Matt Breen

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

On January 16, 2023, former Brewer infielder Travis Shaw announced his baseball retirement at age 32. The man known as the Mayor of Ding Dong City had enjoyed a short but memorable career in the majors - including a pair of exceptional seasons with the Brewers. Travis Richard Shaw was born on April 16, 1990, the son of former major league closer Jeff Shaw, a two-time All-Star. Travis Shaw grew up in Ohio and attended Kent State. The Red Sox selected him in the ninth round of the 2011 draft. In the minor leagues, Shaw - a left-handed hitter - displayed a nice overall skill set, including good batting averages and walk rates, plus solid power. But nothing stood out. Primarily a first baseman, Shaw gradually played more third base as he moved up the minor league ladder. In 2015, Shaw reached the majors and hit a respectable .270 with 13 home runs in 65 games - although mostly playing first base. He shifted to third base full-time the next season - and looked like a long-term answer for the club. However, Shaw struggled at the plate that year - particularly against left-handers (hitting a paltry .187 against them). With the team not sold on Shaw - and top prospect Rafael Devers in the wings - the Red Sox used Shaw as trade bait, sending Shaw, Josh Pennington, Mauricio Dubón, and Yeison Coca to the Milwaukee Brewers for emerging star relief pitcher Tyler Thornburg. The Brewers installed Shaw at third base, and he had the best two seasons of his career. Shaw demonstrated quality glove work and hit 30+ home runs in both years. He even displayed his defensive versatility - playing some second base during the 2018 season. Despite Shaw’s success, there were chinks in his armor. He managed a respectable .250 BA against lefties in 2017, but that fell to .209 the following season. And then, in 2019, the wheels fell off. He hit a brutal .157 in 86 games - earning a demotion to AAA. Due to his poor season and rising salary, the Brewers elected not to bring Shaw back and he became a free agent. But Travis Shaw was not done with Milwaukee. After a mediocre season in Toronto in 2020, the Crew signed Shaw in hopes he would regain his previous form. Alas, it was not to be. Injuries and ineffectiveness (.191 BA) plagued Shaw, and he was waived in August. Shaw finished the season with his original club - Boston - and broke camp with them to start the 2022 season. But it was short-lived as Shaw was let go after just three weeks. He declined a chance to play at AAA and announced his retirement in January of 2023, releasing this statement: “For the last eight years, I’ve been blessed to live out my childhood dreams of playing Major League Baseball, but today, that dream comes to an end! Twelve years ago, being a 9th-round pick, I would have never imagined what this game provided me. The memories will last a lifetime. To everyone who impacted my career (the list is endlessly long), I will be forever indebted to you! As this chapter closes, the only two words that come to mind are THANK YOU!” Looking back at Shaw’s career, it was mostly unremarkable. He hit .237 with 114 home runs over eight seasons, but his two-year run in Milwaukee was very good. He put up 3.5 and 4.5 bWAR during those two seasons, and Brewer fans appreciated Shaw’s all-around game, especially the 30+ home runs. He was a key member of the Brewer lineup, which won the division in 2018. Sadly, Shaw was never able to overcome his weakness against left-handers. After his stellar 2017-18 seasons, Shaw’s strikeout rates soared and virtually all the value he produced on the field was in that two-year run in Milwaukee. One note about Shaw during his time in Milwaukee: in 2017, his wife gave birth to a daughter with a serious heart condition. The girl survived but did not come home until she was five months old. Shaw always appreciated the support of the team, fans, and community during what was a very difficult time off the field. In the end, Travis Shaw will be remembered for a short but exceptional run with the Brewers - followed by an astonishingly abrupt collapse. Shaw was known as a good teammate and a favorite of the fans wherever he went. Because - let’s face it - you don’t get the nickname "the Mayor of Ding Dong City" if people don’t like and respect you. Please share your memories of former Brewer third baseman Travis Shaw. View full article

