Milwaukee’s Best, Part 2: The 50 Best To Play For Braves, Brewers: 40-31
By Phil Watson
Sep 19, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks (23) receives a high-five in the dugout after hitting a solo home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Milwaukee’s long history in Major League Baseball was detailed in the first part of this series, which can be found here and listed players 50 through 41.
Postseason success has been elusive for Milwaukee. The Braves made the World Series twice during their 13th seasons in the city, winning in 1957 and losing in 1958, both times against the New York Yankees.
The Milwaukee Braves also tied for the National League pennant in 1959, but lost a best-of-three playoff to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
For the Milwaukee Brewers, their first taste of postseason play came in the strike-shortened 1981 campaign, when they won the second-half title in the American League East before losing in five games to the Yankees in the East Division Series.
The Brewers returned to the playoffs the following year, coming back from an 0-2 deficit to beat the California Angels 3-2 in the American League Championship Series before falling to the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 7 of the World Series.
It would be a long wait for a return trip to October. The Brewers would be shut out of postseason play until 2008, when the team—now in the National League—grabbed the wild-card berth before losing in the Division Series to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Milwaukee captured its first NL Central title in 2011, beating the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Division Series before losing to the Cardinals in the NLCS.
Dairyland Express’ list of the top 50 players to play for the Braves or Brewers continues with players 40 through 31.
Next: 40. A Fan Favorite Behind The Plate And In Outfield