Joe Brovia

Who was Joe Brovia?

Joseph John Brovia was a minor league baseball outfielder in the Pacific Coast League with the San Francisco Seals, Portland Beavers, Sacramento Solons, and the Oakland Oaks from 1941 to 1955.

Known best for his batting, Brovia had a lifetime .311 average in 1,805 minor league games producing 1,846 hits, 1,144 RBIs and 214 home runs. As a prolific hitter, Brovia was popular with the fans, especially for his home runs over the four-story high fence at Seals Stadium, called the "Green Monster" of the Coast League.

However, his defensive skills were poor and this prevented him from ever succeeding in Major League Baseball. He had a short stint with the Cincinnati Reds in 1955, but only batted as a pinch hitter. After his shot with the Reds, he played the next season in Mexico, after which he retired.

Brovia died of cancer in Santa Cruz, California. He was inducted into the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame in 2005.