Sometimes a player is remembered for more than his performance on the field. Who can forget the handlebar mustache of Rollie Fingers? The antics of Mark Fydrich. The epic beard of Brian Wilson. The afro of Oscar Gamble. In this Brewer throwback, we look at the man with perhaps the greatest name in franchise history - as well as an impressive mustache - Billy Jo Robidoux. Billy Jo Robidoux (pronounced Roe-Buh-Dough) was born in Ware, Massachusetts, in 1964. A left-handed hitting first baseman, Robidoux was a sixth-round pick by the Brewers in the 1982 draft. From the get-go, it was clear that Billy Jo Robidoux could hit. His career minor league batting average is a robust .308 and he walked more than he struck out. As a 19-year-old at A-ball, he hit .317 with 10 home runs. But Robidoux broke out in 1985 at AA El Paso, hitting .342 with 23 HR and 123 RBI en route to winning the Texas League MVP award. Robidoux got an 18-game trial with Milwaukee that fall for his efforts. He hit a pair of home runs and drove in four runs in the final game of the season - a glimpse of good things to come - or so thought Brewer fans. For the organization - and many fans - Robidoux represented a chance to incorporate an exciting young hitter into an aging lineup. Mainstays such as Cooper, Gantner, Yount, Oglivie, and Moore were 30 and older. The following season, 1986, Robidoux got a chance to play regularly when Cecil Cooper was injured. The big first baseman started out well, hitting .290 over the season's first six weeks - although with little power. However, he injured his knee, which sidelined him for a month. When he returned, he was a different player. In a slump - and not playing full-time - the Brewers shipped Robidoux to the minors for two months. When he returned to the majors, his problems continued, and he finished the season hitting just .227 with a single home run in 56 games. Hardly the breakout that everyone had hoped for. In reality, Robidoux's chance had come and gone in Milwaukee. Injuries dogged Robidoux, and he played in only 153 games in 1987 and 1988 (56 were in Milwaukee, the rest at AAA). But the magic-hitting stroke was now gone. Even at AAA, he struggled to be anything more than ordinary. In Milwaukee, he hit .194 and .253, respectively, in limited action. Granted free agency after the 1988 season, Robidoux signed with Chicago. He hit well at AAA but failed to register an impact at the big league level, hitting a meager .128 in 16 games. He moved on to Boston the next season and surprised many by winning the 1B job out of training camp. However, he struggled to hit in the first month, then injured his shoulder diving for a ground ball. Surgery was required. He returned in July, but he was clearly a different player. Just throwing the ball sent pain shooting through the nerves of his elbow. And he described swinging the bat as if someone had stuck a knife in his shoulder. He was sent to the minors after hitting only .143 over 16 games. Billy Jo Robidoux’s career was essentially over. The wear and tear of playing the game hard had overwhelmed his body. He was 26 years old. After retiring, Robidoux returned to his hometown, Ware, Massachusetts, working for the city's highway department. He has stayed involved in sports, coaching baseball at the high school level for seven years (alongside his father), and umpiring and refereeing baseball and basketball at the high school and college levels. He has remained a part of the Brewer family, participating in fantasy camps. Billy Jo Robidoux had an unremarkable career. He hit .209 with 5 home runs in 468 at-bats in six years - most in Milwaukee. His 13% walk rate is the one thing you can highlight about his time in the big leagues. Without question, injuries played a significant role in derailing his career. However, while Robidoux never hit at the major league level, his 1985 season was among the finest in Brewers' minor league history. A 1.020 OPS, 97 BB vs. only 62K, a .342 BA, and 23 HR. That was stuff that made Brewers fans drool. But unlike today, those shiny numbers were masked by context. Robidoux's team, El Paso, hit .302 collectively. Yes, Robidoux had a great year. But in the context of the extreme hitter's park he played in, our expectations should have been tempered. It was not to be, and Billy Jo Robidoux has gone down in Milwaukee Brewer history as one of the organization's most disappointing prospects. Still, no one could take away the man's name. When someone looks for the most unusual names in baseball history - Billy Jo Robidoux often appears on their lists. Share your memories of former Brewer first baseman Billy Jo Robidoux. View full article

On October 4th, 2008, Brewer right-hander Dave Bush took the mound for the biggest game of his major league career. He tossed 5.1 innings, allowing only one run, while striking out three and walking no one, leading the Brewers to their first postseason victory in more than 25 years. It was Dave Bush at his finest. Sadly, Bush’s career was filled with more disappointments than successes, but he was an important member of the resurgent franchise for five seasons. David Thomas Bush was born in 1979 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He attended Wake Forest University, where he was a relief pitcher. Bush was drafted by Tampa Bay in the fourth round of the 2001 draft but elected to stay in school for another year. He was selected by Toronto in the second round the following summer. Bush, a right-handed pitcher, was moved to a starting role in his second year as a pro. His numbers were impressive, showing excellent command while striking out a batter per inning. As