Downing played at Magnolia High School in Anaheim, California, and was originally cut from his high school team. Although he was on the "taxi squad" as a bullpen catcher, he failed to make the team at Cypress College. But he had an impressive showing at an "all comers" Chicago White Sox tryout, and scout Bill Lentini signed him as an amateur free agent on August 19, 1969. His early career with the White Sox (1973–1977) was not so promising. On the first pitch of his first inning in his first Major League game, he severely damaged his knee making a diving catch near third base, sliding down the dugout steps and landing on the 60-day DL. He hit .225 as a rookie catcher (1974), and .240 in his second year, with seven home runs in 138 games.\n', '

On December 5, 1977, the White Sox traded Brian Downing, along with Dave Frost and Chris Knapp, to the California Angels for slugger Bobby Bonds and prospects Thad Bosley and Richard Dotson. This trade allowed Downing to come home to Southern California and avoid the pressures of Chicago fans\' expectations. It gave Downing\'s career new life. Although his 1978 numbers were uninspiring (.255 batting average, 7 HR, 46 RBI), in the offseason he committed to serious weight training and in 1979 dramatically changed his batting stance, and hit an impressive .326 (third in the American League). He also made the AL All-Star team for the first and only time.\n', '

A broken ankle in 1980 forced him to move from catcher to the outfield beginning in 1981 because his offense was so valuable. Although his range was not great for an outfielder, Downing\'s hard work and steady hands allowed him to play the entire 1982 and 1984 seasons without making an error. He also set a pair of AL records with 244 errorless games by an OF (5/25/81 – 7/21/83), and most chances (330) in an errorless season (1982). His continued weight training helped him hit 20+ home runs in six of the seven seasons from 1982 to 1988.\n', "

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