The Greatest Milwaukee Brewer Players in the Last 50 Years

I am continuing my list for the greatest players at each position in the last 50 years for every MLB team. Today’s team is the Milwaukee Brewers

The criteria are as follows:

- Player must have played a full 5 seasons for the team.

-1 player will be selected for each position, 1 righthanded starting pitcher, 1 lefthanded starting pitcher, and 1 relief pitcher. I will include a DH for both leagues (considering interleague play now).

Below is my list of greatest players by position for the Brewers in the last 50 years (since the 1970 season).  

 

First Base- Cecil Cooper

Second Base- Rickie Weeks

Shortstop- Robin Yount

Third Base- Paul Mollitor

Left Field- Ryan Braun

Centerfield- Gorman Thomas

Right Field- Jeromy Burnitz

Catcher- Jonathan Lucroy

Designated Hitter- Prince Fielder

Right-Handed starting pitcher- Yovani Gallardo

Left-Handed starting pitcher- Teddy Higuera

Relief pitcher- Dan Plesac

 

A couple of notes.  The Brewers always had great bats. In terms of position players, the only 2 spots that were a question were at second base and in right field. The other option at second base was long time Brewer Jim Gantner. Weeks got the nod due to his better productivity at the plate. In right field, there were not many great options. I considered Sixto Lezcano, who had a few productive years. But I decided to go with Burnitz who put up more consistent numbers. The Brewers have not had many all-star caliber pitchers who have lasted too long. Pete Vuckovich may have been their best right handed starter, but, he only lasted 3 seasons with Milwaukee before arm trouble ended his career. For relief pitcher, Hall of Famer Rollie Fingers would have been the optimal choice, winning the MVP and Cy Young award in 81. He only lasted 4 years before injuries ended his career as well.

Next up is the Pittsburgh Pirates

The Greatest Cincinnati Reds Players in the Last 50 Years

I am continuing my list for the greatest players at each position in the last 50 years for every MLB team. Today’s team is the Cincinnati Reds

The criteria are as follows:

- Player must have played a full 5 seasons for the team.

-1 player will be selected for each position, 1 righthanded starting pitcher, 1 lefthanded starting pitcher, and 1 relief pitcher. I will include a DH for both leagues considering interleague play now).

 Below is my list of greatest players by position for the Reds in the last 50 years (since the 1970 season).  

First Base- Joey Votto

Second Base- Joe Morgan

Shortstop- Barry Larkin

Third Base- Pete Rose

Left Field- George Foster

Centerfield- Eric Davis

Right Field- Ken Griffey Sr

Catcher- Johnny Bench

Designated Hitter- Tony Perez

Right-Handed starting pitcher- Jose Rijo       

Left-Handed starting pitcher- Don Gullett

Relief pitcher- John Franco

 A couple of notes.  The position players were easy to put together. Take the 1970s Big Red Machine (6 players), sprinkle in a few from the 1990 Champions (2 players) and add Joey Votto and you have an incredible lineup. The challenge was deciding on the pitchers. For all the great players the Reds had on their championship teams, they did not have many all star caliber pitchers. For right-handed pitcher, I considered Jack Billingham and Gary Nolan from the 70's teams, but I took Jose Rijo since he won a WS MVP for the 90 team.  For left-handed pitcher, I took Don Gullet, who was on his way to a Hall of Fame career before injuries sidelined him. He was still a great pitcher who was an integral part of the 70's championship teams. For reliever, I considered one of the "nasty boys" from the 1990 team, but, none had any long term success. I went with Franco who was an all star for 6 seasons with the Reds.

Next up is the Milwaukee Brewers

The Greatest Chicago Cubs Players in the Last 50 Years

I am continuing my list for the greatest players at each position in the last 50 years for every MLB team. Today’s team is the Chicago Cubs

The criteria are as follows:

- Player must have played a full 5 seasons for the team.

-1 player will be selected for each position, 1 righthanded starting pitcher, 1 lefthanded starting pitcher, and 1 relief pitcher. I will include a DH for both leagues considering interleague play now).

Below is my list of greatest players by position for the Cubs in the last 50 years (since the 1970 season).  

First Base- Anthony Rizzo

Second Base- Ryne Sandberg

Shortstop- Shawon Dunston

Third Base- Armanis Ramirez

Left Field- Billy Williams

Centerfield- Rick Monday

Right Field-   Andre Dawson

Catcher- Jody Davis

Designated Hitter-   Sammy Sosa

Right-Handed starting pitcher- Greg Maddox        

Left-Handed starting pitcher- Jon Lester

Relief pitcher- Lee Smith

A couple of notes.  Cubs had some great players around the diamond including Hall of Famers, Sandberg, Dawson, Maddox, Williams and Smith (?). Ernie Banks did not meet the criteria as he retired in 1971. Not sure if Smith is HOF worthy but that’s another discussion.  Some positions had a few good selections to choose from. First base came down to Rizzo and Cubs fan favorite Mark Grace. Both are all time great Cubs. Grace hit for a higher batting average and Rizzo has better power numbers. They both gold glove winners. I took Rizzo since he led the Cubs to their first World Series title in 108 years. Third base was another tough call.  It was between Ramirez and Kris Bryant. I gave the nod to Ramirez due to his consistent numbers over 7 full seasons. Bryant has played 5 full seasons and missed some time during 1 year with injuries.  In left field, Hall of Famer Billy Williams was nearing the end of his career in the early 70s, but still put up good numbers, including winning a batting title in 1972. Centerfield was the most challenging position to determine. The Cubs have had some good centerfielders who contributed considerably during the Cubs post season runs. However, none lasted too long (and did not meet the 5-year minimum). Bob Dernier, Dexter Fowler and Jerome Walton were a few who did not last long enough to make this list. I had to go back to the early to mid-1970s to find Rick Monday. He meets the criteria and was an all-star.  

