Matt Breen

A formula to be a beloved part of Brewer history is to a) be born and raised in Wisconsin, b) be a grinding, gritty, battling overachiever, and c) be part of some of the best teams in franchise history. Add all that together, and you get Jim “Gumby” Gantner. Image courtesy of © Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via Imagn Content Services, LLC Jim Gantner was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, in 1953 and grew up in nearby Eden. He played two seasons at UW-Oshkosh before being selected by the Brewers in the 12th round of the 1974 draft. He moved steadily through the minor league system, playing primarily shortstop and a little 3B. Gantner was not a heralded prospect, showing a solid hit tool and above-average speed (but by no means great speed) - but modest power. The Brewers called up Gantner from AA ball in 1976, giving him a 26-game tryout. That season, he pinch-ran for Hank Aaron in the future hall-of-famer’s final major league game on October 3, 1976. After spending most of 1977 at AAA, Gantner stuck with the club the following year and remained on the roster for 15 years. Initially a utility type playing mostly 2B and 3B, Gantner eventually settled in at 2B for much of his career. He became a regular in 1980 - at age 27 - and provided solid, if unspectacular, play for the next decade. Gantner became the scrappy guy who did the little things and complimented the big bats of the era - Yount, Molitor, Cooper, Thomas, Oglivie, etc. He was not that athletic and lacked standout skills, but he got the job done. Gumby became a vital cog in the high-scoring Brewer machine of the era. He was a remarkably consistent player - generally hitting between about .270-.290 almost every year of his career. He hit over .280 seven times. His power was limited - 11 HRs was his top long ball season - he wasn’t a good base stealer, and he didn’t walk much. But for all that, he put the ball in play - rarely striking out (the highest K number in his career was 51), and - as noted - hitting for a solid batting average. Even as Gantner got older, he still hit for a decent average, even as his modest power diminished even further. Gantner's last season was in 1992. He had played part of the year with a labrum tear and torn rotator cuff. He considered playing longer, but injuries wouldn't allow it. He officially retired in 1994, having played parts of 17 years with Milwaukee. Those 17 seasons with the Brewers - and no other team - ranks him 38th on the list of players to have played their entire career for one club. Robin Yount’s 20 years with the franchise is the Brewer record. Gantner’s best season came in 1983 when he hit .282 with career highs in HR (11), RBI (74), and OPS (.730). For his career, he hit .274 and had an OPS of .671. They weren't great numbers but were not bad for a middle infielder of the era. Also, he was generally an above-average defender, which brought value to his overall game. Due to Gantner's longevity, his name is all over the Brewer record books. Baseball-Reference has him at 22.4 WAR (8th all-time), and his 9.9 defensive WAR is the best for any Brewer career. Other numbers: 1801 games played (3rd all-time), 6189 ABs (4th), 726 runs (5th), 1696 hits (5th), 262 doubles (6th), 38 triples (5th), 568 RBI (9th), 137 SB (5th), 52 HBP (6th), 106 sacrifice hits (#1), 52 sacrifice flies (5th). He also has the 3rd lowest strikeout rate in Brewers' history. Overall, Gantner was a classic overachiever who succeeded through hard work and playing an overall solid game. He was always a positive to the team - but rarely was he anything more than good. But that allowed him to stay around and play in the big leagues for a long time. Fans loved Gartner’s hard play - not to mention his Wisconsin roots. He was an important part of the great Brewer teams of the early 1980s and helped the team reach the World Series for the only time in history (he hit .333 in the fall classic). Gantner was inducted into the UW-Oshkosh Titan Hall of Fame in 1984. He was also inducted into the Wisconsin Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 and is a member of the Brewers Wall of Honor and Walk of Fame. After baseball, Gantner took part in various business ventures and became a coach. He was the Brewers first base coach in 1996-97 and managed the Wisconsin Woodchucks in the Northwoods League in 2007. He moved back to Eden in 2008, where he became the part owner of a pub - Scuds Buds. For years he served as a part-time coach at Brewer home games and participated in clinics and fantasy camps. Please share your memories of former Brewer Jim Gantner. View full article

https://www.theonion.com/aaron-rodgers-reflects-on-life-choices-after-jets-emerg-1850213899

This would be pretty good if we can't get the 1st. I'll add this: Jets get: Rodgers Packers #1 pick (15th) Packers get: Jets #1 pick (13th) Jets #2 pick (43rd) Jets #2 pick in 2024 (upgrades to #1 depending on Rodgers' playing beyond this year) WR Elijah Moore Just a thought. Moore could compete for our slot receiver role this year.

