The 2012 baseball award season seemed a little drawn out, but it's worth noting that it took even longer last season. One year ago today the BBWAA named Ryan Braun as their 2011 NL Most Valuable Player.

Braun received a first place vote on 20 of the association's 32 ballots to beat out Matt Kemp and teammate Prince Fielder, who finished second and third. He was the first Brewer ever to win the award in the National League and the first overall since Robin Yount in 1989.

Braun actually had more hits (191 to 187), home runs (41 to 33), RBI (112 to 111) and total bases (356-336) in 2012 than he did in 2011, but Buster Posey was picked over him to win the award this year.

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

• 2012 Wisconsin Timber Rattler Greg Hopkins, who turns 24.
• 1963-65 Milwaukee Brave Wade Blasingame, who turns 69.
• 1953-63 Milwaukee Brave Lew Burdette, who would have turned 86.

20 years ago todat Pat Listach was honored as the American League Rookie of the Year. We covered that event in this space last year.