Matt Breen

Rusty has some good points - but his defense and base running are bad. It makes him okay. I don't have a problem rolling with him again next year. He'll be 28 - so maybe he can up his game just a bit more. But honestly, he's not a starter on a good team. His defense just isn't good and he's a terrible baserunner. If the club traded him and went in a different direction - I'd be fine with it. However, it's hard to trade guys who hit 30 HRs - even if you know - deep down - he's not a good option. And let's face it - we might not have a better option.

When Mike Hegan’s contract was sold to the expansion Seattle Pilots, little did he realize that it would lead to a relationship with the organization that would last 19 years - including two stints as a player, and then a 12-year run as an announcer. When Mike Hegan’s contract was sold to the expansion Seattle Pilots, little did he realize that it would lead to a relationship with the organization that would last 19 years - including two stints as a player, and then a 12-year run as an announcer. James Michael "Mike" Hegan was born in Cleveland in 1942. His father, Jim Hegan, was a big league catcher for 17 years, primarily with Cleveland, and Mike served as the Indians batboy. Hegan, a left-handed hitter, was signed by the Yankees in 1961. For a first baseman, he didn't show a lot of pop in the minors, but did take a lot of walks. He bounced between the minors and majors from 1964 through 1968 but was blocked by players such as Mickey Mantle and Joe Pepitone . Then, in June of 1968, Hegan was sold to the expansion Seattle Pilots (who weren't scheduled to debut until 1969) for $25,000. He finished out the season with AAA Syracuse, then became the first man signed by the Pilots. Hegan opened as the Pilots first baseman, and was selected as the franchise's first All-Star, though he did not play due to injury. He hit .292 for Seattle, producing an .888 OPS, but he missed 67 games with injuries. In 1970, Hegan came to Milwaukee for the Brewers inaugural campaign, serving as the team's primary first baseman. The next year, he was dealt to Oakland, where he was part of the A's 1972 World Championship team (becoming the first father/son duo to win a World Series). Strictly a platoon player at this point of his career (playing 1B, OF and DH), Hegan went to the Yankees in 1973, and then found himself back in Milwaukee in 1974. He played for the Crew until 1977, before the club released him in July, ending his career. But baseball - and Milwaukee - was not done with Mike Hegan. He had become interested in broadcasting years before, working at WTMJ-TV in the offseason. Within 10 days of his release he was filling in as the color commentator for the Brewers television broadcasts. The next season he was tabbed to do Milwaukee's play-by-play, and he stayed in the booth for the next 11 years. In 1989, Hegan joined the Indians broadcast team, doing play-by-play and color commentary until he retired after the 2011 season, a run of 23 years. Hegan passed away on Christmas Day in 2013 at the age of 71, the result of heart complications. Mike Hegan's career with Milwaukee was not anything special. He spent parts of seven seasons with the franchise, hitting .249 with a .735 OPS. He didn't have much power (42 HRs on 1529 ABs), but did get on base (.355 OBP) due to a nice walk rate. He was mostly a platoon player through his career, but he had a reputation as a good defender and a smart baseball man (qualities no doubt inherited from his father). A highlight of his time in was an errorless streak of 178 games at first base, which stood as the American League record for 12 years. He also hit for the cycle in 1976 (driving in six runs that day), the first Brewer to ever do so. But Hegan's legacy rests mostly with his long stint in the TV booth during the late 70s and into the 80s. Many people (myself included) watched many a broadcast, with Hegan behind the microphone, as the Brewers produced some of their best ever ball clubs. Please share your memories of former Brewer player and announcer Mike Hegan. View full article

Rowdy's bat offers some value, but a lot is negated by his mediocre defense and bad base running. And let's face it - unless he loses weight, he's not going to get better in those categories.

You are not wrong. In 1977. Grammas left Travers in for 8 innings and 155 pitches. He gave up 14 runs. He had elbow surgery again the off season. Really a travesty to waste players like that. I'm sure it was an old school 'make him gut it out' kind of thing. But screwing up a guy's arm was just stupid.

You are not wrong. In 1977. Grammas left Travers in for 8 innings and 155 pitches. He gave up 14 runs. He had elbow surgery again the off season. Really a travesty to waste players like that. I'm sure it was an old school 'make him gut it out' kind of thing. But screwing up a guy's arm was just stupid.

