The Milwaukee Brewers may not have a very long history compared to other teams in Major League Baseball, but their impact on their city and community, it can be argued, is just as strong as those of teams that have been in the same city for 100 years.
There are very few markets that embrace their players as fiercely as Milwaukee does to the Brewers, and perhaps that is due to its small size. Whatever the case, players that have been retired for 30 or more years still hold a special place in the hearts of many fans.
This season, the Brewers are giving fans the opportunity to celebrate and honor two of the best players to ever don a Milwaukee uniform: Robin Yount and Ryan Braun.
The Milwaukee Brewers Announced Dates for Celebrations of Ryan Braun and Robin Yount
Recently, Braun, the 2011 NL MVP, was voted for induction onto the Brewers’ Walk of Fame. His induction ceremony and press conference will be held on Friday, June 28. Milwaukee is scheduled for a 7:10 game with the Chicago Cubs that night.
The 2024 season marks 50 years since Hall of Famer Robin Yount made his Major League debut. On Sunday, August 18, the Brewers will have a special ceremony to honor Yount on the 50th anniversary of his Major League debut. Milwaukee is schedule to face the Cleveland Guardians in a 1:10 game that day.
SAVE THE DATE to see these two legends:
⚾️ Ryan Braun: Sunday, July 28
⚾️ Robin Yount: Sunday, August 18→ https://t.co/1itevYjvIA pic.twitter.com/vsBIwcgHPe
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) April 23, 2024
As a note for fans with children under 14, Sunday home games are opportunities for kids to meet current and former Brewers players, coaches, or personalities for an autograph. Signings take place from 11:55 and 12:15 with available players sitting in field level sections. The scoreboard and concourse televisions display where signing players can be found.
Since Yount’s ceremony is taking place on a Sunday, it is a good bet that there may be some intriguing former players that could be available to sign for kids if they are in town for the celebration.
*Please note: the Brewers advertise autograph Sundays for kids from April through the end of August. Each Sunday session is subject cancellation at the discretion of the club. There is no set or released schedule of players available to sign.
Hall of Fame Legend Robin Yount Had a Stellar Career with the Milwaukee Brewers
1994 Press Photo Brewers Robin Yount Talks With Former Teammate Paul Molitor
Robin Yount made his Major League debut with the Brewers on August 18, 1974. At 18 years old, Yount still holds several team and Major League records as the youngest player to achieve certain hitting feats. With 20-year old Jackson Chourio playing for Milwaukee right now, Yount’s name and achievements as a teenager are brought up often.
In a 20-year career that he spent entirely with Milwaukee, Yount hit .285/.342/.430 with 3,142 hits, 251 home runs, 1,406 RBI, and 271 stolen bases. He is one of just three players to have won a league MVP Award at two different positions. The others are Stan Musial and Alex Rodriguez. Yount won the AL MVP Award in 1982 as a shortstop and the 1989 award as a centerfielder.
Even 30 years after retiring, Yount is still the Brewers’ franchise leader in the following categories:
- Games played (2,856)
- At bats (11,008)
- Runs scored (1,632)
- Hits (3,142)
- Doubles (583)
- Triples (126)
- RBI (1,406)
- Walks (966)
Ryan Braun Is One of the Most Beloved Players in Milwaukee Brewers History
Like Yount, Ryan Braun played his entire career with the Brewers. He started his career off by winning the NL Rookie of the Year Award while slashing .324/.370/.634 with 34 home runs and 97 RBI. His .634 slugging percentage led the National League that year.
He followed that up by making five-straight All-Star games between 2008 and 2012 as well as winning the NL MVP Award in 2011. From 2007-2012, it can be argued that Braun was the best all-around hitter in baseball as he slashed .313/.374/.568 while averaging 34 home runs and 107 RBI per season.
After his 2013 season was cut short by a suspension, Braun returned in 2014 and started the second leg of his career. While he made just one All-Star team (2015) from 2013-2020, he had four seasons in which he hit over 20 home runs.
Many fans begrudge the fact that, due to the 2020 COVID pandemic, Braun did not get to play his final games in front of fans. Hopefully this ceremony helps give them a bit of closure as the organization continues to honor one of its best players.
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