On October 30, 1884, the Buckeyes went under and the team, with all of its players, were purchased by the Pittsburgh Alleghenys for a sum of $8,000. Highlights of his two and a half seasons with the Alleghenys include a .307 batting average in and 51 RBIs in . However, he struggled in and was released by Pittsburgh on August 15. He was picked up by the Indianapolis Hoosiers, of the National League, a few days later, where he hit only .179 in 36 games. While at Indianapolis, Brown became part of the first known platoon arrangement in baseball, as he split time with right-handed hitting Gid Gardner.