Today In Brewer History: Welcome Back, Jeff Cirillo

Third baseman Jeff Cirillo was one of the best Brewers of the 90's, batting .307/.384/.453 during his first six major league seasons and appearing in over 150 games each year between 1996 and 1999. It was tough to see Cirillo go when he was traded to the Rockies before the 2000 season, but little did we know at the time that before it all was over he'd be back. On this day in 2005 the Brewers re-signed him as a free agent.

Cirillo had been gone five years and played for three different franchises since the Brewers traded him in 1999: He was very good for two years in Colorado but struggled mightily as a member of the Mariners and Padres. During his return to the team he performed admirably, hitting .304/.371/.420 over 189 games in a utility role. He eventually finished his time in Milwaukee with exactly 1000 career hits, the tenth most in franchise history.

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

• Wisconsin Timber Rattler Seth Lintz, who turns 22.
• Seth McClung, who turns 31.
• 1985 Brewer Carlos Ponce, who turns 53.
• 1957-59 Milwaukee Brave Juan Pizarro, who turns 75.