Player Pages > Pete Browning > Player Stats

Louis Rogers "Pete" Browning was so popular in his prime, that he drew crowds in every city he played. According to some accounts, Brownin's colorful play included the following amazing accomplishments: he once caught a ball with his feet; he refused to slide into a base and went nearly a decade without being hit by a pitch; he was one of the first batters (some argue that he was the first) to use a custom-made baseball bat; he signed his contract each season on opening day, refusing to pen his name before that date; he gave names to each of his bats, like "Jake," "Joe," "Kate," and so on. Browning contended that each bat held a certain number of hits within its' lumber, and when that quota was met, he retired the bat, hanging it in a special place in his home. Aside from his eccentricities, Browning was a fine ballplayer, posting a .341 career average in 13 seasons, and topping the .400 mark one season.