Former Brewer spotlight: Mike Cameron

Amidst a frenzy of moves last Monday, the Milwaukee Brewers acquired Daz Cameron from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for recently DFAd pitcher Grant Wolfram. Immediately, Brewers fans made the connection to a former fan favorite and integral piece of the organization's legendary 2008 playoff-slump-busting roster. Daz, who has appeared in two games for the Nashville Sounds since being traded to the Brewers organization, is the son of former-Brewer Mike Cameron, who logged two seasons with Milwaukee in 2008 and 2009.

Following the trade, Mike took to social media with an ask for the Brewers organization and Brewer fans everywhere.

The Brewers' acquisition of Daz offers a great window to reminisce on the important role that his dad has in Brewers history. Let's take a look at Mike Cameron's Brewers tenure with this nostalgic walk down memory lane.

Mike Cameron provides the spark that Milwaukee needs to end their playoff drought

The year was 2008, and the Brewers had not made the playoffs since their AL-pennant-winning season in 1982. The team was coming off its first winning season since 1992, and with an exciting young core headlined by Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, J.J. Hardy, and Rickie Weeks, they looked poised to break their postseason drought and bring playoff baseball back to Milwaukee, but they were still missing a piece.

During the 2007 season, Brewers center fielder, Bill Hall (yes, you read that right), posted a meager 0.6 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) while playing out of position. Hall had played on the dirt his entire career, and with a young Braun struggling defensively at the hot corner in 2007, an obvious swap was in store. However, Braun, who also hadn't played in the outfield throughout his career, looked more suited to take over Geoff Jenkins' spot in left field. Jenkins, a Brewer legend himself, was set to hit free agency following the 2007 season. With Hall back at third base and Braun in left, a vacancy was revealed in center field. Enter Mike Cameron.

The Brewers signed Cameron, a former All-Star and three-time Gold Glover, to a one-year, $7 million deal with a $10 million club option for the following season, which made him the highest-paid position player on the 2008 roster.

A late start to his 2008 campaign resulted in Cameron making 120 starts for the 2008 Brewers, but he still managed to slug 25 HR and collect 3.1 WAR. Additionally, his stellar defense, his .331 OBP at the top of the order, and his 17 stolen bases were necessary for the 2008 Brewers, who narrowly snuck into the playoffs. You might remember Braun's legendary home run that sent the Brewers back to the postseason, but that two-out bomb would've never happened if Cameron hadn't singled two batters earlier.

After Cameron's 2008 campaign, it was an easy decision to pick up the then-36-year-old's club option for the 2009 season. Cameron lived up to his $10 million salary in 2009, nearly identically replicating his 2008 stat line, while playing 149 games for the Brewers. The 2009 season was not as successful for the Brewers as a whole, who finished with a record of 80-82, but what Cameron did for this organization in his two seasons in Milwaukee will never be forgotten.

Time will tell whether or not his son will get a shot with the big league roster, but if he does, it will come with a joyous reception from Brewers fans who are forever thankful for the impact that his father had on the history of Brewers baseball.

Current Brewer comparison: Garrett Mitchell

Cameron's elite defense, stolen base ability, and natural power might remind Brewers fans of their current everyday center fielder, Garrett Mitchell. Both incredible athletes, Cameron and Mitchell display an exciting mix of speed and power that is coveted in today's game. However, a closer look at each of their career averages offers an even more eerie resemblance.

Brewers fans can only hope that Mitchell's career has the success and longevity of Cameron's, but three Gold Gloves and one All-Star appearance, the awards that Cameron collected, seem like an achievable goal for the Brewers' exciting young center fielder.