Sixto Lezcano

In 1979, the Milwaukee Brewers offense was poised to be special. One player hit .321 with 28 HR and 101 RBI - while walking more times than he struck out. And that person was…Yount? Molitor? Cooper? Wrong, wrong, and wrong. It was 25-year-old outfielder Sixto Lezcano. However, instead of the breakout season launching Lezcano as one of the game's best players, it proved to be his high-water mark, disappointing many who thought he was destined for stardom.

Sixto Lezcano was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, in 1953. The Brewers signed him as a 16-year-old amateur free agent in 1970, as Puerto Rico was not part of the amateur draft at that time. The right-handed hitting Lezcano moved steadily through the Brewers system, his power improving along the way despite his slight 5'10", 165 lb frame. In 1974, he slugged 34 HR while hitting .325 at AAA Sacramento (a notoriously hitter-friendly park), earning the 20-year-old Lezcano a 15-game trial in Milwaukee. The following year, Sixto was Milwaukee's starting right fielder - a position he played most of his career.

Lezcano spent the next six seasons in Milwaukee, displaying good power and on-base skills, not to mention solid defense. His finest season came in 1979 (as noted earlier) when he hit a career-high .321 with 28 HR and 101 RBI. He also finished 15th in the league MVP voting and won a Gold Glove. 

After his breakthrough 1979 campaign, many thought the 26-year-old Lezcano was ready to be a superstar. Unfortunately, injuries dogged Lezcano the following year, and he had the worst season of his career. The Brewers had also regressed, falling from 95 to 86 wins (no wild card in those days!). General Manager Harry Dalton felt a bold move was needed to get the club to the next level, so on December 12, 1980, the club pulled off what is arguably the most significant trade in team history, sending Lezcano, David Green, Dave LaPoint, and Lary Sorensen to the St. Louis Cardinals for Rollie Fingers, Ted Simmons and Pete Vuckovich. 

The blockbuster move provided vital elements of Milwaukee's only World Series club two years later in 1982. Interestingly, Lezcano was soon involved in another major deal - San Diego sending Ozzie Smith to St. Louis for Garry Templeton and Sixto after the 1981 campaign.

The trade to St. Louis began a run of Lezcano playing for four teams in five years. Other than a good year with San Diego in 1983, he never really approached the success and promise of his Milwaukee tenure. Lezcano’s days as a major leaguer were done after the 1985 season. After a 20-game stint in the Japanese League in 1987, his playing career was finished. 

After retiring, Lezcano worked as a coach for various organizations, including the Royals and Braves, retiring in 2010. 

Sixto Lezcano was a key part of the rise of Brewer baseball in the late 1970s. In six full seasons in Milwaukee, he hit .275 with an .805 OPS while slugging 102 HRs. He had an excellent four-year run producing 3.1, 3.7, 4.0, and 5.6 bWAR. His 18.9 bWAR is the 14th best in club history. Lezcano was also known for his strong arm, and in addition to winning a Gold Glove in 1979, he led American League outfielders in assists in 1978. Finally, while with Milwaukee, he became the only player in Major League Baseball history to hit a grand slam on Opening Day twice, doing it in 1978 and 1980.

Lezcano had an interesting career arc - peaking at age 25. As noted, many thought he was destined for more great seasons. But instead of greatness, Lezcano was simply ordinary - primarily due to various injuries that eroded his skills.

Sixto was inducted into the Brewers Wall of Honor for his contributions to Milwaukee baseball in 2014.