Article: The Five Best Center Fielders in Brewers History

[clancyphile]

One of the classic songs of baseball, “Centerfield" by John Fogerty, features an aspiring center fielder who wants to play. For the Brewers, though, center field has seen some iconic players and some who were very well-loved by the fans.

Which Brewers did the best patrolling center at County Stadium and Miller Park/American Family Field over the half-century of the franchise's existence?

Let’s take a stroll through 54 seasons of center field history.

5. Scott Podsednik
.276/.344/.401 with 21 HR and 109 RBI in two seasons

Scott Podsednik was a waiver-wire pickup shortly after the 2002 season. In 2003, he broke out with a monster year, finishing second in the Rookie of the Year balloting. The following year, he came the closest any player has ever come to matching Tommy Harper’s stolen-base mark for the Brewers with 70 swiped bags. Dealt after 2004 for Carlos Lee, he went on to win a World Series and appear in an All-Star Game with the White Sox.

4. Dave May
.259/.322/.385 with 69 HR and 287 RBI in six seasons, four as primary center fielder

Dave May provided power for the Brewers in the early years, serving as the primary center fielder for four years before spending a fifth in right field. His best season was in 1973 when he blasted 25 home runs and finished in the top ten for AL MVP and also appeared in the All-Star Game. After 1974, the Brewers dealt him and got Hank Aaron in return, allowing an MLB legend to return to the city where it all started.

3. Carlos Gomez
.267/.325/.452 with 87 HR and 288 RBI in six seasons, five as primary center fielder

Acquired in the JJ Hardy trade with the Twins, Gomez struggled offensively his first two seasons and even split time with Nyjer Morgan in 2011. But his last four seasons saw him win a Gold Glove, make two All-Star Game appearances, and secure one top-10 and one top-20 MVP finish. Gomez brought defense, speed, and power for the Crew. In 2015, Gomez brought the Brewers Josh Hader and Adrian Houser in a trade, with the domino effects from that trade including the acquisitions of Mike Moustakas and Ben Gamel.

2. Gorman Thomas
.230/.325/.461 with 208 HR and 605 RBI in 11 seasons, six as primary center fielder

Gorman Thomas delivered a lot of power and a lot of walks. He also struck out a lot, once holding the record of 175 in a single season. He also handled center field full-time for six seasons and part-time in others. His first tenure with the Brewers ended with the trade that brought Rick Manning to Milwaukee, but he made a brief return in his final season in 1986.

1. Robin Yount
.286/.357/.433 in eight seasons as primary center fielder
.285/.342/.430 in 20 seasons with the Brewers overall

Yount holds the distinction of being the only Brewer to secure the top slot in two position countdowns. He represents something rare for the Brewers, a legend who played his entire career in Milwaukee. He spent eight seasons as a center fielder, where he made the brilliant catch to secure the Juan Nieves no-no on April 15, 1987. He also had three top 20 MVP finishes (winning in 1989) and one Silver Slugger. He still holds 18 career franchise marks and is second in six others.

Honorable Mentions
Brady Clark held down center field for two seasons after Podsednik’s departure while also serving as a fourth outfielder in two others. Lorenzo Cain delivered a Gold Glove, an All-Star Game appearance, and a top-ten MVP finish in his two seasons as the team’s primary center fielder. Darryl Hamilton had one season as the primary center fielder but several others as a backup who gave Yount a break on rare occasions. Mike Cameron held down center field for two seasons, including the magical 2008 run for the Wild Card.

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[Frisbee Slider]

I am usually more positive than this but I’m wondering if we also need to run this series back and rank order ‘worst CF in Brewers history’ so we can reference Mark Kotsay.

 

[Frisbee Slider]

In fairness to Mark Kotsay, he never should have been put in that position.

[CheeseheadInQC]

As fun as a Scotty Pods’ time with the Brewers was and as poorly as last season went, I still think LoCain belongs on this list. He was the second best player on one of the best teams in franchise history.