In 1976, 23-year old Bill Travers broke out with the Brewers with a 2.81 ERA over 240 innings (including 15 complete games) and an All-Star Game appearance. It made Travers one of the first successful home grown pitchers for the young Brewers organization. In 1976, 23-year old Bill Travers broke out with the Brewers with a 2.81 ERA over 240 innings (including 15 complete games) and an All-Star Game appearance. It made Travers one of the first successful home grown pitchers for the young Brewers organization. William Edward Travers was born in Massachusetts in 1952. His father was a semi-pro baseball player. Travers was drafted by the Brewers in the 6th round of the 1970 draft when Bill was only 17 years old. After a rough first year (again, at age 17), Travers quickly rounded into form, showing promise as a starter. However, in 1972, he developed arm troubles (requiring an early version of Tommy John surgery) and missed much of the next two years. But the Brewers loved Travers' fastball and control, thus earning him a call up to Milwaukee in 1974, where he (predictably) struggled in 53 innings of relief. Moving back into the rotation, Travers split 1975 between AAA and Milwaukee, ultimately solidifying himself in the rotation - where he remained for six years. Travers had his breakout 1976 season - winning 15 games and leading the team with 4.5 bWAR and earning his only All-Star appearance. Sadly, this was Travers' high point, with various injuries (including another Tommy John operation) limiting his effectiveness and production. From 1977 through 1980, Travers was a mainstay in the rotation, with some bad years (1977-78) and some solid ones (1979-1980). After the 1980 campaign, the Brewers let the 27-year old Travers walk in free agency. He signed a four-year deal (worth $4 million) with the Angels, but injuries limited him to only 52 ineffective innings over the length of the contract. His career was done at age 30. Travers had one of those 'what if' careers. An All-Star season at age 23 was the pinnacle, but injuries would dim his star. Perhaps the heavy workload of that season contributed to his subsequent elbow issues, but you never know. A tall, lanky guy, Travers played in 191 games for Milwaukee (157 starts - completing 46 of those games and tossing 10 shutouts) and threw more than 1,000 innings. He won 65 games (against 71 losses) and produced a 3.99 ERA and a 1.366 WHIP. He was part of the rise of the big hitting Brewer teams of the late 70s/early 80s. In addition to his work on the field, Travers was known for his boundless sense of humor. After baseball, Travers invested his earnings into real estate, and has enjoyed his life after the game. He coached youth baseball for years in Foxboro, MA, and was lauded as one of the architects of the community's youth baseball league. He also became heavily involved in candlepin bowling, and has been recognized as one of the best in the world. He was part of the U.S. team that won the 1998 World Championship. Travers was inducted into the Brewer Wall of Fame in 2014. Please share your memories of former Brewer pitcher Bill Travers. View full article

Oh yeah.

That's cool. Club needs a shot in the arm.

Back in the day, people had all sorts of stories about Gorman. He'd stop by people tailgating after the game - eat food and drink beers. I ran into one guy who told me about meeting him in the lot after the game, and inviting him to a house party. He showed up. People just loved him.

Back in the day, people had all sorts of stories about Gorman. He'd stop by people tailgating after the game - eat food and drink beers. I ran into one guy who told me about meeting him in the lot after the game, and inviting him to a house party. He showed up. People just loved him.

