Growing up in Casper, Tom Browning dreamed of playing professional baseball when he played Little League at 12th and Beverly streets and Babe Ruth baseball at Washington Park.

Bobblehead dolls were never part of the dream.

While Browning achieved the dream he had on Casper's youth ball fields with a 12-year career in the majors, he is now doing what he can to give back to the game as the pitching coach for the Billings Mustangs, Casper's opponent on Thursday at Mike Lansing Field.

"I'll never forget all the time in the big leagues, all the fun I had, and the bad days I had, but to be at the major-league level, there is no other place to do it," Browning said before Thursday's game. "But I'm kind of over that now. I'm pretty OK with what I did. I feel like I was blessed to have 12 years in the big leagues. Now it's my turn to give back, and I try to do so in the best way that I can to get these kids to hopefully enjoy that dream as well."

Browning spent 12 years pitching with the Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals, a span that included a perfect game on Sept. 16, 1988, and World Series title in 1990.

Though his title now is coach, Browning prefers to call himself a "pitching watcher." He observes his players first and talks second. Browning said it's a philosophy he picked up from coaches throughout his career. If a player has a question, Browning will answer it; otherwise, he lets his pitchers do their own thing on the mound.

"Most of their experience and most of the education is going to come out there on that mound." Browning said. "It isn't going to come from what I have to say. I want them to learn from what they do out there and what they don't do.

"I want them to figure out who they are and what they are and what it takes to be successful."

Thursday was Tom Browning Night at the Ghosts-Mustangs game, which was postponed due to rain. Fans were given a Browning bobblehead doll, and the former Casper Little Leaguer threw out the first pitch.

Before the game, Browning mimicked the doll bearing his likeness during batting practice -- although he'd rather not be in the situation that caused the imitation. While throwing pitches in batting practice, Billings hitters twice smacked the netting that protects the pitcher. Both times, Browning reacted by shaking his head like the figurine given out on Thursday.

"Those guys hit the balls pretty good," Browning said. "That's why I'm glad they have the screen. I don't throw as hard as I used to, and they hit it a little bit harder than I'm ready for."

Browning lived in Casper until he was 14, and considers here his hometown. His dad, one of his uncles and some cousins still live in town, and he expected about 25 family members and close friends to be in the crowd Thursday.

"It's nice that they give me a night like this, even though this is Rockies country," Browning said. "It's nice to be recognized as a hometown guy. I still want them to be Rockies fans and cheer on their Casper Ghosts, but just not so loud the next few days.

"It's good to be home."

Contact sports reporter David Buck at (307) 266-0596 or david.buck@trib.com

Ghosts Tracker

THURSDAY: Casper vs. Billings, postponed, rain

LOCAL LEGEND: Thursday was Tom Browning Night at Mike Lansing Field. Browning, a Casper native who is now the Billings pitching coach, played 12 years in Major League Baseball, pitched a perfect game in 1988 and won the World Series with the Reds in 1990.

HE SAID IT: "I feel like I was blessed to have 12 years in the big leagues. Now it's my turn to give back, and I try to do so in the best way that I can to get these kids to hopefully enjoy that dream as well." - Browning