Brandt made his big league debut on April 21, 1956, against the Milwaukee Braves at Sportsman's Park, then was traded to the New York Giants almost two months later. In a noteworthy rookie season, he posted a .298 batting average, 125 games played, 12 home runs, and 50 runs batted in. In 1959, he won a Gold Glove for his stellar play as the San Francisco Giants' regular left fielder, then was traded to Baltimore, where he would have his most productive years.
Brandt's best season was 1961, when he was named to the American LeagueAll-Star team. He finished ninth in the American League batting race, with a .297 batting average, and he had several career highs, including 153 hits, 516 at bats, 73 runs batted in, 93 runs scored, and a .371 on-base percentage. The Orioles had a great year, winning 95 games and losing only 67.
Brandt was traded with Darold Knowles from the Orioles to the Phillies for Jack Baldschun on December 6, 1965.[2] As a Phillie, he was the last player to bat against Sandy Koufax during a regular-season game, striking out for the final out of the 1966 regular season finale. Koufax retired from baseball after the 1966 World Series, starting and losing Game 2 in a four-game sweep captured by the Orioles — the 66-year-old franchise's first world championship.
Brandt career statistics included 1,221 games, 1,020 hits, 112 home runs, 485 runs batted in, 540 runs, a .262 batting average, and a .412 slugging percentage.