a college arm, Bush progressed quickly through the Blue Jays' system, reaching the majors in 2004. That season, he started 16 games and acquitted himself nicely, producing an ERA of 3.61 in 97.2 innings. The following season was a mixed bag for Bush. He struggled at times in the big leagues and spent time at AAA. His propensity to serve the gopher ball didn't win him any fans and it was an issue that plagued him throughout his career. In the off-season, the Brewers wanted to open up a spot in the lineup for young slugger Prince Fielder. Thus, on December 7, 2005, Bush was traded along with Gabe Gross and Zach Jackson for first baseman Lyle Overbay and minor league pitcher Ty Taubenheim. For the Brewers, the trade was an opportunity to get a couple of promising young arms in Bush and Jackson. And while many felt Jackson was the prize of the deal, Bush went on to have a longer career. In need of pitching, the Brewers handed the 26-year-old Bush the ball, and he responded with the finest season of his career. He tossed 212 innings, won 12 games, struck out 166, walked only 38, and produced a 4.41 ERA. Those are hardly all-star-level numbers, but they were welcome on a team that struggled to stop their opponents from scoring. With a solid season under his belt, many hoped that Bush would continue to improve as a pitcher. They were, sadly, (mostly) disappointed. Bush's 2007 numbers went backward in almost every way. Despite throwing 24 fewer innings, his hits allowed increased, as did his walks and home runs. His strikeout rate dropped as well. This meant his ERA rose to an unsightly 5.12 but 2008 saw a rebound of sorts for Bush as his ERA dropped back down to 4.18. That improvement couldn't hide weakening peripheral statistics but he still notched a win in the 2008 NLDS - as described in the introduction of this story. In 2009, Bush's performance cratered when, in early June, a line drive struck him in the arm, tearing his triceps muscle. After a Disabled List stint, he tried to come back, but it was awful. He ended up with an ERA of 6.38 for the season. Healthy in 2010, Bush started 31 games but had a mediocre campaign. And so, after five years together, the Brewers decided it was time to let Bush go as he approached free agency. He was 30 and had not improved as a pitcher since the team had acquired him. He gave up too many homers, and his walk and strikeout numbers only worsened. Bush signed with Texas in the spring of 2011, but the end was closer than he realized. After 17 games - only three as a starter - the Rangers released him. He caught on with the Cubs AAA team for a month before opting out of his contract and finishing the year with the Phillies AAA club. In 2012, Bush spent part of the year in the Phillies' minor league system before heading to Korea for half a season. The following year, Bush signed with Toronto. The Blue Jays called him up on April 6 (designating Jeremy Jeffress for assignment at the time). He lasted only one game - getting shelled for five runs (on four home runs) in just three innings of work. He spent the rest of the season at AAA - putting up poor numbers. And with that, Bush's career as a player was done. He was 33 years old. Dave Bush played five years in Milwaukee. His finest season was in 2006 when he produced 2.2 WAR. The postseason victory in the NLDS for the Brewers was his career highlight with the club. At his best, Dave Bush was a competent back-of-the-rotation arm. While he showed good control at times (his 2.40 walks per 9 innings is tenth best in Brewer history), he also gave up too many hits and home runs. For his career, Bush won 46 games in Milwaukee against 53 losses. He showed flashes of being something better on occasion, including taking no-hitters into the 7th inning three times in his career. These fleeting displays of brilliance only frustrated fans, who had hoped for much more in the man's career. Dave Bush does hold one record in the history of the Brewers. Never afraid to pitch inside, he hit 58 batters during his time (including 15 in 2009, which led the league). After retiring from baseball, Bush stayed involved with the game, working as a coach at the high school and international levels. He joined the Boston Red Sox organization in 2016 and has been the Red Sox’s pitching coach since 2019. Please share your memories of former Brewer Dave Bush. View full article

