Originally signed by the Indians in 1953, Dick Brown made his big league debut on June 20, 1957, against the Boston Red Sox at the age of 22.

After three seasons with the Indians, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox on December 6, 1959, along with Don Ferrarese, Minnie Miñoso and Jake Striker for Norm Cash, Bubba Phillips and Johnny Romano.

Career highlights include back-to-back-to-back home runs he hit with Norm Cash and Steve Boros on May 23, 1961.

He had been expected to continue as the Orioles' starting catcher entering the 1966 season, but the discovery of a brain tumor early in spring training necessitated surgery to remove it on March 7.

Additional surgery 11+1⁄2 weeks later revealed another brain tumor, an inoperable one that effectively ended Brown's playing career and cost him his life.