It certainly seems like something is going to happen here. Neither the Packers or Rodgers is denying anything. Regarding compensation - I'd love the 1st round pick from the Jets. Some speculate it won't be that good. But the Jets are in a tough spot. They don't want the Packers walking away and talking to other teams. They need to seal the deal before anything like that happens.

I was thinking about this as well. But there's enough talent to - potentially - do well with Love at the helm. If we reboot, we should move on from guys (such as Bakhtiari) and take as many cap hits as possible this season. But whatever. The front office knows the personnel better than I do. It will be interesting what happens.

Dane Brugler of the Athletic had Branch coming to the Packers with the 15th pick. He said that many will be will be hung up on his 4.58 40 time, but notes he was outstanding during positional drills. And he had 'stellar' meetings. One of the teams he met with was the Packers. Brugler also notes that his versatility would be a great fit in Green Bay’s scheme.

Van Ness is opening a lot of eyes. Could easily be our pick. WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba supposedly looked great (he missed most of 2022 with a hammy injury). I read he looked great on all the agility drills and so forth. He'd be a perfect slot guy for the club.

Exactly. Otherwise Rodgers can just retire if he doesn't like his destination. Nothing happens without all parties being on the same page.

I was reading that there were already some 'maturity' questions about Carter. Everything has come really easy for him, and there are some questions as to his dedication to the game and so forth. He's just never had to work hard to be great so some wonder what will happen when he gets to the NFL. The scary part is if it things actually click for the guy - and he realizes he can be more than just 'good' - but 'great' - by working hard, studying, etc.

If the Packers agree to trade Rodgers, what do people think we'll get for him? The Athletic suggested a deal with the Jets. 1st rounder (15th overall) in 2023, 2nd rounder in 2024 (which turns into a 1st rounder if Rodgers plays in 2024), plus WR Elijah Moore. I like this deal. I thought highly of Moore coming out of college two years ago. He could potentially fill the slot role on the team.

Seems like clickbait stuff.

Thanks. I was reading it's one of the deepest TE drafts in years. Will be interesting to see if we go there.

Branch fits our needs really well. He could be gone before we pick - but we shall see. Safeties tend to drop a bit on draft day as they aren't that sexy of selections. He'd be a solid value at #15. Johnson is currently looked at as a late 1st/early 2nd round pick. The tendency for safeties to drop might get him to us in the 2nd round - but that's unlikely at this time. Of course, all that can change with the combine and pro day results. A guy runs a bit slow or whatever and he can drop really quickly.

Assuming the QB is Love or Rodgers, I don't think the picks should be very different. TE, WR, Edge, S - all major needs. Doesn't mean you don't grab and OL or whatever if someone falls to us, but I think the moves are mostly the same.

