BTVF: Who is Felix Brown?
F.B: That’s a great question to start with. To sum it up, I’m first and foremost a son and a brother, but I’m also a friend, a father, a high-level athlete, an entrepreneur, a creator, a sports educator, and an ambassador for baseball in the Île-de-France region.
BTVF: You’ve been playing in the Division 1 championship for a long time. How’s your baseball career going?
F.B: Absolutely, I’ve been playing with the Templiers since 2015 when I moved to France. It’s a team that competes in the finals every year and also in the European Cup, so for a player like me who often makes the French national team, it’s great to face the best pitchers from each team every weekend during the local championship before facing the best in Europe.
Before that, I spent four years in the U.S. at Ohio Dominican University from 2008 to 2011 in the NAIA and NCAA Division 2. Then, I played for a year in Japan in the independent circuit (notably with Fred Hanvi) for the Gunma Diamond Pegasus in the BC league, followed by a year in Hawaii with the Hawaii Stars in the Pacific Association of Pro Baseball. I ended my pro career in 2014 with the Aigles de Trois-Rivières in the Can-Am League, playing that year in the first edition of the Yoshida Challenge and the Euro Baseball senior tournament.
BTVF: This year, the championship is dominated by the Sénart team. Do you think it’s possible to pull off the double: championship and Challenge?
F.B: I thought we could do it. But the opposition we faced in the France Challenge was stronger than expected. We had everything to do it, but unfortunately, it’s not what I think that counts, but rather the player at the plate to score and the team that plays solid defense that wins the game. That’s the beauty of baseball. It’s played on the field. There’s still the championship where we’ll give it our all to become champions and qualify for the European Champions Cup.
BTVF: You’re part of the French national team. Did you see Bruce Bochy joining the coaching staff coming? How do you approach this as a player?
F.B: Amazing. He’s someone highly respected in Major League Baseball, and for him, it’s an incredible and incredibly generous opportunity to evolve the culture of French baseball.
BTVF: You’ve developed a commercial website for baseball accessories. Can you tell us what it’s about and how this adventure started?
F.B: Yes, my brand is called Hot Hitter. It started in 2017 with the idea of producing and selling more affordable equipment with professional quality. Today, I’ve managed to develop a second brand, Diamond King, which covers everything related to customizable defensive gloves, making a real distinction from Hot Hitter, which focuses on accessories and bats.
Today, all the items can be found on the website www.hothittersports.eu, and either myself or my collaborator are available to provide advice before placing an order.
BTVF: What can we wish you?
F.B: To achieve good results with the French national team in Italy and also to win the French championship with the Templiers to qualify for the European Cup. That I can keep playing baseball for a long time. For you, I wish you much success with this beautiful initiative of a central application for French baseball.
Interview by D.C.
Photo credits: Glenn Gervot
