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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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