Robin Yount, Ryan Braun and the 10 Greatest Milwaukee Brewers of All Time
Brewing up some history: Power Ranking the 10 greatest Milwaukee Brewers of all time
Since their induction in 1970, the Milwaukee Brewers have consistently demonstrated excellence on and off the field. And though they have not quite overcome the ever-elusive World Series obstacle, a bright future is now in place for the city of Milwaukee.
But when we take a look back at the history and awe that is Milwaukee baseball, we find that the Brewers have furnished a few of the greatest players the game has ever witnessed.
Here is an overview of the 10 most illustrious Brewers of all time.
Alec Dopp is a Milwaukee Brewers featured columnist on Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, and check out his Brewers beat blog, Brewers Rumors.
Honorable Mention: Bob Uecker
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Though most know him as the Brewers' radio play-by-play announcer, Bob Uecker also played for the Milwaukee Braves during the 1962 and 1963 seasons.
Granted, he only managed eight RBI, 20 H and one HR, but Uecker's playing days would eventually lead to him becoming baseball's most colorful and recognizable radio announcer of the past 40 years.
Uecker was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2001 and received the Ford C. Frick Award in 2003 from the Baseball Hall of Fame for his contributions to the game.
Most importantly, though, the Brewers added the number 50 to their ring of honor to signify Uecker's 50th year in the game of baseball and will forever be known as one of the greatest Brewers of all time.
10. Jim Slaton
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Statistics with Milwaukee: 2025.1 IP, 117-121, 3.86 ERA, 929 SO
By no means was Jim Slaton an overpowering pitcher, but when you lead all Brewer pitchers in W (117), IP (2025.1), SHO (19) and GS (268), you need some recognition.
During his 12 seasons with Milwaukee, Slaton gained the respect of the fans for his hard work and dedication to the game, as well as his individual accomplishments.
When the Brewers took to their only World Seriers appearance in 1982, Slaton had arguably his best career season—boasting a 10-6 record and a 3.29 ERA in just 117.2 innings of work.
Slaton may not be considered an all-time best, but he certainly deserves credit for what he's accomplished while in the Brew City.
9. Rollie Fingers
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Statistics with Milwaukee: 97 SV, 196 SO, 2.66 ERA, 259.0 IP
A fan favorite for more than just statistics alone, Rollie Fingers is a surefire member of the 10 greatest Milwaukee Brewers of all time.
Behind his extravagant mustache that captivated the entire league for his 17-year career, Fingers served as Milwaukee's closer for four seasons (1981, 1982, 1984, 1985) and had a career-best season with the Brewers in the celebrated 1982 season.
Fingers is known by most as one of the best closers in league history and will forever live in Brewers baseball history.
8. Geoff Jenkins
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Statistics with Milwaukee: .277 BA, 704 RBI, 212 HR, 1221 H
Jenkins spent 10 seasons with Milwaukee and will go down as one of the most overlooked and under-appreciated all-time greats in Brewers history.
From 1998-2007, Jenkins accrued 2,188 total bases—enough to be the fourth-most in Brewers history behind Robin Yount, Paul Molitor and Cecil Cooper.
But forget the batting statistics, as Jenkins' physical abilities guided him to a career .983 fielding percentage—putting him in a class of his own when it comes to versatility on the diamond.
7. Gorman Thomas
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Statistics with Milwaukee: 605 RBI, .461 SLG, 1635 TB, 208 HR, 815 H
Way back in 1969 (the inaugural season for the Brewers franchise), Milwaukee selected Gorman Thomas with the 21st overall selection, marking the commencement of Brewer baseball in Milwaukee.
From 1973 to 1982, Thomas became known as Milwaukee's most feared hitter when it comes to the long-ball. In fact, Thomas bopped at least 32 home runs in four different seasons and hit a career-high 45 in 1979.
6. Ryan Braun
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Statistics with Milwaukee (through June 5, 2011): 462 RBI, 141 HR, .307 BA, 1405 TB, .923 OPS
Possibly the greatest pickup via the amateur draft in Milwaukee's history, Ryan Braun has taken the league by storm since entering the league in 2007. Just four seasons later, his statistics rival those of Joe DiMaggio, Albert Pujols and fellow teammate Prince Fielder.
A staggering group to be mentioned with, wouldn't you say?
