Today In Brewer History: The Sexson Trade

On this day in 2003, the Brewers pulled off one of the biggest trades in recent franchise history. They sent Richie Sexson, Shane Nance and a player to be named later (minor league outfielder Noochie Varner) to the Diamondbacks and received these six players in return:

• Chris Capuano, who pitched 139 games for the Brewers over five seasons and was a 2006 NL All Star.
• Craig Counsell, the Brewers' primary shortstop in 2004.
• Chad Moeller, who was pretty awful offensively but still caught nearly 200 games as a Brewer.
• Lyle Overbay, who hit .301/.385/.478 and led the NL in doubles in 2004.
• Jorge De La Rosa, a top pitching prospect who pitched three frustrating seasons as a Brewer.
• Junior Spivey, a former All Star who played parts of two seasons in Milwaukee.

Sexson, meanwhile, appeared in just 23 games for Arizona before a season-ending injury struck. He left as a free agent following the season.

Today is also the 44th anniversary of the day Major League Baseball awarded an expansion franchise to Pacific Northwest Sports, Inc. That franchise would come to be known as the Seattle Pilots.

With help from Brewerfan.net and the B-Ref Play Index, happy birthday today to:

• Brevard County Manatee Shea Vucinich, who turns 23.
• 1990-91 Brewer Julio Machado, who turns 46.
• 1988-90 Brewer Tom Filer, who turns 55.