The 24 best players in Milwaukee Brewers history

The most accomplished player in the history of the Milwaukee Brewers is certainly Robin Yount, who spent his entire 20-year career with the organization. The Danville, IL native was an accomplished shortstop for the first half of his career before the Brew Crew moved him to center field, but wherever he lined up defensively, Yount was easily the team's most dangerous offensive player. In 2,856 games with Milwaukee, he slashed .285/.342/.430 with 251 homers, 1,406 RBI, 583 doubles, 126 triples, and 271 stolen bases. Yount was the MVP of the American League in both 1982 and 1989, earned three Silver Slugger awards, won a Gold Glove, and played in three all-star games. He's the franchise's all-time leader in nearly every discernible offensive category other than home runs, and the Brewers retired his number 19 for good in 1999. Yount was inducted into the Hall of Fame the same year. 

Infielder Paul Molitor was a teammate of Yount for over a decade, and the two combined to give the Brewers one of the most prolific duos in baseball for the entire 1980s. Milwaukee selected Molitor third overall in the 1977 draft coming out of the University of Minnesota, and he wasted little time making it to the big leagues. In the 15 years he played in Milwaukee the resume Molitor put together speaks for itself. In 1,856 games he slashed .303/.367/.444 with 160 homers, 790 RBI, 405 doubles, 86 triples, and 412 steals. He represented the Brewers in five all-star contests, won a pair of Silver Sluggers, and led the league in runs three times. Later in life he became the manager of his hometown Minnesota Twins and even won the Manager of the Year award in 2017. The Brewers retired his number 4 in 1999 and he was enshrined in Cooperstown in 2004. 

Right-handed slugger Ryan Braun burst on the scene with the Brewers in 2007 and was an instant sensation, hitting .324 with 34 homers and 97 RBI in only 113 games to easily win the National League Rookie of the Year award. And over the next few seasons, the club's first-round pick from the '05 draft would quickly prove he was far from a one-hit wonder. Braun homered over 25 times and drove in over 100 runs in each of the next five seasons. He won the NL MVP award in '11 and was the runner-up in '12. Unfortunately, things went downhill after that. In '13 Braun admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs and was suspended for the remainder of the season. He rallied to play well again in 2015 and made his 6th all-star team, but the damage to his reputation was done. Over the next few seasons, Braun's production gradually evaporated to the point where in his final big league season in 2020, he hit just .233. 

The Brewers acquired first baseman Cecil Cooper from the Red Sox before the 1977 season, and it was in Milwaukee where the left-handed slugger tapped into all of his immense potential. In 11 seasons with the Beermakers, Cooper slashed .302/.339/.470 with 201 long balls, 944 RBI, and 345 doubles. He led the Majors in RBI in both '80 and '83, paced the AL in doubles in '79 and '81, and crushed over 20 homers for Milwaukee five times. Cooper wore a Brewers hat in all five of his all-star game appearances, earned three Silver Slugger awards, and even won back-to-back Gold Gloves in 1979 and 1980. 

Lefty Teddy Higuera pitched all nine of his big league seasons with the Brewers, and for nearly a decade, provided Milwaukee with a dependable middle-of-the-rotation hurler. In 213 outings for the club (205 of which were starts), Higuera went 94-64 with a 3.61 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP, while striking out 1,081 hitters in 1,380 innings. He was an all-star in 1986 when he won a career-high 20 games, and gave Milwaukee over 200 innings every season from '85-'88. 

Infielder Don Money spent the first five seasons of his career with the Phillies before a seven-player trade landed him in Milwaukee before the 1973 campaign. With the Brewers Money developed into one of the steadier two-way players of his era, slashing .270/.338/.421 with 134 homers, 529 RBI, 215 doubles, 20 triples, and 66 stolen bases, while playing strong defense, predominately at third base. He made the American League all-star team in four out of five seasons from 1974-1978, and gave Milwaukee double-digit home run totals eight times. 

Milwaukee selected third baseman Jeff Cirillo in the 11th round of the 1991 draft, and the Pasadena, CA native soon became a true late-round success story. Cirillo spent the first six seasons of his career with the Brewers before being dealt to Colorado, but he must have enjoyed his time in Wisconsin because he returned as a free agent in 2005. In eight total seasons with the Brew Crew the right-handed hitter slashed an impressive .307/.383/.449 with 303 extra-base hits and 418 RBI, and hit over .300 for the team four times. Cirillo was an all-star in 1997 and to this day remains a fan favorite in Milwaukee. 

