Mets’ Brown, a former Dragon, donates jersey
Published or Revised January 14, 2013
Andrew Brown holds up his Saint Louis Cardinals jersey worn in their World Series win as he donates it to Paris Junior College. Surrounded by the PJC baseball team. To his right is PJC President Dr. Pam Anglin, and to his left Baseball Coach Deron Clark and Athletic Director Sean LeBeauf. View More Photos On Flickr »
Practice for Paris Junior College Dragons baseball players was highlighted Friday with the chance to pass around a World Series ring, shared by former Dragon Andrew Brown, who won it playing for the St. Louis Cardinals. Brown, now signed to play for the New York Mets, donated a jersey from the World Series win.
"The success Andrew has achieved in baseball and life is a reflection of his ability to persevere and work during tough times," said PJC Baseball Coach Deron Clark. "I am proud to have had him pass through our program at PJC."
"This is where the hard work really started," Brown said of PJC. "Where you don't have a ton of regulations and you can practice every day and really learn the sport. This is where you can play baseball year round and learn teamwork.
"Junior college baseball is where it's fun. I still have fun every day, but you have to love it to play in junior college. I wanted to be here, especially where you have Deron [Coach Clark] and a lot of others who really want you to succeed."
Plans to join the Dragons in play were stymied by the wet field, but the players enjoyed passing the ring around and getting a group shot with Brown. He plays right fielder and pinch hitter.
Brown came to PJC from Newman Smith High School in Carrollton, Texas, and was first baseman for the Dragons from 2003 to 2005. He played two seasons for the University of Nebraska and was named to the 2007 All-Regional Tournament Team in Arizona.
During the 2007 Major League Baseball draft he was taken in the 18th round by the St. Louis Cardinals and spent two seasons playing for the Memphis Red Birds (Triple A) and Springfield Cardinals in Missouri.
At PJC, Brown's stats for the two years were: At Bats: 329; Hits: 122; 2B: 35; 3B: 6; HR: 21; RBI: 84; AVG: 370; and .803 slugging percentage his sophomore season.
He had 44 home runs in 749 AAA at-bats.
Brown's donation is joined by the gifts of signed jerseys from two other former Dragons. One is from Coach Ron Gardenhire, who played for PJC in 1970s, went on to the University of Texas, and has been manager of the Minnesota Twins since 2002. The other is from David Carpenter, pitcher with the California Angels who played for PJC in 2008-2009. Gardenhire signed a current Dragons jersey; Carpenter signed the jersey he wore while playing for the Dragons.