In his four seasons, Milwaukee's "Hebrew Hammer" has not only lifted the spirits of a once proud baseball town but has also statistically dominated opposing pitching. With 141 HR, 462 RBI, 1,405 total bases and a .307 career batting average, Braun is the epitome of success in the batter's box.
5. Ben Sheets
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Statistics with Milwaukee: 86-83, 3.72 ERA, 1428 IP, 1206 SO, 313 BB
Maybe my bias got the best of me.
Whatever the case may be, there's no disputing what Ben Sheets has meant to the Milwaukee Brewers as a franchise in his short-lived eight seasons with the club.
A first-round draft selection out of Northeast Louisiana back in 1999, Sheets was one of the most talented pitchers in the country, and looked to be an ace-in-the-making for many years to come. And although he may not have lived up to expectations, he certainly gave us all a lot to marvel at.
In 2004, Sheets had the makeup of a Cy Young award-winner—carrying a 2.70 ERA, 264 SO, 32 BB and a 0.98 WHIP.
Among all Brewers pitchers, Sheets holds the all-time mark for career strikeouts (1206), and is fifth all-time in innings pitched.
If not for injuries, Sheets would be in the midst of a Cooperstown-bound career.
4. Prince Fielder
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Statistics with Milwaukee (through June 5, 2011): 581 RBI, .280 BA, .385 OBP, 205 HR, .536 SLG
Where to begin?
From the moment Milwaukee took Prince Fielder with the seventh overall selection in the 2002 MLB Draft until this very day, Brewers fans have been in good hands.
There's no doubt Fielder is in the midst of a Hall of Fame career, but his six complete seasons with Milwaukee have been second to none amongst other notable all-time Brewer greats.
Since his debut in 2005, Fielder has been nothing short of breathtaking, amassing over 1,700 total bases in just 894 games.
If his pace keeps up and GM Doug Melvin discovers a way to keep him after the 2011 season, Fielder will without question become the greatest Brewer of all time.
3. Cecil Cooper
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Statistics with Milwaukee: 944 RBI, 201 HR, 345 2B, 1815 H, .470 SLG
After six seasons with the Boston Red Sox, Cecil Cooper made his way to the Brew City in 1977, where he, Robin Yount and Paul Molitor started what would eventually become known as "the greatest season in Brewers history," a.k.a 1982.
More importantly, thought, Cooper gave Milwaukee 11 of his best seasons as a major league player and will ultimately go down as one of the top-five greatest Brewers of all time.
2. Paul Molitor
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Statistics with Milwaukee: 160 HR, 790 RBI, 2281 H, 412 SB, .303 BA
Statistically, you might be inclined to believe Paul Molitor is the greatest Brewer of all time—and with good reason.
During his 15 illustrious seasons with Milwaukee, Molitor managed to accrue an unprecedented 412 stolen bases, enough to nearly double Robin Yount's mark of 271.
Additionally, Molitor's exceptional hitting abilities allowed him to place in the top-five in Brewers history in BA, SLG (.444), and OBP (.367)—numbers that even Yount himself couldn't manage.
Nevertheless, statistics cannot explain the intangibles that Molitor brought to Milwaukee. In fact, a good portion of Brewer fans would go as far as to say Molitor was a better pure-hitter than Yount.
Either way, there's no disputing his major-league success as a Brewer. A seven-time All-Star selection, four-time Silver Slugger and the 1993 World Series MVP, Molitor is undoubtedly Milwaukee's most successful home-grown talent of all time.
1. Robin Yount
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Statistics with Milwaukee: 251 HR, 1406 RBI, 271 SB, 3142 H, .285 BA
What else did you expect?
From the time he made his way to the major leagues at the ripe age of 19, until he retired in 1993, Robin Yount cultivated what we now call Brewers baseball in Milwaukee.
Leading the Brewers to their only World Series appearance in 1982, Yount was obviously manager Harvey Kuenn's most vital players on the diamond.
But when you put his 20-year career into perspective, Yount accomplished more than anyone else may ever come close to—leading the Brewers in career RBI, TB (4730), HR, R (1632), and hits.
Not only that, but Yount was and still remains the only player in major league history to win an MVP at two different defensive positions.
When it comes to pure and utter dominance for one team, Yount may be the greatest of all time.
