On this day in 2008 Doug Melvin and the Brewers pulled off one of the biggest trades in franchise history. They acquired defending AL Cy Young Award winner CC Sabathia from the Indians for first baseman Matt LaPorta and pitchers Rob Bryson and Zach Jackson.
Sabathia was in the middle of the best season of his career and was nothing short of phenomenal in three months as a Brewer. Despite making just 17 appearances for Milwaukee he led the National League with seven complete games and three shutouts. The Brewers won 14 of his 17 appearances, including the 162nd game that sent them to the playoffs for the first time in 26 years.
Despite not pitching for Milwaukee until July Sabathia received votes for both the NL Cy Young and MVP awards. His 253 innings pitched between the Indians and Brewers led all of baseball. Following the season he signed a free agent contract with the Yankees, but Sabathia's brief time in Milwaukee left an indelible mark on the franchise.
With help from Brewerfan.net and the B-Ref Play Index, happy birthday today to:
- AZL Brewer Jalen Harris, who turns 20.
- 2009 Brewer R.J. Swindle, who turns 29.
- 2003-04 Brewer Dave Burba, who turns 46.
- 1978-79 Brewer Tim Nordbrook, who turns 63.
- Bill Melton, a 2003 inductee into the Appleton Baseball Hall of Fame, who turns 67.
Today is also the 34th anniversary of a Mike Caldwell complete game shutout against the Yankees in 1978, his third of six that season. We covered that event in this space last year.