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Milwaukee Brewers: The top five center fielders in franchise history

By Max Neibaur |
COOPERSTOWN, NY - JULY 25: Baseball icon Willie Mays talks with Hall of famer Robin Yount during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Clark Sports Center on July 25, 20010 in Cooperstown, New York. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
COOPERSTOWN, NY - JULY 25: Baseball icon Willie Mays talks with Hall of famer Robin Yount during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Clark Sports Center on July 25, 20010 in Cooperstown, New York. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
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The Milwaukee Brewers franchise only dates back to 1970 so the list of its greatest center fielders of all-time can only be so long while maintaining integrity.

Technically, the Milwaukee Brewers franchise player, Robin Yount, played more games at shortstop than anywhere else.

That being said, he did roam center field in Milwaukee’s County Stadium nearly half of his career. The picture for this article shows the Hall of Famer chatting with arguably the greatest center fielder ever, Willie Mays.

Given that Yount played over 1000 games for the Brewers in center field, he easily makes the team’s GOAT list at number one.

List Of Milwaukee Brewers Best Center Fielders And Analysis

  1. Robin Yount
  2. Gorman Thomas
  3. Carlos Gomez
  4. Darryl Hamilton
  5. Lorenzo Cain

Gorman Thomas played nine-plus seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers. He led the league in home runs twice. He bombed his career high of 45 in 1979. Thomas also led the league in homers in 1982 when the Brewers made their one and only World Series run.

Brewers fans still lovingly remember him by his nickname, “Stormin’ Gorman.” The organization carried over the memory of Thomas to Miller Park. There, fans can find Gorman’s Grill. He has also had food and sauce named after him.

The Milwaukee Brewers took a chance on Carlos Gomez when they traded fan-favorite J.J. Hardy for him. Then, they took a chance when they signed him to a 3-year extension after the 2012 season. Gomez came through for the Brewers and played well.

Fans remember Gomez for his power/speed combination and brilliant defense in center field.

In 2013, Gomez led the league in WAR. He also won the first Gold Glove for the Milwaukee Brewers since Yount in 1982. His great seasons with the Brewers made him a perfect trade chip.

The Brewers turned Gomez into Domingo Santana, Josh Hader, Brett Phillips, and Adrian Houser.

Darryl Hamilton never put up spectacular numbers. However, Brewers fans of the 1990s remember him as their consistent center fielder and lead-off man.

Hamilton always hit around .300. In 1992, he pulled off the remarkable feat of stealing 41 bases and only striking out 42 times.

Hamilton never hit for power or reached the playoffs with the Brewers like the first three names on Milwaukee’s GOAT center fielders list. That being said, he was an important player for the club for a long time.

Reasoning for last name on Brewers All-time Center Fielders List

The last name on this list is harder to decide and agree on.

Great center fielders such as Devon White, Marquis Grissom, and Jim Edmonds have donned the Brewers blue and yellow.

But, the problem with any of them making the list is longevity with the team. None of them stayed for more than three seasons. Even Houston Astros great Jimmy Wynn briefly played center field for the Milwaukee Brewers, but not for long.

White earned an OPS+ of over 100 in the final season of his career which came as a Milwaukee Brewers center fielder.

Similarly, the Jim Edmonds played very well in his final career season and it was partially with the Brewers.

Grissom played with the Brewers for three years and even made the 20/20 club with more than 20 homers and 20 steals in one season in 1999. Like White and Edmonds, however, Grissom is not remembered as a Brewers guy.

A few players have had career years while playing center field for the Brewers, but they failed to continue their success.

Scott Podsednik stole 70 bases while playing center field and left field in Milwaukee and Alex Sanchez stole 37 bases in 2002.

Brady Clark had a positive four-year run with the Brewers uniform on. Mike Cameron was a clubhouse leader while maintaining an OPS+ over 100 during his two seasons as a Brewers center fielder.

Brewers fans who watched the team during its postseason run in 2011 won’t forget Nyjer “T-Plush” Morgan. He too, however, fell off sharply in seasons to come.

Lorenzo Cain Rounds Out List Of Greatest Milwaukee Brewers Center Fielders

The reason Lorenzo Cain makes the list is two-fold.

The Milwaukee Brewers drafted Cain in 2004. He broke into the big leagues with the Brewers.

The team used him to acquire Zack Greinke. Greinke helped the team make its memorable playoff appearance in 2011. Now, the team has re-acquired Cain and he is playing great.

Cain might have won a World Series Championship playing center field for the Kansas City Royals, however, he still might retire with people remembering him as a Brewers guy.

Cain happily signed a five-year contract to return to Milwaukee and has shined in 2018.

Next: Why does Lorenzo Cain deserve to be an All-Star?

If the Brewers reach their goals with Cain on the team, that will reinforce his legacy as a Brewers center fielder. It will also reaffirm his positioning on the team’s list of best center fielders ever.

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