It’s Heartbreaking: A very loyal Brewers player has announced his sudden retirement, sending a powerful statement and bidding the team and supporters

It’s Heartbreaking: A very loyal Brewers player has announced his sudden retirement, sending a powerful statement and bidding the team and supporters

I will miss you, Ryan Braun. It seems a little weird to be writing this as he has yet to announce his retirement. Nevertheless, Braun is still a free agent one week into the 2021 baseball season. Back in October, the Brewers rejected his mutual contract option. That means it’s time for me to say goodbye to Ryan Braun on behalf of all Brewers supporters worldwide.

Braun joined the Brewers in 2007 and has been a mainstay in their lineup ever since. It has been strange not to see images of Braun in the field or at the plate while watching Brewers games for the past week. The Hebrew Hammer has hardly been mentioned during broadcasts. It seems like everyone has moved on. Not quite what a lot of us had anticipated when Braun decided to leave baseball and the Brewers. Such is life in a world that is still radically altered by 2020, when a legendary career comes to an end.

From child to crew leader

In the 2005 draft, Ryan Braun, then 21 years old, was chosen fifth overall by the Brewers. According to Baseball-Reference.com, Braun participated in 355 minor league games overall before 2007 (including fall league games). For a player to climb through the ranks as fast as Braun did is incredible. This was undoubtedly a precursor to future events.

braunteammates

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Ryan Braun began his major league career as a third baseman. He would also play first base, DH, and all three outfield positions in games held in American League parks throughout his career. Braun’s desire to win and be a good teammate is demonstrated by his versatility and willingness to play wherever the Brewers needed him to.

Brewers teammate Scooter Gennett stated the following back in 2016: “Ryan Braun is a great teammate.” He sets an example for his teammates even though he isn’t the loudest or yells at them. The way he always gets ready and conducts business is just incredible. Braun respects the rules of the game. (quote from CBS Local’s Sports page) First of September, 2016: DJ Sixsmith Milwaukee and Braun were truly a match made in heaven.

Favorite among fans

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Braun also gained the respect of the local fan base by his approach to the game (and made himself an enemy of the opposing fans). Both the sizable contingent of Brewers fans that traveled to away games and the home crowd always greeted Ryan Braun warmly. I follow the Brewers from Colorado and go to a lot of their games at Coors Field; the road crowds against them were not nearly as gracious.

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The rival supporters started treating Braun like Barry Bonds after his 2013 suspension for breaking MLB’s drug prevention and treatment rules. Up until the 2018 NLDS playoff game at Coors Field (the final time I saw Braun play in Denver), this persisted. It was always funny to hear the supporters jeer Braun more than they would some of their local players. At these games, the crowd of Brewers supporters was usually loud enough to drown out the jeers. We were always there for Ryan Braun, through the good times and the bad.

The Coors crowd’s outcry was not limited to the suspension. The 2007 Rookie of the Year Voting still has many Rockies fans resentful. Bryan, that was for you, Braun defeated Rockies’ Troy Tulowitzki by two votes in the first place to win the award. I’m positive that no other fan base is grieving over Ryan Braun’s departure. There was no doubt that when Braun stepped up to the plate, all eyes were on him, regardless of whether people were rooting for him to succeed or fail.

Hebrew Hammer

Ryan Braun’s practice swing and batting stance are both simple to identify. It is difficult to explain, but you could tell when Braun was going to step up to the plate from any angle.