With the Major League Baseball postseason just beginning, I thought I would celebrate each of the franchise’s and their storied pasts by selecting an All-Time Team for every club.
The teams consist of one player per infield position (1B, 2B, SS, 3B, C), three outfielders, three starting pitchers, and two relief pitchers. Each American League squad also consists of a designated hitter.
The All-Time Teams will be in order, starting with baseball’s newest clubs (Rays and Diamondbacks) and conclude with the oldest franchise, the Atlanta Braves. Without further ado, here is part nine of a 30-part series documenting each franchise’s all-time greats.
Because the Brewers spent the majority of their franchise history to this point in the American League, the All-Time Team will consist of a designated hitter.
Brewers
First Base: Cecil Cooper 1977-87
After being traded by Boston to the Brewers, Cooper helped the team have the best season in franchise history. He was an All-Star for the first time in 1979 while winning a Gold Glove and in 1980 was an All-Star selection, winning a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger while leading the AL in RBI.
Cooper helped the Brewers win the AL East title in 1981 winning his second Silver Slugger, and during the 1982 season was named an All-Star for the third time, winning a third straight Silver Slugger, helping the Brewers win the AL East and American League pennants. He was named an All-Star again in 1983, winning his second RBI title and was named an All-Star for the fifth and final time in 1985. After his career, Cooper was enshrined into the Miller Park Walk of Fame in 2002.
Second Base: Jim Gantner 1976-92
Gantner spent his entire 17-year MLB career in Milwaukee, helping the Brewers win the 1981 and 1982 AL East titles and the 1982 AL championship. After his career ended, Gantner was enshrined into the Miller Park Walk of Fame in 2004.
Shortstop: Robin Yount 1974-93
The longest tenured player in Brewers history, Yount is the franchise’s all-time leader in games played (2,856), hits (3,142), doubles (583), triples (126) and RBI (1,406). In 1980 he was named to his first All-Star team, winning a Silver Slugger Award.
In 1981 he helped the Brewers win the AL East and during a career best 1982 season was named an All-Star, winning a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger, helping Milwaukee win the AL East and AL championships. Following the 1982 campaign, Yount was named the American League MVP. He was an All-Star again in 1983 and in 1989 was a Silver Slugger winner, taking home his second AL MVP Award. After his career, Yount’s No. 19 jersey was retired by the Brewers in 1994 and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.
Third Base: Don Money 1973-83
One of the first Brewers stars, Money was named an All-Star for the first time in 1974. He was named an All-Star every year from 1976-78 and helped the Brewers win the 1981 AL East title and 1982 AL East and AL championships. Following his career, Money was inducted into the Miller Park Walk of Fame.
Catcher: Ted Simmons 1981-85
During a five-season stint in Milwaukee, Simmons was a key member of the best Brewers teams in history. He was named an All-Star in 1981 while helping the Brewers win the AL East and then led the team to the 1982 AL East and AL pennants. Simmons was named an All-Star again in 1983 before leaving Milwaukee after the 1985 season.
Outfield: Ryan Braun 2007-present
Currently the longest tenured Brewer and the team’s all-time home runs leader (322), Braun made an immediate impact with the club, winning the NL Rookie of the Year Award for the 2007 season. He was an All-Star and Silver Slugger winner in 2008, helping the Brewers win the NL Wild Card, their first playoff berth in 26 years.
Braun was an All-Star and Silver Slugger winner again in 2009 and 2010, and in 2011 led Milwaukee to the NL Central title, being named an All-Star, winning a Silver Slugger and taking home NL MVP honors. In 2012 he was selected to his fifth straight All-Star team and won his fifth straight Silver Slugger while leading the NL in home runs. Braun was named to his sixth All-Star team in 2015 and in 2018 helped the Brewers win the NL Central title for the first time in seven years.
Outfield: Ben Oglivie 1978-86
During a nine-year run in Milwaukee, Oglivie helped the Brewers win their only AL pennant. He was named an All-Star for the first time in 1980, leading the AL in home runs and winning a Silver Slugger Award. After helping Milwaukee win the AL East during the strike-shortened 1981 season, Oglivie was named an All-Star in 1982, helping the team capture the AL East and AL pennants. He was named an All-Star for the third time in 1983 before his Milwaukee tenure ended.
Outfield: Carlos Gomez 2010-15
In six seasons with the Brewers, Gomez had the best seasons of his career. He helped the team win the NL Central title in 2011 and during a career-best season in 2013 was named an NL All-Star, winning a Gold Glove and Fielding Bible. Gomez was named an All-Star again 2014 before being traded during the 2015 season.
Designated Hitter: Paul Molitor 1978-92
During 15 seasons in Milwaukee, Molitor played multiple positions on the diamond. He was named an All-Star for the first time in 1980 and helped the Brewers win the AL East in 1981 and 1982, reaching the 1982 World Series. Molitor was selected as an All-Star again in 1985 and received his first Silver Slugger in 1987, when he went on a 39-game hitting streak.
In 1988 he was named an All-Star and won a second straight Silver Slugger and was named an All-Star for the fourth time in 1991 before his tenure came to an end. Following his career, Molitor’s No. 4 jersey was retired in 1999 and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.
Starting pitcher: Ben Sheets 2001-08
Playing eight seasons with the Brewers, Sheets became one of the team’s best pitchers. He was named an All-Star during his rookie season, and racked up three more All-Star selections over the next seven seasons (2004, 2007-08), helping the Brewers win the NL Wild Card in 2008 and reach the postseason for the first time in 26 years.
Starting pitcher: Pete Vuckovich 1981-86
During a six-year stint in Milwaukee, Vuckovich shined brightest during the team’s best seasons. He led the AL in wins in 1981, helping the Brewers win the AL East and won the AL Cy Young Award in 1982 while helping Milwaukee win the AL East and AL championships.
Starting pitcher: Yovani Gallardo 2007-14
The Brewers all-time strikeouts leader (1,226), Gallardo became one of the team’s best ever pitchers, finishing 5th all-time in wins. In 2008 he helped the team win the NL Wild Card and during a career-best 2010 season was named an NL All-Star and received a Silver Slugger Award. Gallardo helped Milwaukee win the NL Central in 2011 before his tenure came to an end in 2014.
Relief pitcher: Dan Plesac 1986-92
The Brewers all-time saves leader (133), Plesac was named an AL All-Star for three straight seasons from 1987-89.
Relief pitcher: Rollie Fingers 1981-82, 1984-85
One of baseball’s greatest ever relievers, Fingers played his final four seasons in Milwaukee. In 1981 he helped the Brewers win the AL East, being named an All-Star while leading the AL in saves. After the season, Fingers was named the AL Rolaids Relief Man Award winner, AL Cy Young Award recipient and the AL MVP. He was named an All-Star again during the 1982 campaign, helping Milwaukee win the AL East and AL pennants. After his career, Fingers had his No. 34 jersey retired in 1992, being elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame the same year.
Others considered: Gorman Thomas, Teddy Higuera, Prince Fielder, John Axford, Jonathan Lucroy
