I saw the Brewers announced that no former player or manager will be inducted into the team’s Walk of Fame. The Walk of Fame is comprised of both Brewers and Milwaukee Braves.

 

Before I write my thoughts, I want to be clear that I have the utmost respect for the Brewers. But, I think, allowing people across the state to vote for this honor is the wrong thing to do. There should be a blue ribbon panel to handle this.

 

There’s little reason for a 24-year-old native of Montana, just out of broadcast school and working his first job at a radio station in Prairie du Chien should have the same voice for this as a lifelong Milwaukee native who saw and understood the significance of the men that played for a Major League Baseball team in Milwaukee.

 

By the way, I am not that person.

 

However, I have spent years as a sports nerd sopping up every dripping piece of trivia I can find and storing it in my nerd-memory banks.

 

To me, the acquisitions of Larry Hisle and Sal Bando signify the Brewers becoming relevant in the AL East. As a player, Bando was a tremendous leader and a very good third baseman to boot. Hisle, unfortunately for only a short time due to injuries, was one of the top run producers in the American League. On top of that, Hisle is maybe the most generous gentleman to ever live in this city.

 

George Bamberger was the manager of those teams when the team began to rise.

 

Ted Simmons should be in Cooperstown.

 

Listen, I’m not advocating EVERYONE getting in. But, this isn’t a Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame, to me, is more synonymous with a number retirement. Shouldn’t the Walk of Fame be more of a romantic, nostalgic look back at the team?

 

Teddy Higuera belongs. Geoff Jenkins belongs. Ben Oglivie belongs. Keith Ginter does not. Nor does Luis Lopez. At least one player or manager should be added each year.

 

Adding a player each year promotes interest in the Brewers. It promotes research by fans that may not know much about those enshrined. Not allowing a player to be added each year certainly doesn’t help promote the history of the team.

 

While there were many poor seasons, this team has had characters and fine ballplayers representing the city and franchise well over the last 40 years. We, as fans, deserve the chance to celebrate the history of our team.

 

Moving on…

 

Several milestones are on the horizon for many Admirals players. Here are some of them:

 

Chris Mueller needs just six goals to become the fifth-highest goal scorer in Milwaukee’s AHL history. He is currently tied with Wyatt Smith at 52 goals. Mueller’s next goal will push him past Smith as the top American-born goal scorer in Admirals AHL history.

 

Mueller’s next goal will also push him into 4^th-place all-time in the Admirals professional history (IHL or AHL) amongst American-born goal scorers. Bill McCreary leads the way with 112. Mike McNeill scored 97 and Jeff Rohlicek tallied 70.

 

Admirals forward Kyle Wilson told us on an episode of Milwaukee Admirals Center Ice that he found out he was drafted by Minnesota in 2004 while he was working at a bar in Barrie, ONT called Filthy McNasty’s.

 

Wilson is one of four Wild draft picks from 2004 to play for the Admirals. The others are Peter Olvecky, Patrick Bordeleau and Ryan Jones.

 

Wilson is eight games shy of 400 in his professional career and two games shy of 350 in the AHL.

 

If you haven’t seen this video of Ryan Ellis showing off his personality, you need to look.

 

You should also check out this video of Florida goalie Jacob Markstrom from the year before.

 

Jon Blum is four games shy of 200 for his pro career. Teemu Laakso needs seven games to reach that milestone.

 

Blake Geoffrion needs four games for 100 as a pro.

 

Tyler Sloan is 11 games shy of 550 as a professional.

 

Also, I decided to comprise a list of the Admirals winningest goalies since 2001-02, the season the team joined the AHL.

 

Brian Finley                              84

Pekka Rinne                             81

Mark Dekanich                         65

Drew MacIntyre                        34

Jeremy Smith                           32

Jan Lasak                                 30

Karl Goehring                           22

Wade Flaherty                          21

Chris Mason                             18

Chet Pickard                            15

Seamus Kotyk                          10

Chris Madden                           7

Atte Engren                              5

Maxime Daigneault                   4

Dov Grumet-Morris                   4

Scott Reid                                4

Anders Lindback                       3

Frederic Cloutier                       1

Greg Hewitt                              1

Michel Robinson                        1

Alex Westlund                          1

 

Enjoy your numbers overload.

 

I leave you with the lead singer of the Violent Femmes, Gordon Gano. He recorded an album a couple years ago with the Ryan Brothers. Enjoy.