especially considering that he had had Tommy John after pitching 4 games to open the 2001 season and had a 1-1 record with 5.03 ERA. After Tommy John, I had to learn how to pitch, said Brown, who was 9-5 with a 2.78 ERA in 2002. Although I did eventually throw harder, I learned during my comeback that it was really all about location and movement. You have to throw hard to get there (pro baseball) and then you have to learn how to pitch (to advance). rown was promoted to the Indians’ Class AAA team at Buffalo to start the 2003 season. He was traded to the Red Sox on June 22, 2003 for Angel Santos and finished the season at Pawtucket. He was promoted to the Red Sox on May 20, 2004. Brown, who holds Aeros records for most victories with 23, played in Japan with the Hanshin Tigers in 2005, the Samsung Lions in 2006-07 and the LG Twins in 2008 before retiring. He returned to college and earned a teaching degree and said he probably will get into education and coaching when his two sons are grown. He lives and owns rental properties in Meridian and gives lessons to youngsters on the baseball field he has on his property. Central High, Don helped Post 209 win the legion title in 1944, and Borden Autos get second place in A League national division play in 1956. He signed a pro contract with the Cubs organization, assigned to Janesville of the Wisconsin State League, and as a rookie won the opener with a neat three-hitter. He also played at Lumberton, North Carolina of the Tobacco States League and in Jacksonville before deciding to return home for economic reasons. He resumed pitching in Akron and found the ability to throw a “fork ball” which helped make him one of the A League’s top pitchers. Don hurled for the Canton Road Furnitures, 1948-1950; had even more success with the Smith Sheriffs, 1951-52; before rejoining the Furnitures when Frank Garcia took over the team in 1953 and helped them into the league playoffs.