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Tom Browning's death: 'Everything he was about, was about the Reds and baseball.'

scott springer, cincinnati enquirer
·3 min read
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The passing of former Reds left-hander Tom Browning caught many people off guard Monday.

The author of the only perfect game in Cincinnati Reds history died at age 62. It's been a tough, complicated year for the Browning family as his wife, Debbie, died this past March.

The Reds sweep pitcher Tom Browning off his feet after striking out the Dodgers' Tracy Woodson Sept. 16, 1988, for the final out of his 1-0 perfect game.
The Reds sweep pitcher Tom Browning off his feet after striking out the Dodgers' Tracy Woodson Sept. 16, 1988, for the final out of his 1-0 perfect game.

Tom Browning:Former Cincinnati Reds pitcher, Mr. Perfect, dies at 62

Tom Browning at Wrigley Field:Remembering the famous in-game visit to Wrigley rooftop

The Boone County Sheriff's Office reported Browning's death after he was found unresponsive at his home in Union, Kentucky.

Barry Larkin reacts to Tom Browning's death:

Former Reds general manager Jim Bowden was in the front office under then-GM Bob Quinn when Browning pitched for the Reds. Bowden remembered Browning's numerous accomplishments, including his perfect game, a World Series title and the infamous seat on the brownstone at Wrigley Field that angered some of the Reds brass at the time.

Former Reds GM Jim Bowden remembers Tom Browning:

Reds executive Karen Forgus said a tribute to Browning was on the Great American Ball Park scoreboard. Browning had been active in recent Reds events.

Director of the Reds Museum Rick Walls said Browning was just at the museum for a holiday "Deck the Hall" event with fans.

"He liked being around the museum and the fans talking about baseball," Walls said. "Everything he was about, was about the Reds and baseball. "

Walls said Browning had recently been part of a legends program and just had a speaking event with another member of the 1990 championship team, Ron Oester.

"Tom's always been around here," Walls said. "He has the only perfect game in Reds history."

That game occurred in September 1988 when Browning was opposed by future Cincinnati Red Tim Belcher of the Dodgers.

Browning was a close friend of another famous lefthander, the late Joe Nuxhall. He was active in Nuxhall's charity golf outings and a participant in the family's Miracle Fields work with disabled children.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds teammates, community on death of Tom Browning