Gorman Thomas. He was scruffy and disheveled. He looked like he had had a few too many beers and eaten a few too many cheeseburgers. On any given night you could count on him running into a wall, striking out, or hitting a home run. It was the glory years of Brewer baseball, and Thomas became one of the most beloved players in franchise history. Gorman Thomas. He was scruffy and disheveled. He looked like he had had a few too many beers and eaten a few too many cheeseburgers. On any given night you could count on him running into a wall, striking out, or hitting a home run. It was the glory years of Brewer baseball, and Thomas became one of the most beloved players in franchise history. Gorman Thomas was born in 1950 in South Carolina. He was drafted in the first round (21st overall) of the 1969 draft - the first pick of the fledgling Pilots/Brewer franchise. A shortstop in high school, Thomas quickly emerged as a low average, high power, high strikeout player. After shifting between shortstop and third base for a couple of years, Thomas settled in as a center fielder, where he showed a strong arm and good range. Thomas reached Milwaukee in 1973, but struggled in limited action. Then, in 1974 he hammered 51 HR at AAA, netting him a position on the 1975 squad. Unfortunately, Thomas played poorly, hitting under .200 the next two seasons as a part time player. At age 26, he found himself back at AAA. He performed well, hitting .322 with 36 HR, but was traded to Texas shortly after the season. At age 27, Thomas could have easily ended up a AAAA type player, but luckily for him, Milwaukee decided they wanted to have him back. In February of 1978, the Brewers bought Thomas back from the Rangers. He seized the opportunity, not only making the club, but working himself into the regular lineup. In 137 games, he slugged 32 home runs, and became a cornerstone of 'Bambie's Bombers' - the powerful lineup trotted out by new manager Geroge Bamburger. Brewer coach Frank Howard gave Thomas the nickname of Stormin' Gorman. Over the next five years Thomas hit 175 HR, leading the league twice. (He also led the league in strikeouts twice as well.) He drove in over a 100 runs three times during those years. His batter average floated in the .240-250 range, but the power and plus defense made him an indispensable part of the late 70s/early 80s Brewer teams. In 1983, the 32-year-old Thomas struggled out of the gate, hitting only .182 in 46 games. Injuries and age had taken a toll on Thomas, not to mention his hard living. Seeking to shake up the club, the Brewers dealt Thomas to Cleveland for outfielder Rick Manning . Thomas was crushed by the trade. He had developed folk legend status in Milwaukee, and the deal had ended his fairy tale ride. The Indians dealt Thomas after the season to Seattle, where he floundered before succumbing to rotator cuff surgery. Thomas had one last good year in 1985, hitting 32 HR as DH for the Mariners and winning the AL Comeback Player of the Year Award. But the success was short lived. He struggled the next season, and in a (mostly) PR move, the Brewers reacquired the aging slugger. He played 44 games for the Crew, hitting a tepid .179 with a paltry 6 HR. Milwaukee released the 35 year old Thomas after the season, and his career was over. Thomas spent parts of 11 seasons with Milwaukee (although only five as a full time starter). He averaged about 4.0 WAR from 1978-82, participate in an all star game (1981) and the 1982 World Series. He hit 208 HR, drove in 605 runs, walked 501 times, struck out 1033 times, and hit .230. He was three true outcomes before three true outcomes existed. But Gorman Thomas' influence was never measured in just numbers. For Brewer fans, he was a folk hero, and he has essentially fashioned a second career around this status. He was the quintessential Brewer. He played hard and he partied hard. Fans celebrated his larger than life persona - and Gorman was happy to live it up with them. He was known for stopping by tailgates after games and drinking beers with fans. Along with teammate Pete Vukovich, Thomas opened a bar near the stadium called Stormin' and Vukes'. Over the years, Thomas has remained in the Brewer family working in a variety of capacities, including helping out at spring training, participating in fantasy camps, and doing personal appearances. He also lent his name to Gorman's Grill at Miller Park. He still resides in the Milwaukee area, hunting, fishing and golfing in his retirement. Thomas was inducted into both the South Carolina and Wisconsin Athletic Halls of Fame as well as the Brewers Wall of Fame. Please share your memories of former Milwaukee Brewer Gorman Thomas. View full article