In Milwaukee Brewer history, only five players have played for at least ten seasons and spent their entire career with the franchise. This includes Robin Yount, Ryan Braun, Jim Gantner, and Jerry Augustine. The fifth is starting pitcher Bill Wegman. Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic Bill Wegman was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1962. The Brewers nabbed the tall (6’5”) right-hander out of high school in the 5th round of the 1981 amateur draft. Initially an infielder, Wegman took well to pitching as he quickly established himself in his second year, going 12-6 with a 2.81 ERA at Beloit. And the good times kept rolling for Wegman as he posted a career minor league ERA south of 3.00. With his success, Wegman received a three-game stint with the Brewers in 1985 at age 22 and then landed a spot in the Brewers rotation the following year. Wegman struggled the first few years of his career, often victimized by the long ball, but he delivered much-needed innings to the Brewers - averaging over 200 IP from 1986-88. He missed much of the 1989 and 1990 seasons due to injury, but he returned to have two stellar seasons in 1991-92. He won 15 games and had a 2.84 ERA in 1991, followed by his best year in 1992, when he threw 261.2 innings (seventh best in team history) and produced a 3.20 ERA in 35 starts. Injuries, however, returned in 1993 and 1994, leading to diminishing results. In 1995, the team moved Wegman to the bullpen - but the results weren’t good. A free agent that off-season, Wegman elected to retire rather than try and catch on with another club. He was 32 years old. Bill Wegman was not a strikeout pitcher. He succeeded by limiting walks and pitching to contact and his slider was his best pitch. He spent parts of 11 years in Milwaukee - the second longest tenure in team history for a pitcher (Jim Slaton holds the record - 12 years - although not consecutive). Despite the injuries, his longevity allowed him to put an imprint on Brewer records. Wegman’s 17.8 bWAR ranks fourth all-time, while his 81 wins are seventh. His 2.137 balls per 9 innings rank fifth overall, and his 1482.2 IP rank fourth. He started 216 games (5th all-time) and tossed 33 complete games (8th). On the negative side, Wegman served up 187 HRs - second most in team history (behind Jim Slaton) and surrendered 1567 hits - fourth most. His 90 losses are also second most in team history - again, behind Slaton. For his career, Wegman ended up going 81-90. Wegman was, unfortunately, plagued by injuries on and off for much of his career. He mixed several excellent years with numerous mediocre (or just bad) years. At his best, he was an above-average workhorse who helped the Brewers nearly make the playoffs in the early 90s. He is a member of the Brewers Wall of Honor. A very religious man, after retiring, Wegman became a pastor in Cincinnati. Please share your memories of former Milwaukee Brewer Bill Wegman. View full article

Thoughts on the top TEs in the draft. Michael Mayer is seen by most people as the top guy due to his good overall skills as a receiver and blocker. If the club wants him, they will have to take him at #15 (assuming he drops to us). So, Mayer aside, what are people's thoughts on the next tier of players, including: Dalton Kincaid - Utah Darnell Washington - Georgia Luke Musgrave - Oregon St. It's possible one or more of these guys could available to us in the 2nd round - and wondering what people thought of them.

Whether we have Rodgers or Love at the helm in 2023, I think a likely pick for the Packers is a WR (Addison, Johnston, Smith-Njigba), TE (Michael Mayer) or S (Branch). If someone drops - such as a highly rated edge rusher (such as Murphy) or O-lineman (Skoronski) - then by all means - grab 'em. I'd love to see some players that can step in and contribute right away. Still really early in the draft process. So much can change.

90% of the stuff online is not 'journalism'. It's some people who like football sharing opinions.

