During his career, Brosnan was known as an intellectual, for keeping books in his locker to read and for his personal habits of puffing on a pipe while wearing his glasses, reading books during games. His teammates often referred to him as "The Professor".\n', '

Brosnan was born on October 24, 1929 in Cincinnati. His father worked as a lathe operator for a milling company. His mother encouraged the pursuit of education and the arts and Brosnan spent little time engaged in athletics. Eventually, his height led him to sports and he played for the local American Legion baseball team. By the age of 17 Brosnan had joined the Chicago Cubs minor league baseball organization. His time there was interrupted by a two-year enlistment in the Army where he pitched for the military baseball team on Fort Meade, Maryland. After his enlistment was over, Brosnan returned to the Cubs organization.\n', '

In 1954, the Cubs brought Brosnan to the major leagues where he pitched poorly. As a result, he was returned to the Cubs minor league affiliate in Los Angeles where he won 17 games and had a 2.38 ERA. In 1956 the Cubs brought him back to the major leagues where he stayed until his retirement. Brosnan pitched with mixed success in Chicago where his record was 14-18 before he was traded to St Louis Cardinals and then to the Cincinnati Reds where he enjoyed success as a relief pitcher. Relying on a good fastball and slider, Brosnan enjoyed a career best season with the Reds in 1960 when he compiled an 8-3 record and a 2.36 ERA. In 1961 the Reds won the National League pennant and played the New York Yankees in the World Series, Brosnan\'s only post-season appearance. The Reds, facing a formidable Yankees team led by Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris lost in five games. Brosnan was traded to the Chicago White Sox in 1963 where he finished his career. By then, he had published his first book, The Long Season which led to considerable controversy and the White Sox, not wanting any more distractions, wrote a clause in his contract forbidding him to write any more books. Brosnan declined the contract and retired from baseball instead.\n', '

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