Before 2003, outfielder Brady Clark's major league career hadn't been much to write home about. The former undrafted free agent was 29 and had appeared in just 161 major league games, batting .239/.332/.358 in brief stints with the Reds and Mets.
The Brewers must have seen something in Clark, though, because on this day in 2003 they claimed him off waivers from the Mets and were pretty nicely rewarded for doing so. Clark appeared in 128 games for the 2003 team and hit .273/.330/.403 while playing plus defense. He went on to play in 549 games as a Brewer and have a career year in his first chance as a big league starter in 2005, hitting .306/.372/.426 with 31 doubles and 13 home runs.
The Brewers eventually traded Clark to the Dodgers for pitcher Elmer Dessens before the 2007 season, but not before he contributed 6.8 wins above replacement (rWAR) to the team. That's not bad for a guy they got for almost nothing.
With help from Brewerfan.net and the B-Ref Play Index, happy birthday today to:
- Brevard County Manatee Shawn Zarraga, who turns 23.
- 1971 Brewer Bob Reynolds, who turns 65.
- 1954-57 Milwaukee Brave Danny O'Connell, who would have turned 85.
- 1901 Milwaukee Brewer Irv Waldron, who would have turned 140.