By Adam Roberts – 9/14/2021
While his career wasn’t a perfect one, you can’t deny the amount of great memories Ryan Braun made during his time in Milwaukee.
Today, Braun announced his retirement from baseball after spending 14 years in Milwaukee. During that time, Braun amassed a number of impressive Brewer stats, ranking second in franchise history in career RBIs, extra-base hits, total bases, and doubles. Braun also hit 352 home runs over the course of his career.
From 2007 to 2012, Braun was one of baseball’s brightest stars but after his suspension in 2013 he never really returned to form. Last season back injuries kept Braun from playing in the team’s playoff series against the Dodgers. HEĀ batted a career-low .233 in 2020 with seven homers and 27 RBIs in 39 games while dealing with the back issue.
Still, one of the greatest memories in Brewers history came courtesy of Braun’s bat in 2008, when his two-run shot in the eight inning against the Cubs on September 28th helped pave the way for CC Sabathia to putch the final inning of a wild card-clinching win. It was the Brewers’ first playoff appearance in 26 years.
Additionally, Ryan Braun was both my mom and grandma’s favorite Brewer both before and after the suspension, so despite his transgressions I will always find it hard to find too much wrong with the guy. Congrats on a great career Ryan!