"It's a break-a-ball." And with that, we turn the spotlight on former Brewer left-handed pitcher - and Wisconsin native - Jerry Augustine. "It's a break-a-ball." And with that, we turn the spotlight on former Brewer left-handed pitcher - and Wisconsin native - Jerry Augustine. Gerald Lee "Jerry" Augustine was born in 1952 in Kewaunee, Wisconsin. He grew up in Kewaunee as well, and stayed in state for college, heading to UW-La Crosse. The Brewers drafted Augie in the 15th round of the 1974 draft. He spent only 28 games in the minors before being brought up to the Big Leagues in 1975, becoming a fixture on the Brewers staff, first as a starter, then as a reliever, until 1984. Augustine had a promising rookie campaign in '76, making the all-rookie team when he posted a 3.30 ERA and produced a 2.8 bWAR. But that was Augie's high water mark. He spent a couple of more years as a starter, throwing a career high 209 innings in 1977 (while losing 18 games), but ultimately prove himself to be a remarkably average pitcher. He simply gave up too many hits, walked too many guys, and didn't strike enough batters. As the Crew improved in the late 70s, Augustine was shifted to the bullpen, having a nice year in 1979 (1.4 bWAR). But subsequent campaigns saw Augie's numbers gradually decline, and after the 1984 season he was let go by Milwaukee. He bounced around in the minors for a couple of more seasons before finally retiring at age 33. Jerry Augustine was never a particularly good pitcher, going 55-59 and producing a 4.23 ERA over parts of 10 seasons. Being a left-handed pitcher undoubtedly extended Augustine's career, but he never really was a key element of the club. For his career, he walked almost as many batters (340) as he struck out (348). He accumulated 4.1 WAR during his playing days. But Augie's status in Brewer lore is not really measured by his numbers. He was a Wisconsin guy. He talked like a Wisconsin guy. He grew up in Wisconsin, went to college in Wisconsin, and spent his entire major league career in Wisconsin. After retiring, he opened up his own insurance agency in West Allis - Jerry Augustine Agency, Inc. He further cemented his ties to the state by coaching the UW-Milwaukee baseball team for 12 seasons before joining Fox Sports Wisconsin as an analyst - a position he holds to this day. Wisconsin-La Crosse inducted Augustine into its Wall of Fame in 1984, and the Brewers added him on their Wall of Honor in 2014. Please share your memories of former Milwaukee Brewer Jerry Augustine. View full article

The 1990s were a wasteland for the Milwaukee Brewers franchise (thanks, Sal Bando). It began a run of 14 straight years without a winning record. But that doesn't mean all was lost. Fans would be teased by the occasional winning streak, and the flashes of greatness. One of the primary figures on the club during this time was slugging 1B John Jaha, a late bloomer who's successes were matched (if not equaled) by his injuries. The 1990s were a wasteland for the Milwaukee Brewers franchise (thanks, Sal Bando). It began a run of 14 straight years without a winning record. But that doesn't mean all was lost. Fans would be teased by the occasional winning streak, and the flashes of greatness. One of the primary figures on the club during this time was slugging 1B John Jaha, a late bloomer who's successes were matched (if not equaled) by his injuries. John Jaha was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1966. He was a 14th round pick by the Crew out of high school in 1984. He split his time between third and first in the minors, but settled in at the latter position by the time he reached the majors. Early in his pro career, Jaha struggled to escape the lower rungs of the minors. He put up solid, but unspectacular numbers, in part because he missed significant time after injuring his Achilles, an injury that would bother him the rest of his career. However, after a big 1989 in A-ball, he was on a steady track to Milwaukee. The big first baseman displayed excellent all around hitting skills - hitting for average, power and taking a lot of walks. He put up massive numbers at AA-El Paso and at AAA-Denver (both notorious hitters havens), and in 1992 he got his first trip to Milwaukee. The next season, at age 27, he was club's starting first baseman. Jaha hit double digit HRs for the next five seasons, including 34 in 1996, and twice hit .300 or better. Unfortunately, he was hurt as often as he was healthy; he had nine stints on the DL during his major league career. He only made it into more than 88 games twice during his seven years with the Brewers. His 1996 season was his high water mark. In addition to 34 home runs, he drove in 118 runs, hit .300 and had an OPS of .941. But injuries and less-than-stellar conditioning took their toll on Jaha, and his time in Milwaukee ended following the 1998 season after he hit only 7 HRs and a mere .208. He was 32. Jaha signed with the Oakland A's the next season, and for one season, caught lightning in a bottle as he slugged 35 HRs and produced a .970 OPS while making the All-Star team. But Jaha's nemesis, injuries, would catch up to him. He was only in 35 games over the next two years. He retired after the 2001 season at age 35. In his seven years in Milwaukee, Jaha hit 105 HRs and produce an OPS of .824. He was a part of a some good hitting (but poor pitching) teams during his Brewer years, and produce some memorable moments during some bad seasons. Jaha was, ultimately, a disappointment for Milwaukee. While he had some nice (even excellent) seasons, his inability to stay healthy made him more of a tease than a star. In addition to the Achilles injury, he tore his groin, and had his shoulder surgically repaired. Another thing to mention are the steroid accusations against Jaha. He spent time with Oakland and played with admitted steroid users at the time (the Giambis). His out-of-the-blue all-star season in 1999 has made people speculate that he was a PED user. However, nothing has ever been brought forth more than accusations, and Jaha has never said anything on the subject. After retiring, Jaha moved back to his home state of Oregon, and remains involved in baseball by running a sports and recreation facility. His son played college baseball at Oregon. Jaha was added to the Brewer Wall of Honor in 2014, and he was inducted in the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 2020. Please share your memories of former Brewer slugger John Jaha. View full article