The early 2000s in Milwaukee were characterized by a fancy new stadium, some big sluggers, bad pitching, and a lot of losses—also, Richie Sexson. Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic The 2001 club hit 209 dingers - good for second in the league. Leading the big bats of the Brewers at this time was their 6’7” first baseman - Richie Sexson. Born in 1974 in Portland, Oregon, Richmond "Richie" Sexson was a celebrated high school athlete. He earned all-state honors in baseball, basketball, and football. But baseball would be Sexson's ticket to fame as he set his school's record for home runs. The Cleveland Indians selected the right-handed-hitting Sexson in the 24th round of the 1993 MLB draft. Playing primarily first base, he rose steadily in the Indians' minor league ranks, showing good power and a solid batting average. He was, however, limited defensively. In 1997, at AA Buffalo, he broke out by slugging 31 home runs - and earned a five-game cup of coffee in the bigs. The following season, Sexson tore up AAA and continued his spree at the major league level - hitting .310 with 11 HR in only 49 games. However, there was one problem for Sexson - the presence of future Hall of Famer Jim Thome - entrenched at first. To get Sexson’s bat into the lineup, the Indians gave Sexson time at 1B, OF, and DH for the next couple of years. It got Sexson at-bats, but his play in the outfield was not good. In his sophomore season, Sexson slugged 31 HR in only 134 games, but the following season he slumped, his strikeouts spiking and his power and batting average falling. The Indians - desperate for pitching - traded Sexson to Milwaukee at the deadline for pitchers Bob Wickman, Steve Woodard, and Jason Bere. Wickman had been an all-star for the Brewers. The Crew also got pitchers Kane Davis, Paul Rigdon, and infielder Marco Scutaro. The deal provided enormous dividends for the Brewers. Sexson was installed at first base - his best defensive position - and put into the lineup every day. He responded by hitting .296 and slugging 14 HR over the final 57 games of the 2000 season. From 2001-2003, Sexson smashed 45, 29, and 45 homers, respectively, while hitting between .271 and .279. He also displayed a keen eye at the plate, walking as many as 98 times in a season. On the flip side, he struck out, on average, over 150 times a year (before, it was okay to strike out that often). Sexson was named to two All-Star teams. In 2003, he placed 12th in the NL MVP voting. Despite Sexson's success, these were bad Milwaukee Brewer teams - winning only 68 games during his tenure. With free agency a year away, the Brewers knew that Sexson was short for Milwaukee. So rather than lose him, the team traded him to Arizona on December 1st, 2003. In exchange for Sexson, plus minor leaguers Shane Nance and Noochie Varner, the Diamondbacks sent Chris Capuano, Craig Counsell, Chad Moeller, Lyle Overbay, Jorge De La Rosa, and Junior Spivey. The deal helped transform the Brewers. Sexson spent one injury-plagued season in Arizona - playing only 23 games. Despite his limited playing time in 2004, he signed a four-year, $50 million free agent contract with the Seattle Mariners. He had two good seasons in Seattle, but in 2007, at age 32, his production plummeted. He was released the following year during the season, then spent 22 games with the Yankees before being released again. His baseball career was over. Richie Sexson was a big man with a big bat. He was a true, middle-of-the-order slugger and had his finest years in Milwaukee. In 3 1/3 seasons, he slugged 133 HR while hitting a respectable .276 with a .902 OPS. His booming home runs were among the few reasons to go to a Brewers game in the early 2000s. In acquiring and trading away Sexson, the Brewers maximized their resources on both ends of his tenure. The trade with Arizona was an important one for the franchise - adding a key pitcher (Capuano) and a quality bat (Overbay) as well as some spare parts (including future Brewer Manager Craig Counsell). Despite playing less than 3 1/2 years in Milwaukee, Sexson's name is in the team record books. His career .902 OPS is the second-best in team history. His 45 home runs in 2001 and 2003 are the third-most in a season. His 98 walks in 2003 are the sixth most. His 125 RBI in 2001 is the third highest. In his 12-year career, Sexson hit 306 HRs. After baseball, Richie Sexson retired to Bend, Oregon, and took up coaching at the high school level - heading up the baseball program at Summit High School for nearly a decade. In 2023, he was named manager of the Windy City ThunderBolts of the independent Frontier League. Please share your memories of Richie Sexson and his time in Milwaukee. View full article

