On this day in 2000, the Brewers made one of the most ill-fated free agent decisions in franchise history: They signed Jeffrey Hammonds to a three year, $22.2 million deal.
Hammonds, who would turn 30 before Opening Day 2001, was coming off his eighth major league season but had never appeared in more than 123 games. He had a career year in 2000 for the Rockies, hitting .335/.395/.529 over 122 games and making his only All Star appearance.
Hammonds' history of injury-shortened seasons followed him to Milwaukee, where he played just 49 games in his first season before finishing the season on the DL with a shoulder injury. He was healthier but less effective in 2002, setting a career high by playing in 128 games but posting his lowest OPS (.729) since his part time days with the Orioles in the mid-'90s. Finally, the Brewers released Hammonds after just ten games in 2003.
After leaving the Brewers, Hammonds had brief stints as a Giant and National before calling it a career. He played his last major league game at just 34 years old in 2005.
With help from the B-Ref Play Index, happy birthday today to:
- 2003-05 Brewer Wes Obermueller, who turns 35.
- 1992 Brewer Andy Allanson, who turns 50.