Next up is the Cincinnati Reds.

The Greatest Washington Nationals players in the Last 50 Years

I am continuing my list for the greatest players at each position in the last 50 years for every MLB team. Today’s team is the Washington Nationals.

The criteria are as follows:

- Player must have played a full 5 seasons for the team.

-1 player will be selected for each position, 1 righthanded starting pitcher, 1 lefthanded starting pitcher, and 1 relief pitcher. I will include a DH for both leagues considering interleague play now).

 Below is my list of greatest players by position for the Nationals in the last 50 years (since the 1970 season).  Note the question putting this list together was if I should include the Montreal Expos (which started in 1969). I decided, yes, since the team moved from Montreal in 2005.  Although the team changed names, it is the same organization. So, this list is combined with Expos and Nationals players.

 

First Base- Andres Galarraga

Second Base- Danny Espinosa

Shortstop- Ian Desmond

Third Base- Anthony Rendon

Left Field- Tim Raines

Centerfield- Andre Dawson

Right Field- Vladimir Guerrero

Catcher- Gary Carter

Designated Hitter- Bryce Harper

Right-Handed starting pitcher- Max Scherzer        

Left-Handed starting pitcher- Gio Gonzalez

Relief pitcher- Jeff Reardon

 

A couple of notes.  A great line up that includes 4 Hall of Famers in Raines, Dawson, Guerrero and Carter. The most challenging positions to select were second base, shortstop and left-handed starting pitcher.  Espinosa, Desmond and Gonzalez were the best options at those positions. There were many good options for right-handed pitchers. Denis Martinez, Steve Rogers, and Stephen Strasburg were considered. Scherzer was the best selection and is a future Hall of Famer.

 

Next up is the Chicago Cubs

The Greatest Philadelphia Phillies players in the Last 50 Years

I am continuing my list for the greatest players at each position in the last 50 years for every MLB team. Today’s team is the Philadelphia Phillies

The criteria are as follows:

- Player must have played a full 5 seasons for the team.

-1 player will be selected for each position, 1 righthanded starting pitcher, 1 lefthanded starting pitcher, and 1 relief pitcher. I will include a DH for both leagues (considering interleague play now).

 Below is my list of greatest players by position for the Phillies in the last 50 years (since the 1970 season).

 

First Base- Ryan Howard

Second Base- Chase Utley

Shortstop- Jimmy Rollins

Third Base- Mike Schmidt

Left Field- Pat Burrell

Centerfield- Garry Maddux

Right Field- Bobby Abreau

Catcher- Carlos Ruiz

Designated Hitter- Greg Luzinski

Right-Handed starting pitcher- Curt Schilling        

Left-Handed starting pitcher- Steve Carlton

Relief pitcher- Tug McGraw

A couple of notes.  This is an excellent group of players that includes 2 Hall of Famers and a few borderline ones as well.  There were a few positions where there were some tough decisions. There were a few good options in centerfield. I picked Maddox over Lenny Dykstra and Shane Victorino. Dykstra had some great offensive years, and Victorino was a terrific player during the championship and played a key role on the pennant winning teams in 08 and 09. But I went Maddox, since he was an 8-time gold glove winner and was a key contributor to the 1980 Championship team.

Catcher was another tough call. I picked Ruiz over Darren Daulton and Bob Boone. All 3 were great. Daulton was a terrific hitter, and Boone was a gold glove defensive catcher. Ruiz was a better all around catcher than both.

I had to decide between Luzinski and Burrell in left field. Luzinski was the perfect DH (even when he played LF for the Phillies). Burrell was much better defensively.

 

Next up is the Washington Nationals.

The Greatest New York Mets in the Last 50 Years

I am continuing my list for the greatest players at each position in the last 50 years for each team. Today’s team is the New York Mets

The criteria are as follows:

- Player must have played a full 5 seasons for the team.

-1 player will be selected for each position, 1 right handed starting pitcher, 1 left handed starting pitcher, and 1 relief pitcher. I will include a DH for both leagues (considering interleague play now).

 Below is my list of greatest players by position for the Mets in the last 50 years (since the 1970 season).

First Base- Keith Hernandez

Second Base- Edgardo Alfonzo

Shortstop- Jose Reyes

Third Base- David Wright

Left Field- Cleon Jones

Centerfield- Carlos Beltran

Right Field- Daryl Strawberry

Catcher- Gary Carter

Designated Hitter- Mike Piazza

Right-Handed starting pitcher- Tom Seaver        

Left-Handed starting pitcher- Jerry Koosman

Relief pitcher- Jesse Orosco

A couple of notes.  This lineup was easy to select. Most were the best players at each position. Just a few decisions to make. I put Piazza as DH since Carter was a better defensive catcher.  For relief pitcher, I took Jesse Orosco over Tug McGraw due to his longer service with the Mets and for being a key member of the 86 championship team.  The rest were straightforward selections. 

 Next up is the Philadelphia Phillies.