On May 16, 2004, Ben Sheets threw one of the greatest games in Milwaukee Brewers history. The righthander struck out 18 batters - still a Milwaukee record - on the way to a 4-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves. It was a window into Sheets' electrifying ability. Sadly, Sheets' career would be derailed by injuries and bad teams - otherwise he may have ended up as the best pitcher in franchise history On May 16, 2004, Ben Sheets threw one of the greatest games in Milwaukee Brewers history. The righthander struck out 18 batters - still a Milwaukee record - on the way to a 4-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves. It was a window into Sheets' electrifying ability. Sadly, Sheets' career would be derailed by injuries and bad teams - otherwise he may have ended up as the best pitcher in franchise history Ben Sheets was born in Louisiana in 1978. He attended college at Northeast Louisiana University (now the University of Louisiana Monroe), where he was an All-American. The Brewers drafted Sheets in the first round (10th overall) in 1999. In 2000, Sheets became the hero for the U.S. Olympic baseball team, pitching 22 innings and yielding only one walk and 11 hits. For the gold medal game, he pitched a complete game shutout against the favored Cuban team, giving up only three singles and no walks. The Brewers moved Sheets rapidly through the minor leagues, and by 2001, he was a fixture in the rotation. Sheets quickly became a workhorse, averaging 225 IP from 2002-2004. During the span, Sheets became a complete pitcher, controlling his offerings and increasing his strikeouts. All of it came together in 2004, when Sheets produced one of the best seasons in Brewer history. In addition to a 2.70 ERA, Sheets struck out 264 batters and walked just 32. Unfortunately, Sheets suffered from a lack of run support, and only had a record of 12-14. (The club won only 67 games that season.) Due to the low win total, he finished a distant eighth in the Cy Young Award voting, despite producing 7.2 bWAR - second in the league behind Randy Johnson. After Sheets' breakout campaign, the Brewers gave their newly minted ace a four-year contract worth $38.5 million. Unfortunately, Sheets never rose up to the brilliance of the 2004 campaign as he missed time due to injury and illness during each of the next four years. He was still effective, but he never threw for more than 200 innings or produced a sub-3.00 ERA. His list of injuries included shoulder tendinitis, hamstring issues, ear infections that caused vertigo, and a tear in his right elbow. The latter injury occurred in the final weeks of 2008 - the only winning season Sheets had been part of with Milwaukee - and shelved him for the playoffs. With the season concluded, Sheets was a free agent. The Brewers decided the oft-injured Sheets wasn't worth a significant investment, but did opt to offer him arbitration with the expectation of landing a draft pick as compensation. Unfortunately for Sheets, who declined the arbitration offer, the elbow injury was worse than thought and required Tommy John surgery. He missed all of the 2009 season. Sheets signed with Oakland for the 2010 season, starting 20 games, with mediocre results, before suffering a torn flexor in his pitching elbow. He made one final stab at playing in 2012, signing with Atlanta mid-season. He pitched pretty well over nine games before landing on the DL again with a sore shoulder. After the last setback, Sheets decided to call it a career. After retiring, Sheets returned to Louisiana to raise his family, where he owns and operates Sheets Baseball Academy. He has served as a volunteer baseball coach at his alma mater since 2013. He was inducted into the Brewer Wall of Honor in 2014. Ben Sheets was unique in that he was a starter that relied primary on only two pitches: his fastball and a devastating curveball. No player in team history probably threw a curve ball as often and as effectively as Sheets. Sheets' legacy with Milwaukee is effectively in place as one of the top pitchers the organization ever produced - even if it was tinged with disappointment. In addition to pitching in four All-Star games, he is second in career bWAR, with 25.6, behind only Teddy Higuera . And he has more strikeouts than anyone other than Yovani Gallardo . Sheets' name appears in the Brewers top 10 of just about every pitching statistic that you can think of, including WHIP, innings pitched, and wins. As I noted, for all the accomplishments of Sheets, there is a dose of disappointment that things weren't better during his run in Brew City. Sheets pitched on some really bad clubs, dimming his accomplishments in some eyes. Also, as the club's first home grown star in years, he was cast as the savior for the franchise and awarded the richest contract in team history. But the injuries that followed clouded people's view of him and he would never carry the club on his back like he did in 2004. I remember during the time period that people on brewerfan.net would sarcastically say things such as, "It would be nice if our 'ace' would get over his dizzy spells" and things of that nature. The final injury cemented for many fans the sour view of Sheets. At the time, some felt he was bailing on the team in the heat of the pennant race. When he left the Brewer organization, there was some bitterness between both parties, but that appears to have faded over the years. In the end, it's easy to remember Sheets for the good things his did in Milwaukee. Watching him when he was on top of his game was a thing of beauty. Sheets' curveball was second to none. I personally remember going to an afternoon game with my father and watching Sheets mow down the opposing team in less then 2.5 hours. It was brilliant. That's how I remember Ben Sheets. And finally, we can't mention Sheets without talking about his batting. Sheets had a reputation as one of the worst hitters in the league. His .076 BA backs up those claims. I used to joke that Brewer pitcher Doug Davis (who had a career BA of .083) used to thank Sheets for not making him look so bad. But Ben Sheets was a pitcher. If you want to see him at his best, take a look at all 18 of his strikeouts from May 16, 2004 game against Atlanta. The curve is just sick. Enjoy - then leave your own memories of former Brewer Ben Sheets. View full article