Fernando Vina was not a big man - 5’9” and 170 pounds - and thus lacked power. He had a good glove and thus profiled as a light-hitting utility infielder - except for one thing - his mediocre arm limited him to second base. For a guy like Vina - that is often a professional death sentence. Luckily for Vina, he got a chance to play every day in the majors with Milwaukee - and in time, he developed into a quality contact hitter - which enabled him to carve out a successful 12-year career. Fernando Vina was born in Sacramento, CA, in 1969, the child of Cuban immigrants. He attended Arizona State University and was selected by the Mets in the 9th round of the 1990 draft. Vina quickly put together a profile that would be his calling card throughout his career: he hit for a solid average, not much power, few strikeouts, and good defense at the keystone. Vina was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 1992 Rule 5 draft but was returned to the Mets the following summer. He was then traded to the Brewers in December of 1994, completing a deal as the player to be named later in the Doug Henry trade. It didn’t take long for Vina to find his niche in Milwaukee at second base and leading off. Vina hit for a good average and got on base at a 35% clip while playing quality defense. He never hit for double-digit home runs but walked fewer times than he struck out. His best year was 1998, when he hit .311 with 39 doubles and a .386 OBP - good enough to make his lone all-star appearance. His 198 hits that year are tied for the eighth most in Brewers' history. Unfortunately for Vina, he missed three-quarters of the 1999 season after a collision with OF Jeromy Burnitz . In 2000 - a year away from free agency with the Brewers in need of pitching - traded Vina to the Cardinals Juan Acevedo and two minor leaguers. Vina went on to have some good years in St. Louis, winning two Gold Gloves and twice hitting .300+. In 2004, Vina signed a two-year deal with Detroit, but due to injuries only played 29 games that year - and none in 2005. An attempt to return in 2006 ended with another injury - and signaled the end of his playing days. For his career, Vina hit .282 and produced a.348 OBP - not far from his Milwaukee numbers of .286 and .349. He only hit 40 HRs in his career. One of the more remarkable stats is his tiny 6.2% strikeout rate - almost unheard of today. Vina had quite a few stolen bases in his day but was not an efficient base stealer (116 SBs vs. 67 CS). Still, when you add in his good defense, Vina had a nice career - making $26M+ over 12 major league seasons. He was not a star and never put up huge numbers, but he was a valuable complementary player. One of the more memorable moments of Vina’s career happened on May 31, 1996. While attempting to tag a runner (Albert Belle) and make a throw to first to complete a double play, he was slammed into by Belle. Belle received a 5-game suspension for his actions. Vina laughed about the incident good-naturedly, claiming, "that put me on the map.” Check out the video of the incident. There was controversy after Vina’s career was over when his name came out in the Mitchell Report in 2007. A Mets clubhouse attendant said he had given Vina steroids in the early 2000s. Vina said he took HGH to recover from injuries - but denied ever buying or using steroids. After retiring, Vina worked for ESPN for several years. He now works teaching and promoting baseball to America’s youth - including underprivileged children. Vina was inducted into the Arizona State University Hall of Fame in 2011 and the Milwaukee Brewer Wall of Honor in 2014. Please share your memories of former Brewer Fernando Vina. View full article

You gotta love it when perseverance pays off. We've all heard the stories - the ones about a player spending 10+ years bumming around the minors - crappy pay, crappy hotels, crappy bus rides - all for the chance to reach the Show. Former Brewer reliever Mark DiFelice is one of those stories - albeit with a rather abrupt ending. The right-handed throwing Mark DiFelice was born in Pennsylvania in 1976. He attended Western Carolina University and was selected by the Rockies in the 15th round of the 1998 amateur draft. DiFelice was classic organizational fodder. He didn’t stand out in any fashion other than displaying low walk rates throughout his career. He put up solid numbers but nothing eye-popping. He also was prone to giving up HRs - a bugaboo that would haunt him much of his career. DiFelice eventually stalled out at AAA. The Rockies released him in 2004, and he spent the year at AAA with Baltimore, putting up good, but not great, numbers. After that, his journey continued with stints with the Nationals, independent ball (the Atlantic League), and the Mexican League. Following the 2006 season, DiFelice was signed by Milwaukee. And everything seemed to come together for the 30-year-old DiFelice. He had a great year between AA and AAA, throwing 124.2 innings and producing a 2.31 ERA. DiFelice began the 2008 season at AAA Nashville but was called to the big leagues on May 15. He was a 31-year-old rookie. While he had been a starter most of his career, the Brewers used DiFelice strictly as a reliever (he never started a game in the majors). In 2008, he appeared in 15 games and produced a sparkling 2.84 ERA, striking out 20 batters in only 19 innings. What was fascinating about Mark DiFelice was that he succeeded with only one pitch - a slow (he generally worked between 80-84 mph) cut fastball. The pitch made right-handed hitters look like idiots. 