He was 16 when he made his debut as a shortstop in an Ebbets Field doubleheader, becoming the youngest position player in modern major-league history.

Additionally, Brown was the last living major leaguer whose career began during World War II. With able-bodied men in short supply on the home front, Brown debuted for the Dodgers in '44 at the age of 16. In 1945, he hit a home run at the age of 17; he's still the youngest player ever to homer in the major leagues.