Milwaukee’s Best, Part 3: The 50 Best To Play For Braves, Brewers: 30-21
By Phil Watson
John Briggs, as shown on a 1973 Topps baseball card.
30. John Briggs, LF
Brewers 1971-75
The Brewers acquired outfielder-first baseman John Briggs early in the 1971 season, sending catcher Pete Koehel and right-hander Ray Peters to the Philadelphia Phillies for the seven-year veteran.
The lefty-swinging Briggs made an immediate impact, clouting 21 homers over the remainder of the 1971 season while splitting time between first base and the outfield corners.
In 1972, Briggs again hit 21 homers, taking over full-time chores in left field while hitting .266/.347/.455 with 65 RBI.
Briggs was ninth in the American League in slugging and 10th in home runs in 1972, seventh in triples in 1973 and in 1974 finished third in triples and 10th in doubles.
Briggs lost his regular job in the spring of 1975 and one day before the old non-waiver trade deadline of June 14, was traded to the Minnesota Twins for outfielder Bobby Darwin.
Briggs was originally signed as a free agent by the Phillies out of Seton Hall University in September 1962 and he debuted in Philadelphia in April 1964. He was released by the Twins in February 1976 in order to sign with the Lotte Orions of the Japan Pacific League, where he hit .227/.312/.405 in 47 games and was released.
Here are Briggs’ statistics from his five seasons with the Brewers:
| Year | Age | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | OPS+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 27 | 125 | 454 | 375 | 51 | 99 | 11 | 1 | 21 | 59 | 1 | 2 | 71 | 79 | .264 | .378 | .467 | .845 | 141 |
| 1972 | 28 | 135 | 481 | 418 | 58 | 111 | 14 | 1 | 21 | 65 | 1 | 2 | 54 | 67 | .266 | .347 | .455 | .801 | 141 |
| 1973 | 29 | 142 | 580 | 488 | 78 | 120 | 20 | 7 | 18 | 57 | 15 | 9 | 87 | 83 | .246 | .361 | .426 | .787 | 125 |
| 1974 | 30 | 154 | 628 | 554 | 72 | 140 | 30 | 8 | 17 | 73 | 9 | 7 | 71 | 102 | .253 | .337 | .428 | .764 | 120 |
| 1975 | 31 | 28 | 94 | 74 | 12 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 20 | 13 | .297 | .447 | .432 | .879 | 150 |
| TOTALS | 584 | 2237 | 1909 | 271 | 492 | 76 | 17 | 80 | 259 | 26 | 22 | 303 | 344 | .258 | .358 | .441 | .799 | 131 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 3/19/2015.
Next: 29. A Catcher Who Can Flat Out Rake