Milwaukee selected righty Ben Sheets 10th overall in the 1999 draft hoping he'd develop into the team's long term ace, and to an extent that is what happened. In eight years with the Brewers Sheets took the ball 221 times and pitched to a 3.72 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP, while earning 86 victories and punching out 1,206 hitters in 1,428 innings. Unfortunately, though, too much of Sheets' career was marred by injuries and he wasn't able to reach his full potential. During his Brewers career he missed time with a disc problem in his back, inner ear infections, shoulder tendinitis, and a torn flexor tendon. He still impressively qualified for four all-star games while with the Brew Crew, but sadly his Milwaukee career is mostly a tale of what could have been. 

First baseman George Scott only spent five seasons with the Brewers in the middle of his career. Still, the Greenville, MS native managed to compile an impressive resume with the team in a relatively short time. In 782 games with Milwaukee Scott slashed .283/.342/.456 with 115 home runs, 463 RBI, and 137 doubles. In 1975 he very nearly won the AL MVP award when he led the league in both homers (36) and RBI (109). Far from a one-dimensional player, Scott won Gold Glove awards in each of his five years in Milwaukee, and represented the club in the '75 Midsummer Classic. 

Second baseman Jim Gantner played his entire 17-year Major League career with the Brewers, and was consistently a gritty, scrappy player that did many things to help his team win. In 1,801 games in a Milwaukee uniform, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh product slashed .274/.319/.351 with 347 extra-base hits, 568 RBI and 137 stolen bases. Gantner was never selected to participate in an all-star game but was a solid role player who was immensely appreciated. 

The Brewers acquired Christian Yelich in a high-profile trade with the Marlins before the 2018 campaign, and the left-handed swinging outfielder instantly rewarded his new team for pulling the trigger on the deal. In '18 Yelich slashed .326/.402/.598 with 36 homers and 110 RBI. He led the league in batting average, SLG %, and OPS and was easily named NL MVP. The following year brought more of the same as he won his second batting title in a row and blasted a career-high 44 home runs, finishing 2nd to Cody Bellinger in the MVP voting. Since then, the 31-year-old's power has largely been sapped by back problems, but he remains a critical part of Milwaukee's everyday line-up.

Outfielder Geoff Jenkins played ten seasons with the Brew Crew in the late 90s and early 2000s, and at the time you would have been hard-pressed to find a more intimidating presence in the batter's box. The left-handed slugger possessed what the scouts call 'Light Tower Power' and when he put a charge into one he could deliver some majestic blasts. In 1,234 games with Milwaukee, Jenkins slashed .277/.347/.496 with 212 long balls, 704 RBI, and 287 doubles. He represented the Beermakers in the '03 all-star game, connected on 20 or more homers for them seven times, and while he never eclipsed the 100 RBI plateau, he did knock in over 93 three times. 

Panama born Ben Oglivie came to Milwaukee in a December 1977 trade with the Tigers, and provided his new team with a highly productive left-handed bat for nearly a decade. In nine seasons with Milwaukee Oglivie slashed .277/.345/.461 with 176 homers, 685 RBI, 194 doubles, 21 triples, and 44 stolen bases. He wore a Brewers cap in three all-star games, earned one Silver Slugger, and in 1980 he led the American League with 41 home runs. 

Puerto Rican outfielder Sixto Lezcano played the first seven seasons of his career in Milwaukee, and was a key bat in the middle of the Brewers line-up. In 785 games with the team he slashed .275/.354/.452 with 102 homers, 374 RBI, 130 doubles, and 22 triples. He hit 20 or more homers for Milwaukee twice, drove in a career-high 101 runs in 1979, and even earned a Gold Glove. 

Center fielder Carlos Gomez was unquestionably one of the most exciting players to ever suit up for the Brewers, and for a half dozen years at the beginning of the previous decade he brought unmatched energy and entertainment. In 697 games with Milwaukee, Gomez slashed .267/.325/.452 with 87 home runs, 288 RBI, 122 doubles, 25 triples, and 152 stolen bases. He was selected to two all-star games while with the Brewers, gave the team a pair of seasons with 20+ homers and 20+ steals, and in 2013 won a Gold Glove award. 

Righty Chris Bosio was not a star in Milwaukee, but for seven seasons in the late '80s and early 90's, he gave the Brewers a steady middle-of-the-rotation starter. Bosio took the ball for the Beermakers 212 times and earned 67 wins while pitching to a 3.76 ERA. He was never selected to an all-star team but serviceably provided Milwaukee with over 200 innings three times before heading to the Pacific Northwest to pitch for the Mariners. 