In the first few years of the Brewer franchise, good hitting was hard to find, but a few players produced quality seasons in those dark years, including Tommy Harper and Johnny Briggs. Another of the organization’s earliest contributors was outfielder Dave May. Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic David LaFrance May was born in Delaware in 1943. He signed with the San Francisco Giants in 1961 for a $15,000 bonus - turning down multiple college scholarship offers. Dave May was not tall, 5’10”, and somewhat stocky. The left-handed hitting May displayed his hitting skills from the get-go, winning the batting title in rookie ball with a .379 average. The following year, May was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the first-year player draft (this long abandoned process was designed to discourage big bonuses being offered to amateur talent). May continued to be able to hit as he moved up the minor league rungs with Baltimore, ultimately producing a lifetime batting average of .321 in the minors. He didn’t strike out a lot, showed some speed, and took his fair share of walks. He was considered a good outfielder. May got his first taste of the majors in 1967, appearing in 36 games for the Orioles. Over the next few years, May spent time at AAA or as a reserve with Baltimore - never really getting into any groove due to the erratic playing time. Then, in June of 1970, the Orioles dealt the 26-year-old to Milwaukee. The Brewers sent Dick Baney and Buzz Stephen to the O’s, neither of whom ever played for Baltimore. May was installed in center field for Milwaukee, starting 100 games that year. He became a staple in Milwaukee for nearly five years - producing some good - and bad - seasons. His finest season was in 1973 when May hit .303 with 25 HR and 93 RBI. He had a 24-game hitting streak that summer and led the league with 295 total bases. He produced 4.7 bWAR, was named to the All-Star team and finished eighth in the American League MVP voting. After slumping badly in 1974, the Brewers traded the 30-year-old May to the Atlanta Braves for the legendary Hank Aaron. May spent two seasons in Atlanta and another in Texas, his playing time and production waning as he aged. In 1978, May returned to Milwaukee - but his second stint lasted just 39 games and 77 at-bats before he was sold to Pittsburgh. He was signed as a free agent by Philadelphia in the offseason but was released in spring training. May spent part of the year playing for the Inter-American League - a high-level minor league circuit unaffiliated with the majors. The league lasted only three months before shutting down. With that, Dave May’s professional baseball playing career was over. He was 35 years old. May continued to play baseball at the semi-pro level with the Colonial Wallace back in his home state of Delaware. He played for five years - selling furniture when off the diamond. One of his teammates was former Brewer Johnny Briggs. May served as a roving hitting coach for the Braves for a couple of years but mostly remained in Delaware. In addition to selling furniture and appliances, he worked as a sports site director and cook. However, he was plagued by health problems as he got older. In 2003, he was diagnosed with diabetes, and his right leg was amputated. He also dealt with heart issues. May died in 2012 at the age of 68 due to cancer. May was inducted into the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Delaware Afro-American Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. Dave May had three children, including Derrick May, who went on to be a 1st round pick by the Chicago Cubs. Derrick played parts of 10 years in the majors as an outfielder - just like his dad. His son David Jr. played college baseball at the University of Delaware. Dave May was not a great baseball player, but he was a bright light for a couple of years in the early days of Brewer baseball. His 1971 and 1973 seasons were very good - especially the 1973 season. In his five years in Milwaukee, May hit .259 with 69 home runs. Unfortunately, his good seasons were balanced by bad ones. He wasn’t around long enough to accumulate big numbers - and his skillset was balanced - so he did not produce eye-popping stats. At his peak, May produced bWARs of 3.1, 2.5, and 4.7, showing his value as a steady, productive player. Also, May had a reputation as one of the friendliest and most well-liked players in the game. Please share your memories of former Brewer Outfielder Dave May. View full article

Draft is still a ways away, but it's fun to speculate. What are people's thoughts on the following players as our top pick - which is #15. S Brian Branch - Alabama TE Michael Mayer - Notre Dame WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba| - Ohio State WR Quinten Johnston - TCU WR Jordan Addison - USC OT Broderick Jones, Georgia I'm guessing the top Edge rushers (Anderson, Wilson, Murphy) will be gone at #15. And I'm guessing the top two Offensive Tackles will be as well (Jones, Skoronski). Some good corners in the draft as well. Never go wrong with corners. Don't see need for QB or RB (although RB Bijan Robinson would be a nice pick if we moved any of our backs). Anyone else have a guy they would like at #15? Thoughts on the above players?