In 1970, baseball was back in Milwaukee (much to the chagrin of Seattle fans). Sadly, it wasn't very good baseball. This was an expansion club after all. So, while wins were few and far between, Brewer fans did get to enjoy the performance of Tommy Harper, the organization's first all-star. In 1970, baseball was back in Milwaukee (much to the chagrin of Seattle fans). Sadly, it wasn't very good baseball. This was an expansion club after all. So, while wins were few and far between, Brewer fans did get to enjoy the performance of Tommy Harper, the organization's first all-star. Tommy Harper was born in Louisiana in 1940. He came up through the Red organization as a right-handed hitting 2B/3B, showing an exceptional blend of speed, power and plate discipline. He got a cup of coffee in 1962 after putting up outstanding numbers at AAA (.333 BA, 26 HR, 100+ walks). He broke camp for the Reds the following season - and spent the next 14 seasons in the majors. The Reds moved Harper to the outfield in his rookie season, and except for a very good 1965, he provided solid, if unspectacular, numbers for the next few years. After a disappointing 1967 campaign, Harper was shipped to Cleveland for one year, then acquired by the newly minted Seattle Pilots in the expansion draft. Harper rejuvenated his career with the Pilots/Brewers. He showed versatility, playing 3B, 2B and OF - a trait that would extend his time in Milwaukee. In 1969, he struggled with a .235 BA, but added 95 walks, which produced a respectable .349 OBP. This allowed Harper to run wild - which he did - stealing a league leading (and still franchise record) 73 bases. But Harper was destined for better things. After the club moved to Milwaukee in 1970, the 29-year-old Harper would have one of the best seasons ever produced by a Brewer hitter. He would slug 31 HRs, steal 38 bases, and put up a .296 BA and an .899 OPS (6th in the AL). It was all good enough for 7.4 bWAR. He is only one of 43 people in league history to be a part of the 30-30 club - 30 steals and 30 HRs. Harper's performance netted him his only all-star appearance, as well as a sixth place finish in the MVP voting. Harper never again sniffed the numbers of his magical 1970 season (his next highest HR total was 18). The following season, he predictably regressed, finishing with a .717 OPS (his exact career number). Then the Brewers, looking to add power, dealt Harper to the Red Sox in a 10-player deal prior to the 1972 season - netting the Brewers slugger George Scott. Harper played three seasons for Boston, then parts of two seasons with the Angels, Orioles and A's. He was done as a player in 1976 at age 35. He coached after his playing career, working in the Yankees, Expos and Red Sox organizations. In 2010, he was named to the Red Sox Hall of Fame in acknowledgement of his long career with the organization as a player, coach and instructor. Harper's time with the franchise wasn't long - just three years. But he represents the first great season that a Brewer ever produced. In both Seattle and Milwaukee, he holds the distinction of being the first player to get an at-bat. His 7.4 bWAR season ranks as the franchise's 4th best ever. His 95 walks, while with the Pilots, rank 8th best. In the stolen base department, he holds the sixth spot with 136 career swipes, and - as noted - he still holds the franchise record with 73 SBs. For his Brewer career, he had a respectable .763 OPS, and his versatility was a great attribute for the club. Other highlights of Harper's career include a 24-game hitting streak in 1966, a four stolen base performance with the Pilots in 1969, and 408 career stolen bases to go with 146 HRs. Please share your memories of Milwaukee's first all-star - Tommy Harper. View full article

