Brandon DuBose

### Former Teams

Philadelphia Freedom (2008-2011)Birmingham Bowlers (2012-2015)Cincinnati Flyers (2016)Sheffield Owls (2017)Boston Bandits (2018)

## Career

### Awards

1X ABA MVP1X ABA Rookie of the Year1X ABA Silver Slugger1X EBA Champion

​Brandon DuBose (born March 4, 1980), is an American former professional baseball first baseman. He played 11 seasons in the American Baseball Association and English Baseball Association, playing for the Philadelphia Freedom, Birmingham Bowlers, Cincinnati Flyers, Sheffield Owls and Boston Bandits. He amassed a .275 batting average, 73 home runs, 293 runs batted in, 267 runs scored, and over 514 hits. He is a 1-time EBA Champion, 1-time ABA MVP, 1-time ABA Silver Slugger and a former ABA Rookie of the Year.

## Professional Career

### American Baseball Association (2008-2011)

#### Philadelphia Freedom (2008-2011)

Brandon DuBose joined the Philadelphia Freedom by signing a minor league contract out of an independant league right after the 2007 ABA season concluded. Teams were high on DuBose, with scouts thinking that he had above average power and contact at the plate. It is reported that every team made him an offer, but ultimately chose the Freedom.

Nobody expected DuBose to have the impact he did, perhaps not even himself. In his first pro year and his ABA Rookie Season, he led the league in doubles, home runs, RBIs, slugging percentage and OPS, winning the ABA MVP, Silver Slugger and Rookie of the Year. He becane the first ever player to win both MVP and Rookie of the Year.

The pressure was on for DuBose following his historic rookie season and he couldn't keep up with the pressure. His batting average dipped and his overall numbers weren't what they used to be. His attitude in the dugout was described as problematic by then Freedom manager Mike Gleesonm which led him to lose his spot in the lineup to veteran Jayson Todd.

DuBose was told that he needed to work harder if he wanted to come back in the lineup in 2010 and he did exactly that, posting similar number to what he did in his rookie season, but still below the bar he set in 2008. The constant conflicts with the manager and his teammates saw him lose focus in 2011 and he lost his starting spot in the lineup to another newcomer and former rookie of the year Kelsey Latour. At the end of the season, DuBose was placed on the trade block, but didn't gather interest in the United States due to his attitude.

### English Baseball Association (2012-2015)

#### Birmingham Bowlers (2012-2015)

DuBose was traded to England to the Birmingham Bowlers, a relatively new franchise hoping to make a playoff push, for closer Gerald Mulligan and reliever Edmund Cantwell. It was seen a low risk, high-reward move for Birmingham who hoped DuBose would be humbled by his blackballing from most American teams. He didn't have the start he hoped for, missing part of the 2012 due to a back injury and had an atrocious year at the plate. He blamed it on his injury, but the media were quick to point out that he didn't look motivated due to his team's lack of success.

As it's often the case with DuBose, he reminded people that he can be a good ball player and he had a terrific year. However, it made him more arrogant than ever before and it didn't bode well for his future. He had a up and down year in 2014 and due to his lack of effort on defense, he was relegated to the designated hitter spot and he didn't appreciate it. He had to suck it up in 2015 and he looked motivated again when his team had a great season and eventually won the championship. He reportedly clashed a lot with the team star Elliot Fulton which led to his release at the end of the 2015 season, as the Bowlers were trying to keep their star player happy.

### Return to the ABA (2016)

Just before the season opener, DuBose swallowed his pride and signed a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Flyers, a struggling expansion franchise, hoping that DuBose would play as best as he could. Perhaps he understood that he was his own worst enemy and he put in the works with Cincinnati, having a decent year, but that was probably all DuBose, now 36, could give to a team. Despite his good performance and a contract offer from the Flyers, he wasn't satisfied with the Flyers performances and hoped to find room with a contending team in free agency.

### Second stint in England (2017)

Despite a good season at the plate in Cincinnati, DuBose didn't receive any offers, which is not what he expected. He waited as long as he could to find a new home, but only received one offer, from the struggling Sheffield Owls. He phoned it in, with one of his worst offensive season in a while and hit the free agent market at the end of the season.

### Final stretch (2018)

Despite his lowering numbers and documented attitude problems, DuBose signed a one-year deal with the Boston Bandits in 2018 to play a role as a power hitter off the bench. He had a honest contribution in the 54 games that he played and he even started 37 of them. Despite being an above average hitter at 38 years old, he wasn't extended by the Boston front office.

## Retirement

With numerous issues with his attitude, his advanced age and his diminishing offensive numbers, DuBose called it quits following the 2018 season. What was once a promising career ended up being a disappointment. He chose to represent the Philadelphia Freedom in his Hall of Fame bid, although there are very slim chances that he gets in.

## Awards

1X ABA MVP Award (2008)

1X ABA Silver Slugger Award (2008)

ABA Rookie of the Year (2008)

1X EBA Champion (2015)