Last month, former Brewer third baseman Sal Bando died at the age of 78 in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Bando was an important figure in Brewers history. He was the club’s first major free agent signing and the team’s general manager for most of the 1990s. Salvatore Leonard Bando was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1944. An outstanding athlete in multiple sports in high school, Sal Bando attended Arizona State University. There, the right-handed hitting third baseman was a member of the 1965 College World Series championship team - and voted the series’ outstanding player. The Kansas City Athletics selected Bando in the 6th round of the 1965 draft. As an advanced position player, Bando moved quickly through the Athletics system - getting a cup of coffee just a year later. Bando showed a good all-around skill set - including a quality glove and a powerful arm. And while his hit tool wasn’t great, he made up for it by taking a lot of walks. By 1968, he was entrenched at the hot corner in Oakland (the franchise having moved from Kansas City) - a position he wouldn’t relinquish for nine years. In his time in Oakland, Bando was named to four All-Star teams, finished in the top three in MVP voting three times, and was part of three consecutive World Series teams (1972-74). But the 1970s introduced a new element into baseball's economic landscape: free agency. And after the 1976 season, the soon-to-be 33-year-old Bando hit the open market - signing the first big free agent contract in Brewer history - a 5-year deal worth $1.5 million. While modest by today’s standards, the signing was a milestone for the Brewers - a sign they could attract the game’s top talent. And within a year, the team was winning 90+ games. Bando had two fine seasons with Milwaukee - hitting 17 home runs in 1977 and 1978 and playing good defense. He brought gravitas and leadership to a young Brewers team. However, the 1979 season signaled the end was near for the aging Bando. He failed to hit double-digit home runs for the first time since his rookie season, and his batting average fell to .246. For the next two years, Bando wore the moniker of player-coach - moving to a part-time role in the field. The results weren't good as he hit a paltry .197. Bando finished his career in 1981, playing 32 games and hitting .200. Sal Bando hit a solid but unspectacular career batting average (.254). But Bando’s power, on-base skills, and fielding made him special. He had seven seasons where he had a bWAR of five or higher and four more higher than three. For his career, he produced an impressive 61.5 bWAR. There are some impressive numbers in Bando’s stat line, including 30+ HRs in a season and 100+ RBI (twice). But two things jump out at you. The first was his durability. Bando averaged 156 games played over 11 consecutive seasons. That’s almost unheard of in today’s game. The second stat that jumps out is Bando’s walks. He walked more times in his career than he struck out (1031 BB vs. 923 Ks) - including 118 free passes in 1970. So while Bando’s batting average was never great, he more than made up for it with his keen eye at the plate. In Bando’s five years in Milwaukee, he did well his first couple of seasons before age began to take its toll. Still, he was an important part of the first great Brewer teams in the late 70s. Now, if that were it for Sal Bando and the Brewers, it would be a good story. But there’s more - lots more. After retiring, Bando got into announcing and became a special assistant to Brewer GM Harry Dalton as he remained in Milwaukee and set down roots in the community. In 1991, Bando was named the Brewers' General Manager - a position he held until August 1999. It was - in all honesty - nearly a decade of despair for the Crew. Baseball salaries went crazy - and Milwaukee couldn’t (or wouldn’t) keep up. The Brewers farm system didn’t produce and the team fell into a long run of mediocre - or bad - baseball. In Bando’s tenure as GM, the team had only one winning season. As a fan, it was a bad time - perhaps the worst in franchise history. There were a lot of bad drafts (Antone Williamson fourth overall!), bad signings (three years of Franklin Stubbs!), and other blunders (see you later, Paul Molitor). Bando never seemed to move the franchise into a new era - and the result was a weak organization that didn't recover until after he was gone. I argue that Bando was the worst GM in team history. In some ways, he had the unenviable task of running an aging club when he took over. But instead of embracing a philosophy (such as selling off assets and rebuilding), it appeared to be a quest for mediocrity year after year. Bando was finished as GM in 1999 and moved on from the game. He had invested his baseball earnings well since his days as a player and managed those business interests successfully for many years afterward. And while Bando never got back into baseball, he stayed in Wisconsin. He was living in Oconomowoc when he died on Jan. 21, 2023, after a battle with cancer. He was 78. Bando was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013 and was an inaugural member of the Milwaukee Brewers Wall of Honor in 2014. He was also inducted into the Oakland Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022. Bando’s brother, Chris, was a catcher in the big leagues for eight years, most of them with Cleveland. One last tidbit about Sal Bando: in 2006, he had a voice cameo in a Simpsons episode. Please share your memories of former Brewer third baseman and general manager Sal Bando. View full article