In the 13 years since Prince Fielder left Milwaukee Brewerieson opening day, 12 different players started at first base. Rowdy Tellez was the only one to start multiple times in 2022 and 2023. The other players the Brewers have tried to keep early since Fielder left in free agency are Mat Gamel, Alex Gonzalez, Lyle Overbay, Adam Lind, Chris Carter, Eric Thames, Ryan Braun, Jesus Aguilar, Justin Smoak, Keston Hiura, Tellez and Rhys Hoskins.
Hoskins has a player option for 2025, so it’s entirely possible that next year Milwaukee will have its 13th different opening day baseman in 14 years.
Indeed, Fielder was a generational talent in Milwaukee whose shoes were nearly impossible to fill (the Brewers are still trying to fill them more than a decade later).
Prince Fielder helped usher in a up-to-date era of Milwaukee Brewers baseball
Browary17 14ofx Wood
When the Brewers selected Fielder seventh overall in the 2002 amateur draft, he was in the midst of the worst season in franchise history. They would finish the year 56-106, which was a franchise record for losses. Over the next few seasons, while Fielder and other highly touted prospects developed in the minors, the team lost more than 90 games almost every year.
However, 2005 was a bit different. The team finished the season with an 81-81 record, their first undefeated season since 1992. This was also the year that JJ Hardy and Rickie Weeks finally broke into the Majors as rookies. This was also the year Fielder got his first taste of Big League play, appearing in 39 games and hitting .288/.306/.458 with two home runs and 10 RBI.
In 2006, Fielder was named the starter at first base on Opening Day and held that position for the next six seasons. Only Cecil Cooper (nine) had more Opening Day starts at first base than him.
As a rookie, Fielder hit .271/.347/.483 with 28 home runs and 81 RBI. He finished seventh in Rookie of the Year voting, but Milwaukee took a step back, winning only 75 games. Still, it was clear that Fielder and the juvenile team around him were going to be special.
Prince Fielder made Milwaukee and Major League history over the next five seasons
In 2007, at the age of 23, Fielder became the youngest player in Major League history to hit 50 home runs in a season. He also had a .288/.395/.618 average and drove in 119 runs. He made his first All-Star team, finished third in National League MVP voting and won the Silver Slugger.
The following year, the Brewers finished 90-72 and reached the MLB playoffs for the first time since 1982. Although they lost in the first round to the eventual World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies, it was still a highly successful season full of magical moments.
For his part, Fielder hit .276/.372/.507 with 34 home runs and 102 RBI.
In 2009, he had one of his best seasons as a professional, hitting .299/.412/.602 with 46 home runs and an MLB-leading 141 RBI.
In 2010, his batting average dropped dramatically, but he still hit .261/.401/.471 with 32 home runs and 83 RBI while leading the Majors with 114 walks.
In Fielder’s final year in Milwaukee, the team won a record 96 games and advanced to the National League Championship Series, which it lost in six games to St. Louis Cardinals. That same year, Fielder hit .299/.415/.566 with 38 home runs and 120 RBI. He walked more (107) than he did (106).
Fielder finished his time in Milwaukee with 230 home runs, ranking him third in franchise history behind Braun and Robin Yount. He made three All-Star teams, won three Silver Sluggers and finished in the top four in MVP voting three times.
Prince Fielder’s career ended early
Fielder signed with the Detroit Tigers in free agency and continued to find success on the field. In his two seasons, he made two more All-Star teams and posted averages of .295/.387/.491, 28 home runs and 107 RBI.
In 2013, he was traded to Texas Rangers. Although Fielder was a hard-wearing player in Milwaukee and Detroit (he never played fewer than 157 games in a full season), his body began to break down. He was confined to 42 games in 2014 and 89 games in 2016.
He was forced to retire early due to a neck injury requiring surgery, finishing his career with 319 home runs, the same total his dad had in his Major League career.
On Saturday, the Milwaukee Brewers’ legendary Prince Fielder went viral
The annual Negro Leagues East-West Classic was held Saturday at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. This game featured retired African-American baseball players who competed in a derby and a home run game.
Fielder, of course, took part in the home run derby and proved that he still had the power that made him such a fearsome hitter for so many years:
Want to see Prince Fielder hit some homers? Of course. pic.twitter.com/cehM3Csuj3
— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) May 25, 2024
It so happened that Fielder was selected to play on the same team as one of his former teammates. CC Sabathia was the captain of the West team and actually served as its designated hitter.
Former Brewers outfielder Curtis Granderson also played for West. Former brewers Tony Gwynn Jr. and Jerry Hairston Jr. they played in the East.
For more great Wisconsin sports content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and stay up to date with Wisconsin sports news, click here!
Mayfield Sports Marketing
Call Mayfield Sports Marketing at 262-366-8188 to schedule Green Bay Packers players or alumni for a corporate appearance or product promotion. Our booking agents will work on your behalf to get you the best price for your chosen sports speaker. Mayfield Sports Marketing has gained a reputation as a company that invites top athletes to speak at events and trade shows. To learn more about Packers or alumni appearance costs and booking fees, call us today. www.MayfieldSports.com.
Radtke Sport
Wisconsin Sports Heroics is a proud partner of Radtke Sports to offer autographed memorabilia. Brett Favre, Rob Gronkowski, Giannis Antetokounmpo & MORE Guaranteed legitimate collectibles and memorabilia including signed jerseys, photos and more on site www.RadtkeSports.com USE promo code: WSH to get FREE SHIPPING on your purchase. Some restrictions may apply
