Question about a pitcher facing his brother (1 Viewer)

[Raider Nation]

I'm sure brothers have squared off against each other many times, including Phil Niekro pitching to Joe Niekro (and vice-versa), Mike Maddux pitching to Greg Maddux, etc. But those are brothers who were each pitchers, and who each happened to be in the National League.

What I can't recall off the top of my head is... has there been a hurler who pitched to his non-pitcher brother?

I'm probably missing an obvious one here, but I'm blanking.

 

[Spock]

The brother of Hall of Famer George Brett, Ken Brett pitched fourteen years in the majors, and was an All-Star in 1974 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. After his playing career ended, he was a broadcaster for the Seattle Mariners and California Angels. He died of cancer in 2003.

As an 18-year-old rookie in 1967, he appeared twice in the 1967 World Series for the Boston Red Sox.

When his brother George broke in during the 1973 season, Ken was already in his sixth major league season, one in which he went 13-9. He pitched with 10 teams in his career, getting 83 wins.

During the years 1973-96, when AL pitchers rarely batted, Brett's total of 12 at-bats (for the 1976 White Sox) was easily the single-season record. No other pitcher had more than 3 ABs in a season.

For a pitcher of his era, he was a remarkably good hitter. He had a lifetime batting average of .262, and slugged .406. With the 1973 Phillies, he drove in 16 runs with a .462 slugging percentage. During the '73 season, he homered in four consecutive games. With the 1974 Pirates, he hit .310 and drove in 15 runs with a .448 slugging percentage. In both years, the National League average slugging percentage was around .370.

Faced his brother, George, 20 times in his career, giving up 6 hits, 2 doubles and 1 RBI.

Along with brothers George, Bobby and J.B., Ken bought the Spokane Indians in 1985. They have also purchased the Spokane Chiefs minor league hockey team, the Tri-City Dust Devils, and the High Desert Mavericks.

 

[Raider Nation]

Faced his brother, George, 20 times in his career, giving up 6 hits, 2 doubles and 1 RBI.

Nice... that's the kinda stuff I was looking for. Thanks. It would be awesome to see a pitcher throw at his brother's head.

 

[Eephus]

Hall of Fame Catcher Rick Ferrell and 193 game winning pitcher Wes both had long careers from the late 1920s through the 1940s. Both spent almost their entire careers in the AL. They were teammates for a few years with the Red Sox, but must have faced each other at least 100 times. Too bad Stats Inc. wasn't around then.

Back in the deadball era, the Tannehill brothers (pitcher Jesse and Infielder Lee) both played in the early days of the AL from 1903 to 1909. Jesse Tannehill's big 1902 WIS cookie season (sub 1.00 WHIP, 143 ERA+ and no HRs allowed) came before his brother arrived in the majors.

 

[Raider Nation]

Thanks, Eephus.

So I'm going to assume that the Brett's were the only modern-era brothers (where BOTH weren't pitchers) to square off.

That's really hard to believe if it is indeed the case.

 

[Eephus]

Thanks, Eephus.So I'm going to assume that the Brett's were the only modern-era brothers (where BOTH weren't pitchers) to square off.That's really hard to believe if it is indeed the case.

Two active players came close. Trevor Hoffman's big brother Glenn played SS for the Red Sox and Angels, but retired three years before Trevor's debut. Cardinal OF Ryan Ludwick's brother Eric was a journeyman pitcher but his last MLB appearance was the same year Ryan was drafted by the A's.