[wiguy94]

Yeah I don’t see any reason for Podsednik to be above Cain. 
 

Podsednik’s as a Brewer: 308 G, .276/.344/.401 for a 95 wRC+. He had -11 DRS and finished with 5.1 fWAR. 

Cain as a Brewer: 415 G, .270/.344/.380 for a 96 wRC+. He had 49 DRS and finished with 8.5 fWAR. 

Cain’s 2018 was worth more fWAR than Podsednik’s two years in Milwaukee combined. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

28 minutes ago, Frisbee Slider said:

In fairness to Mark Kotsay, he never should have been put in that position.

Which is usually the case with really bad players in up-the-middle positions.

[Outlander]

I like that Dave May was included as he did not have a nice few years with the Brewers and rarely mentioned. However, can't see Podsednik over Cameron or Cain. Cameron's two years were better than Podsednik and Cain's two best years or his entire run as a whole was better that Podsednik.

[wiguy94]

5 minutes ago, Outlander said:

I like that Dave May was included as he did not have a nice few years with the Brewers and rarely mentioned. However, can't see Podsednik over Cameron or Cain. Cameron's two years were better than Podsednik and Cain's two best years or his entire run as a whole was better that Podsednik.

I totally forgot about Cameron. He absolutely should be above Podsednik as well. 
 

Cameron as a Brewer: 269 G, .247/.337/.464 for a 111 wRC+. He had 3 DRS and 8.1 fWAR. 

[CheezWizHed]

Yeah, Scott Po was a fun story as a waiver wire pickup, but Mr. Untuckem' and LoCain certainly were better CFers.  I mean Cameron should be #2 simply from how he annoyed the Cardinals so much by untucking his jersey! 

[clancyphile]

For me, it was the fact that in two years, Podsednik delivered a top-2 Rookie of the year finish, then followed it with leading the majors in steals. Cain adds a gold glove and got MVP votes in 2018, but Podsednik delivered more bang for the buck.

[LouisEly]

4 hours ago, wiguy94 said:

Yeah I don’t see any reason for Podsednik to be above Cain.

I do. 

Dude married former Playboy Playmate Lisa Dergan, who was one of my absolute crushes in the 90's.  Hated him for that at the time, but that was just love disguised as jealousy.  Arguably his biggest accomplishment.

Google "Lisa Dergan Playboy" and check Images if you don't remember...

[CheeseheadInQC]

10 hours ago, clancyphile said:

For me, it was the fact that in two years, Podsednik delivered a top-2 Rookie of the year finish, then followed it with leading the majors in steals. Cain adds a gold glove and got MVP votes in 2018, but Podsednik delivered more bang for the buck.

Cain’s 2018 got overshadowed by Yelich, but Fangraphs ranks it as the second best season by a Brewers center fielder ever, just behind Gomez’s best season and ahead of Yount’s second MVP.

 It will be interesting to see which direction you go with the fifth spot for right field: skill, excitement or longevity.

[wallus]

9 hours ago, LouisEly said:

I do. 

Dude married former Playboy Playmate Lisa Dergan, who was one of my absolute crushes in the 90's.  Hated him for that at the time, but that was just love disguised as jealousy.  Arguably his biggest accomplishment.

Google "Lisa Dergan Playboy" and check Images if you don't remember...

They are divorced now so here is your chance.

[LouisEly]

His first tenure with the Brewers ended with the trade that brought Rick Manning to Milwaukee, but he made a brief return in his final season in 1986.

Au contraire mon ami - that was Gorman's second tenure with MKE.  He was traded to TEX after the 1977 season and then purchased back in Feb of 1978. 

[CheezWizHed]

Rick Manning's main claim to fame is as the guy that ended Paul Molitors 39 game hitting streak.  Not a fair claim to fame (he had a game winning hit with Pauly on deck), but that still is the only thing I remember him for...

[AKCheesehead]

And got booed for it.