It's likely all but the most diehard Brewer fans have forgotten Turner Ward. The veteran journeyman outfielder was a Brewer from 1994-96, appearing in 189 games and hitting .233/.328/.362. Four of his 131 Brewer hits were triples, and today we'll tell the story of one of those.
On this day in 1996 the Brewers carried a 5-4 lead into the ninth inning against the Angels at home, and Phil Garner put Ward into the game as a defensive replacement for left fielder Greg Vaughn. The Angels rallied to tie the game so Ward, who wasn't expected to hit, was due up third in the bottom of the final inning.
Ward came up with one out and a runner on first, as Tim Unroe had singled. That left the door open for Ward to be the unlikely hero, as his walkoff triple propelled the Crew to a 6-5 win.
Ward's walkoff triple was the fifth in franchise history, and there hasn't been one since.
With help from the B-Ref Play Index, happy birthday today to:
- 1991-92 Brewer Darren Holmes, who turns 47.
- 1970-71 Brewer Lew Krausse, who turns 70.
- 1956-59 Milwaukee Braves manager Fred Haney, who would have turned 117. We covered his birthday in this space last year.