Bob Brown honored for leading Legion baseball through 45 years

By Mike Berger

For the past 45 years, anyone attending the American Legion Post #24 summer evening baseball games at Canton High would have seen Bob Brown — “Brownie” to all who know him — passing out programs and schedules to the fans in the stands as well as any spectators sitting in their chairs near right field. They will likely recall his smiling face and friendly manner.

Bob Brown listens to a proclamation from the selectmen proclaiming November 20 Bob Brown Day. Also pictured: Walter Mann, left, and Bill Murray Sr. (Mike Berger Photo)

But if they are regulars at Legion games, they have also probably witnessed Brown’s vociferous protests when he let an umpire know that he had made the wrong call. Two years ago, Brown, then 87, protested so much off the bench that the umpire threw him out of the game.

The founder of the Canton team, Brown has managed or coached legions of young athletes — over 700 players during their late high school and early college careers. For nearly a half century, Brown’s dedication has been the backbone of Canton Legion baseball. Because of this, the Board of Selectmen proclaimed Saturday, November 20 Bob Brown Day, and friends, Legion members, former ballplayers and coaches attended a reception for Brown at the American Legion hall the same day.

Over the years the team has boasted its share of outstanding ballplayers, including former Major League Baseball player Bobby Witt, Dermott Moriarty, and Ralph Carlucci, who played in the minor leagues. Other Canton sports notables who have played and coached for Brown include Bob Gibson Sr. and his son, Bob Jr., Dick Staiti, and Al Jackson. Many of them were at the Legion on November 20 to honor their former coach.

Jackson, who recently coached the team for 10 years before bowing out last year, is amazed that Brown has been dedicated to the program all this time. “I did it for 10 years,” Jackson said, “and wonder how I did it.”

Jackson noted some of the duties that Brown has performed through the years, including keeping school enrollment statistics for Canton and Sharon, serving as the liaison between the team and the American Legion, keeping track of equipment and uniforms, and game and field scheduling.

Brown said it was a good idea to form the team some 45 years ago and remains a great idea. “It keeps the kids off the streets,” he said.

“Brownie is one of the most dedicated people I have ever met,” Jackson added. “Think about it. Forty-five years is incredible.”

Brown remembers that 45 years ago, the Legion did not have enough money in its treasury to fund the first team, but because Legion members were so receptive to Brown’s idea, they funded the team with their personal funds. Today it costs some $6,000 to finance the team, which is completely paid by Legion Post 24.

Bill Murray Sr. not only played for Brown in the mid 70s, but his younger son, Bill Jr., played for him between 2002 and 2005.

“Brownie started the team,” Murray said. “He went to all the league meetings, tryouts, everything. He is so valuable to this program.”

Jackson said Brownie is one of the most interesting individuals he has ever met. “To this day he is a very sharp man.”

Brownie has lived in Canton for 62 years, after growing up in Mattapan and Duxbury. He played high school baseball as a second baseman and then served in World War II as a naval aviator, calling in air strikes. After the war, he worked in engineering for Smith & Norrington and Stone & Webster.

Brown has been a member of the American Legion for over 50 years and served in the American Legion band.

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