On this day in 1996 the Brewers were losers on the field, allowing seven home runs to Ken Griffey and the Mariners in a 9-3 loss at County Stadium. They were also losers off the field, as they were forced to say goodbye to one of their best hitters. They dealt free agent-to-be outfielder Greg Vaughn to the Padres for pitchers Bryce Florie and Ron Villone and outfielder Marc Newfield.
Vaughn, who the Brewers had selected fourth overall in the 1986 draft, finished his Brewer career with a .246/.333/.459 batting line and 169 home runs in 903 games over eight seasons. He re-signed with the Padres that winter as a free agent and two years later he had a career year there, hitting .272/.363/.597 with 50 home runs and winning a Silver Slugger Award in 1998.
The players the Brewers acquired for Vaughn had much less distinguished Brewer careers, and by the end of the 1998 season all three had moved on.
With help from the B-Ref Play Index, happy birthday today to:
- 2008 Brewer Gabe Kapler, who turns 37.
- 1973-74 Brewer John Vukovich, who would have turned 65.
- 1972 Brewer Earl Stephenson, who turns 65.
- 1970-71 Brewer Pete Koegel, who turns 65.
On this day in 1982 the Brewers beat the Indians 4-2 to take over first place in the AL East, and held onto it for the rest of the season. J. Scott Loomer covered that event for us in this space last year.