
Number 1: Cecil Cooper
Years as a Brewer: 1977-1987
Though he’s not as recent as the others on the list, Cooper is far and away the greatest first baseman in Brewers’ history. Although he spent the first six seasons of his career in Boston, “Coop” was in Milwaukee for 11 years. He was even a productive hitter even in his later years.
Cooper tallied over 30 doubles in seven of the 11 seasons. Plus, he nearly reached the 1000 RBI plateau with Milwaukee. Between that and a solid .302 batting average as a Brewer, his bat is certainly worthy of the top spot.
Cooper led the league in doubles in 1979 and 1981. He had three top-5 MVP finishes, had another top-10 finish, and played in five All-Star games with the Milwaukee Brewers.
His glove was also solid, as his hardware suggests. Cooper won a pair of Gold Gloves and remained an average fielder into the back end of his career. The four-time All-Star also had as many top-five MVP finishes as Fielder. All in all, Cooper was a well-rounded first baseman who was among the league’s elite for many years.
Next: Top 5 Third Basemen in Brewers history
Do you agree with this list? Is there anyone you think we missed? This list may start more arguments than it ends. However, one thing is for certain: the Brewers have a history of good first basemen.