Today In Brewer History: Happy birthday, Al Simmons

On this day in 1902 Aloys Szymanski (later known as Al Simmons) was born in Milwaukee. He was 21 when he made his major league debut with the 1924 Philadelphia A's, launching a long major league career.

Simmons led the American League in hits with 253 in his second season in 1925, when he finished second in the voting for the league's MVP award. Over 20 MLB seasons he won a pair of batting titles, led his league in hits twice and in both runs and RBI once.

All told Simmons patrolled the outfield for parts of 20 major league seasons as a member of the A's and six other teams. He was a member of World Series winning teams with the A's in 1929 and 1930, and pennant winning teams with the A's in 1931 and the Reds in 1939.

Simmons was selected to the Hall of Fame in 1953, and passed away just three years later. Earlier this month Chris Jensen of Baseball State by State named him Wisconsin's best May-born player.

Thanks to the B-Ref Play Index for the reminder that Simmons would've turned 111 today. We'd also like to wish a happy birthday to:

• 2008 Brewer Julian Tavarez, who turns 40.
• 1980-85 Brewer Mark Brouhard, who turns 57.
• 1972-76 Brewer Jim Colborn, who turns 67. We covered his birthday in this space two years ago.