Former Dodgers OF, youngest MLB position player of all time dies at 97

Brooklyn native Tommy Brown took his first major league at-bat at just 16 years old, the youngest position player ever to do so up to that point and ever since. He's the second youngest player ever to debut behind 15-year-old Joe Nuxhall, who pitched for the Reds.

Brown died on Jan. 15 in Altamonte Springs, Florida, after he experienced complications from a fall. He was 97 years old.

In his debut, Brown batted eighth and started at shortstop for his hometown Dodgers against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Aug. 3, 1944. He poked a double into left-center during his third at-bat against Cubs starter Bob Chipman. Brown came around to score the Dodgers' first run of the game on a groundout from Frenchy Bordagaray, on a ball that was bungled by Chicago's Phil Cavarretta at first base.

Brown was a Dodger for six and a half seasons, with a brief hiatus in 1946 while serving in the army, before being traded to the Phillies, and from there the Cubs. He retired after the 1953 season at just 25 years old.

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh reported Brown's passing on Wednesday at the age of 97. He was the last living member of the 1947 Dodgers, Jackie Robinson's color barrier-breaking Brooklyn squad.

Former Brooklyn Dodger Tommy Brown, the last living member of the 1947 Dodgers, dies at 97

Per Lindbergh, Brown grew up just a few miles from Ebbets Field and became the youngest major leaguer to hit a home run in 1945 during a game against the Pirates. His solo homer was the only run the Dodgers scored in an 11-1 rout.

He was moved from shortstop to first base upon his return from the army in 1947, but he only managed to play in 15 games behind Robinson during his historic rookie season. Still, Brown refused to sign a petition calling for Robinson's removal from the team, saying, "I didn't like it, because he was a man. Color didn't bother me." Instead, he became friends with Robinson and later Roy Campanella, who joined the Dodgers in 1948.

After retiring, he went on to work in a Ford glass plant and leaves behind his wife, four children, seven grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.