On this day in 2009, a memorable and polarizing Brewer career quietly came to an end. Derrick Turnbow, who had appeared in 218 games as a Brewer over four seasons, signed a minor league contract with the Rangers.
The Brewers claimed Turnbow off waivers from the Angels following the 2004 season and he paid immediate dividends, posting a 1.74 ERA and recording 39 saves in his first year as a Brewer. Turnbow was an All Star in 2006 but faded badly in the second half and was never really the same afterwards.
Turnbow is, fair or unfair, the name that comes up every time a Brewer closer struggles. He's a textbook example of a reliever that was brilliantly effective for a short period of time but couldn't sustain the success.
Turnbow made just eight appearances in the minors for the Rangers in 2009 and went to spring training with the Marlins in 2010, but hasn't appeared in affiliated baseball since.
With help from the B-Ref Play Index, happy birthday today to:
- 1998-2000 Brewer Rafael Roque, who turns 40.
- 1901 Milwaukee Brewer Ned Garvin, who would have turned 137.