Right-handed slugger Gorman Thomas was one of the most dangerous power hitters of his era, and the Brewers were happy to enjoy his services 11 years. With Milwaukee the hulking outfielder slashed .230/.325/.461 with 209 long balls and 605 RBI, while also contributing 172 doubles and even swiping 38 bases. The Charleston, SC native led the American League in home runs in both 1979 and 1982, and while with the Brewers he twice finished in the top 10 of the AL MVP voting. Surprisingly, Gorman was only chosen to participate in one all-star game during his career, in 1981. 

Right-hander Yovani Gallardo was the Brewers 2nd round pick in the 2004 draft and just a few short years later developed into the most reliable starting pitcher on the team. The Mexican-born hurler would end up making 211 starts for Milwaukee across eight years, pitching to a 3.69 ERA with a 1.30 WHIP and striking out 1,226 hitters in 1,289.1 innings. Gallardo was a workhorse for the Brewers, starting 30 or more games six straight seasons from '09-'14, and his ability to consistently take the ball was immensely valuable to this team. He made his only all-star team in 2010 and a fun fact about him is that he was also a dangerous hitter who crushed 12 home runs during his Brewers career and even won a Silver Slugger award. 

Righty Bill Wegman spent all 11 of his Major League seasons with the Brew Crew, and similar to his longtime teammate--the earlier mentioned Chris Bosio--was not a household name but filled an important void on this team. In 262 outings for Milwaukee (216 of which were starts), Wegman went 81-90 with a 4.16 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. He never qualified for an all-star team, but sometimes the best ability is availability, and Wegman consistently took the ball every 5th day for the Beermakers for over a decade. 

NC State product Mike Caldwell joined the Brewers midway through the 1977 season, and would go on to pitch his final eight Major League seasons in Wisconsin. In 239 games for Milwaukee the southpaw earned 102 victories and pitched to a respectable 3.74 ERA across 1,604.2 frames. In 1978 Caldwell led the Majors with 23 complete games, and he gave the Brewers over 200 innings five different times. 

Eustis, FL native Jonathan Lucroy was drafted by the Brewers in the 3rd round in 2007, and eventually developed into one of the top catchers in the National League while with Milwaukee. In 805 games with the Brew Crew Lucroy slashed .284/.342/.436 with 79 homers, 387 RBI, 157 doubles, 19 triples, and 29 stolen bases. He represented the club in the all-star game in both '14 and '16 and in 2014 led the Major Leagues with 53 two-base hits. 

The Brewers selected righty Brandon Woodruff in the 11th round of the 2014 draft coming out of Mississippi State University, and he has developed into quite a success story for them. The 30-year-old has taken the mound 130 times for Milwaukee, and has somewhat quietly been one of the best pitchers in the National League over the last half dozen seasons. He owns a lifetime 3.10 ERA with a 1.04 WHIP across 680.1 innings, and has twice been named to the NL all-star team. Back when pitchers were still allowed to hit, he also connected in a stunning home run against future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw in a postseason game, which will forever make him a legend in Wisconsin. 

Left-handed slugging first baseman Prince Fielder played for Milwaukee for seven seasons, and in most of them was among the most dangerous power threats in baseball. In 998 games with the organization the Ontario, CA native slashed a dominant .282/.390/.540 with 230 long balls, 656 RBI, and 200 doubles, while finishing just four hits shy of 1,000. He represented Milwaukee in three all-star games, earned two Silver Sluggers, and won the 2009 Home Run Derby. Fielder led the National League with 50 home runs in '07 and paced the senior circuit with 141 RBI in 2009. Brewers fans were disappointed when he left in 2012 to join the Tigers as a free agent, but his legacy as a fan favorite in Wisconsin is still safe. 

Milwaukee made right-hander Moose Haas their 2nd round pick in the 1974 draft, and the Baltimore, MD native would go on to pitch for the Brew Crew for ten years. Haas took the ball for the Brewers 245 times, in which he pitched to a 4.03 ERA in 1,542 innings and earned 91 victories. The best season of his career came in 1980 when he won 16 games with a 3.10 ERA in a career-high 252.1 innings, while also throwing 16 complete games including three shutouts. Looking back, it's pretty surprising he did not make the all-star team midway through that campaign.