By Bob Strohm
 gogle@wbcowqel.com

Stories were told among the laughter and tears as William “Gates” Brown came home to Crestline one last time for a celebration of his life Saturday.

Brown, who was called the “Pride of Crestline” by legendary Detroit Tigers radio announcer Earnie Harwell, was remembered by the many family, friends, and fans that filled the Crestline High School gymnasium for his memorial service.

Prior to reading acknowledgements at the service, Brown’s niece Toni Brooks said, “This is a testament for the man and his legacy.”

Detroit teammates Willie Horton and John Warden, and longtime friends Joe and Mike Gottfried and Jack Harbaugh remembered Brown during the service.

“We spent our lifetime together; he was my best buddy, my friend and my brother,” Horton said. “He taught me life lessons, he taught me to be a true professional, not just a pro.”

Former Tigers’ pitcher Jon Warden recounted the infamous story of Brown getting called to the plate to pinch hit while eating in the dugout, and stuffing two hot dogs in his jersey before going to the plate.

“Gates got the hit and had to slide face first into second base, and when he got up he had mustard stains on his jersey,” Warden said. “When he got to the dugout I was laughing, and he said, ‘Shut up man. They are going to fine me for this.’”

“And they did.Tthey fined him $100 which was a lot of money back then.”

Jack Harbaugh who was a teammate with Brown on Crestline’s high school football team told his favorite story about Brown.

“He (Brown) tells the story that there was 16 straight plays that I was calling the plays that I called him to run and get hit. He took the ball all the way down to the one-yard line, the ball is resting on the one and I look at him and I said, ‘Gator you look tired, I think I’ll take it in. Quarterback sneak on one,”” Harbaugh said. “And Gates never allowed that to affect our friendship, and we got a great laugh out of it after we had a chance to pass through the years.”

Childhood friend Ron Ball remembered Gates.

“Years ago we didn’t play little league, we had to play sandlot baseball, east side, west side, south side and north end,” Ball said. “I can remember him hitting over trees in right field in Kelly Park. Coach used to get mad at him, Coach Hutson was our umpire, because he would lose all the baseballs. Outside of that he was a very good man, a good friend of mine.”

Brown’s younger cousin Rodney Melton remembered his famous relative.

“He used to get me all the time when I was a little boy. He would pick me up at Christmas, and always had a different ball player with him,” Melton said. “He would get me tickets for all the ball games, had a lot of fun with him and his buddies.”

Evangelist Margo Pettis officiated the memorial service. After the service Brown was interred at the Greenlawn Cemetery.