Today In Brewer History: Happy Birthday, Jerry Hairston Jr.

On this day in 1976 Jerry Wayne Hairston Jr. was born in Des Moines, Iowa, the son of the major league outfielder with the same name and the grandson of 1951 White Sox catcher Sam Hairston. He went to college at Southern Illinois before the Orioles selected him in the eleventh round (345th overall pick) of the 1997 draft. He made his big league debut as an Oriole the following season.

2012 is Hairston's 15th major league season, and the Dodgers are his ninth team. The Orioles traded Hairston to the Cubs in 2005 and he's since been a Ranger, Red, Yankee, Padre, National and, of course, a 2011 Milwaukee Brewer.

The Brewers acquired Hairston on July 30 of last year in exchange for outfield prospect Erik Komatsu, and he hit .274/.348/.379 in 45 games down the stretch as the Crew won the NL Central. He was also Milwaukee's primary third baseman during the playoffs and had at least one hit in ten of their eleven postseason games. Despite the fact that Hairston had played 14 seasons, 2011 was just his second postseason appearance.

The Brewers were unable to retain Hairston this winter, as he signed a two-year deal with the Dodgers. He had an RBI single against the Crew last night.

Hairston turns 36 today. With help from the B-Ref Play Index, we'd also like to wish a happy birthday to:

• 2000 Brewer Charlie Hayes, who turns 47.
• 1980 Brewer Fred Holdsworth, who turns 60.
• Seattle Pilot and 1970 Brewer John Kennedy, who turns 71.