There are many baseball gods, but one of the more obscure is Versatilus, the patron god of utility players. Few players have worshiped at the alter of Versatilus more than former Brewer Eddie Romero , who parlayed his modest skills into a long career as a a player - and then as a coach and instructor. There are many baseball gods, but one of the more obscure is Versatilus, the patron god of utility players. Few players have worshiped at the alter of Versatilus more than former Brewer Eddie Romero , who parlayed his modest skills into a long career as a a player - and then as a coach and instructor. Edgardo Ralph Romero was born in Puerto Rico on Dec. 9, 1957. He was signed as an amateur free agent by the Brewers in 1975 at the age of 17. The slightly built infielder was installed at shortstop and began a steady climb through the minor league system. At the plate, he never scared anybody (no power and an average hit tool), but he took his walks and showed good contact, rarely striking out. In 1977, the Brewers would give the 19-year-old Romero a brief 10-game trial, but he was sent back to minors in short order, and did not return to Milwaukee until 1980. But once he established himself with the Brewers in 1980, he spent the next 11 years in the majors (seven in Milwaukee), and was a key reserve for the great Brewers clubs of the era. Romero's calling card was his versatility (unless you count his impressive mustache). He played, at some point, every postion on the field except pitcher and catcher. He hit a modest .254 for the Crew and never had more than 1 HR in a season, but as noted, he limited his strikeouts and took his walks, and was ready to play wherever the club needed him. On average, he had about 200-250 at-bats in a season, the most coming in 1984 when Paul Molitor was injured. After the 1985 season, Romero was dealt to Boston for reliever Mark Clear. He spent nearly four seasons in Boston before returning to Milwaukee at the conclusion of the 1989 season. After a brief stint with Detroit in 1990, then a year in the minor leagues, he was done as a player. Upon retiring, Romero immediately went into coaching. He has served as a manager for more than a dozen minor league seasons, including several for the Brewers. He was the Astros third base coach in 2008, and bench coach the following season under former teammate Cecil Cooper. For his career, Romero had a .247 BA and produced an OPS of just .600. For Milwaukee, the numbers are .254 and .619, respectively. He wasn't a speed guy (only 9 career SBs versus being caught 10 times), and he was - at times - prone to errors (in the minors he had two seasons with more than 40 miscues). Historical stats don't see him as any sort of defensive whiz, but perhaps the constant moving around the field diminished his numbers. His poor hitting and average defense give him a WAR of -5.0 for his career. Romero lamented the perception that he was 'only' a utility player and that he never got the chance to be a full-time player. But his bat never really justified a role other than that of a reserve. His biggest plus was probably that he was viewed as a competent, trustworthy and reliable player who could step up when the need arose. There's value in that. And Eddie parlayed it into a long career which is a pretty amazing accomplishment. Romero married his high school sweetheart in 1977, and they had two children. Their son, Ed Romero Jr., earned a law degree, and after a stint as a prosecutor, joined the Boston Red Sox organization in 2006. Today he is the team's Executive Vice President and Assistant General Manager. Share your memories of former Milwaukee Brewer utilityman Ed Romero. View full article

Yeah, no one can take away that day. It's pretty cool.