On this day in 1983 the Brewers released pitcher Dwight Bernard, ending his major league career.
Bernard had originally been a second round draft pick of the Mets in 1974 and spent two seasons in the big leagues with them but joined the Brewers on a minor league deal in 1980 and pitched his way back to the big leagues in 1981, making six appearances in September. He performed well enough that season to earn a place on the postseason roster and made two scoreless appearances in the 1981 ALDS.
Bernard was with the Brewers again in 1982 and posted a 3.76 ERA over 47 appearances, earning another spot on the postseason roster and again posting two scoreless appearances, one each in the ALCS and World Series.
There are 33 pitchers who have appeared in at least one playoff game in Brewer franchise history, but only one has thrown more innings than Bernard without allowing a run:
Pitcher | Games | IP |
Takashi Saito | 6 | 7 |
Dwight Bernard | 4 | 4.1 |
Pete Ladd and Latroy Hawkins | 4 each | 4 each |
Bernard pitched a few more seasons in the minors before calling it a career.
With help from the B-Ref Play Index, happy birthday today to 2002 Brewer Ryan Christenson. He turns 39.