2009 was DiFelice’s high water mark. He pitched for Italy in the World Baseball Classic that spring, then was outstanding for Milwaukee in the first half of the year, producing a 1.83 ERA before the All-Star break. But the second half of the season was a disaster, and many wondered if something was wrong. Indeed, DiFelice had shoulder surgery after the year to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff. For the year, he threw 51.2 innings and produced a solid 3.66 ERA. DiFelice missed all of 2010 rehabbing. In 2011, he returned to Milwaukee on a minor league deal and managed only three innings at the big league level (along with 29 at AAA). The Brewers released the 35-year-old DiFelice after the season. He played ten games in the Italian League the following year, but his playing days were over after that point. After retiring, DiFelice became a pitching coach, working in the minor leagues for the Pirates, Marlins, and Nationals organizations. He spent the 2022 season with the Wilmington Blue Rocks. Due to his limited time in the big leagues, Mark DiFelice might not seem like an ideal candidate for a retrospective. But let’s be honest - he had a great story - spending almost a decade struggling to succeed, getting released several times, playing in independent ball, the Mexican League, and even the Italian League. Going through all that and still making it to the majors is pretty amazing. DiFelice’s time in Milwaukee was short, but it is hard to forget. You would watch him pitch and wonder, “How the heck is this guy getting batters out?” Fangraph’s Dave Cameron even wrote an article on DiFelice called “The Ultimate Roogy.” DiFelice was also famous for his role as the clubhouse barber wherever he played, skills he picked up from his grandmother and aunt. Ultimately, Mark DiFelice may have been a one-trick pony, but he rode that pony to majors, going through a lot of hoops to make it happen. Sadly, injuries cut short his career - but it's not hard to like DeFelice’s story as the "ultimate roogy." Please share your memories of former Brewers reliever Mark DiFelice. View full article

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. Please share your memories of former Brewer Sixto Lezcano. View full article

The job of setup man in baseball isn’t sexy. You don’t get the "save" on your stat sheet. You're rarely cheered by the fans for holding onto a lead. You don’t get your teammates' high fives and backslaps as you walk off the field after a victory. But the setup man is crucial in baseball, and Brewer reliever Chuck Crim was one of the best for a few years. The Brewers drafted Charles (Chuck) Robert Crim in the 17th round out of the University of Hawaii in 1982. After two years in the minors, he was moved to the bullpen, where he quickly found his niche. Despite being a non-roster player, Crim made the team in 1987 and quickly became a workhorse out of the pen. Over five years (’87-’91), he appeared in 332 games and threw 530 innings - an average of 66 games and an astounding 106 innings pitched per year. All but five of his appearances were in relief and he led the AL in appearances in 1988 and 1989. Crim was excellent in his first few seasons, producing ERAs of 2.91 and 2.83 in 1988 and 1989, respectively. However, the heavy workload began to take a toll on Crim’s arm, and his numbers began to fade in 1990. In 1991, his final season in Milwaukee, Crim’s ERA rose to 4.63. The Brewers shipped out Crim after that season, sending him to the Angels for another reliever - Mike Fetters - a deal that turned out well for the Brewers. After struggling in 1992 and 1993, the Angels released Crim mid-season. He came back to have a solid 1994 with the Cubs, but after the player strike that year, Crim decided he had had enough of baseball and retired. After his retirement, Crim spent seven years as a professional fisherman, then returned to baseball, joining the Dodgers organization in 2006, working as a scout and coach. He was Los Angeles's bullpen coach from 2013-15. After his stint in Los Angeles, Crim returned to his life as a fisherman. Chuck Crim was not a physically imposing pitcher and didn't have stuff that jumped out at fans. He didn't strike out many batters, but he didn’t walk many, either. He flashed a plus slider and sinker to go with a solid fastball. All of this allowed him to be one of the most effective setup men in baseball for several years. His first three seasons in Milwaukee were excellent - producing bWARs of 2.6, 1.7, and 2.7. Just to let you know, during his five years in Milwaukee, Crim made 332 appearances and tossed 530 innings. Also, he won 33 games, saved 42, and produced an ERA of 3.42. As a rookie, he won two of Milwaukee’s games in their record 13-0 run to start the 1987 season. Players like Crim often need to be remembered due to having the unglamorous role of setup man. For a few years, Crim was really good at his job - making him an integral part of the Milwaukee Brewers team. As a result of his accomplishments, Crim was added to the Milwaukee Brewers Wall of Honor in 2014. Please share your memories of former Brewer reliever Chuck Crim. View full article