Gene Brabender
Eugene Mathew Brabender, nicknamed Lurch, was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an amateur free agent before the 1961 season. He also was a member of the US Army from 1963-1964. He pitched for the Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Pilots, and the Milwaukee Brewers. During a 5-year baseball career, Brabender compiled 35 wins, 440 strikeouts, and a 4.25 earned run average. He stood tall and weighed.
Brabender, described by pitcher Steve Barber as "a hard-throwing right-handed country boy," made his Major League debut in relief on May 11, 1966. He entered a tie game against the Chicago White Sox in the top of the 10th inning at Memorial Stadium and gave up a run in the 11th, resulting in a 3–2 Orioles loss.
He was part of the Orioles' 1966 World Series champion team, but did not appear in a World Series game. Brabender was 16–14 during his time in Baltimore. The best game of his career was on August 7, 1967 against the Cleveland Indians, pitching a four-hit shutout and striking out 12. He was traded to the expansion Seattle Pilots on March 31, 1969.
Brabender led Seattle with 13 wins in their only season in the Pacific Northwest. The Pilots moved to Milwaukee during 1970 spring training and became the Brewers, and in what would be his final season, Brabender compiled a 6–15 record with a 6.02 ERA.
Brabender died of a brain aneurysm at age 55 on December 27, 1996.
