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Who Belongs on the Milwaukee Brewers' All-Time Starting Lineup?

  • Writer: Brian Fishbach
    Brian Fishbach
  • Jul 15
  • 4 min read

In honor of All-Star week, Fox Sports tried stirring the pot with a “team-by-team all-time lineup” drop. The Brewers list was extra spicy—Rickie Weeks at second, Craig Counsell in charge, Greg Vaughn in left—pure bait to light up Wisconsin social feeds. So here’s a clean scorecard: Fox Sports’ pick, the name Brewers fans actually want, and every other contender folks shouted into the ether.


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Starting Pitcher

  • Fox Sports: Ben Sheets

  • Fans: Corbin Burnes

  • Also consider: Teddy Higuera, Mike Caldwell, Pete Vuckovich, CC Sabathia, Yovani Gallardo, Zack Greinke, Jim Slaton



Catcher

  • Fox Sports: Jonathan Lucroy

  • Fans: Ted Simmons

  • Also consider: William Contreras, Charlie Moore, Dave Nilsson, BJ Surhoff



First Base

  • Fox Sports / Fans: Cecil Cooper

  • Also consider: Prince Fielder, George Scott, Richie Sexson, Lyle Overbay



Second Base

  • Fox Sports: Rickie Weeks

  • Fans: Jim Gantner

  • Also consider: Paul Molitor, Don Money, Brice Turang, Mark Loretta



Shortstop

  • Fox Sports / Fans: Robin Yount

  • Also consider: JJ Hardy, Willy Adames, Jose Valentín, Pat Listach



Third Base

  • Fox Sports / Fans: Paul Molitor

  • Also consider: Jeff Cirillo, Don Money, Mike Moustakas, Casey McGehee



Left Field

  • Fox Sports: Greg Vaughn

  • Fans: Ben Oglivie

  • Also consider: Geoff Jenkins, Corey Hart, Jeremy Burnitz, Carlos Lee



Center Field

  • Fox Sports: Ryan Braun

  • Fans: Gorman Thomas

  • Also consider: Carlos Gómez, Lorenzo Cain, Robin Yount (post-’82), Jackson Chourio



Right Field

  • Fox Sports / Fans: Christian Yelich

  • Also consider: Sixto Lezcano, Corey Hart, Geoff Jenkins, Domingo Santana, Sal Frelick



Designated Hitter

  • Fox Sports / Fans: Prince Fielder

  • Also consider: Paul Molitor, Dave Parker, Hank Aaron



Relief Pitcher / Closer

  • Fox Sports: Josh Hader

  • Fans: Rollie Fingers

  • Also consider: Trevor Hoffman, Dan Plesac, John Axford, Devin Williams



Manager

  • Fox Sports: Craig Counsell

  • Fans: Harvey Kuenn

  • Also consider: Pat Murphy, George Bamberger, Tom Trebelhorn



Random Shout-Outs (Because sports fans on social media want to look back and smile)

  • Bob Uecker (radio booth since 1971)

  • Nyjer Morgan (2011-12)

  • Rob Deer (1986-90)

  • Lyle Overbay (2004-05 return after debut cup)

  • Kurt Bevacqua (1975-76)

  • Billy Joe Robidoux (1985-88)

  • Jacob Misiorowski (top pitching prospect, 2022 draft)

  • Chuckie Carr (1997)

  • Ken Sanders (1970-72 reliever)

  • Skip Lockwood (1969 Pilots / 1970 Brewers)

  • John Jaha (1992-97)

  • Warren Spahn (Brewers pitching coach, 1972)

  • Trevor Megill (2023-present reliever)

  • Derrick Turnbow (2005-08 closer)

  • Corey Knebel (2014-20)

  • Tyrone Taylor (2019-present)

  • Domingo Santana (2015-18)

  • Johnny Logan – long-time Braves shortstop who later worked in Brewers community relations/scouting.

  • Andy Pafko – served briefly as a coach/instructor for the early-’70s Brewers.



Most Versatile Brewer of All Time

Paul Molitor played fifteen seasons in Milwaukee and pretty much lived wherever the lineup card sent him.

  • 3B – his main address in the early ’80s.

  • 2B – shifted over when the infield got thin, most of ’87–’88.

  • SS – where he broke in back in ’78, plus a few spot starts later.

  • 1B – late-’80s move to keep the bat in play and save the legs.

  • DH – his everyday role by ’89 and the job he kept in Toronto and Minnesota.

  • OF – emergency duty in center and left during the injury mess of ’82.

Bottom line: Molitor logged time at every infield spot, two outfield corners, and DH. Few Hall of Famers moved that much and still hit like he did.



Brewers notable “Swiss-Army” players (beyond Molitor)

  • Robin Yount – Started as a shortstop, moved to center field for nine seasons, then split time back at short and in right.


  • Don Money – Logged 600-plus games at third, 300-plus at second, 100-plus at first, plus spot duty in left and right.


  • Jim Gantner – Primarily second base, but made 300-plus starts at third and filled in at short and left when needed.



  • B. J. Surhoff – Came up as a catcher, later played first, third, left and right; a true every-season utility safety valve in the ’90s.



  • Bill Hall – 2000s fan favorite who played every position except catcher and first, including stints in center, left and even shortstop.



  • Mark Loretta – Moved around second, short, third and first during his five Milwaukee seasons before becoming a full-time second baseman elsewhere.



  • Craig Counsell – Split his Brewers years between short and second, plus occasional work at third and first.



  • Hernán Pérez – Modern-era super-sub (2015-19) with appearances at every spot except catcher and pitcher.



  • William Contreras – Already has starts at catcher, first and DH; could join the long-term versatility list if the trend continues.




Brewers All Time Statistical Leaders As of 2025


Career – Batting

  • Robin Yount: owns the bulk record book—games, plate appearances, at-bats, runs, hits, doubles, triples, RBI, total bases, walks, sac flies.


  • Ryan Braun: franchise king in homers (352) and, yes, strikeouts.


  • Prince Fielder: best career OBP (.390), slug (.540), and OPS (.929) in a Brewers uniform.


  • Jeff Cirillo: top batting average at .307.


  • Paul Molitor: club record 412 steals.


  • Rickie Weeks: most times wearing a pitch (125 HBPs).




Career – Brewers Pitching

  • Jim Slaton: leader in wins (117), starts, shutouts, innings—and losses, too.


  • Dan Plesac: most appearances (365) and saves (133).


  • Yovani Gallardo: strikeout champ (1,226).


  • Brandon Woodruff: best career ERA (3.10) and WHIP (1.045) among qualified Brewers.


  • Brent Suter: top win % at .655.



Brewers Single-Season Records

  • Prince Fielder: 50 HR in 2007; 141 RBI and 162-game ironman season in 2009.


  • Christian Yelich: club-best .671 slug and 1.100 OPS in 2019.


  • Jonathan Lucroy: tied team mark with 53 doubles in 2014.


  • Tommy Harper: 73 steals back in 1969.


  • Mike Caldwell: monster 1978—22 wins, 2.36 ERA, 23 complete games, six shutouts.


  • Ben Sheets: 264 strikeouts and 0.983 WHIP in 2004.


  • John Axford: single-season saves record (46) in 2011.


  • Corbin Burnes: record 0.940 WHIP in 2021.

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