Yount records 3,000th hit
As he reached first base, Yount was quickly embraced by teammate and future Hall of Famer Paul Molitor, followed by the rest of his Brewers teammates as they celebrated the accomplishment. Molitor would join Yount in the 3,000-hit club four years later.
Yount debuted with the Brewers quickly after being selected with the third overall pick in the 1973 draft. He made his major league debut the following year as the Brewers starting shortstop at just 18 years of age.
The 1980 season was a breakout year for Yount as he developed into something of a rare breed in baseball at that time: A power-hitting shortstop.
For the year, Yount hit .293 while slugging a league-high 49 doubles, 10 triples and 23 home runs. The performance led to his first career All-Star Game selection and the American League Silver Slugger Award at shortstop.
Two years later, Yount would have his finest season as a big leaguer. He hit a career-best .331 with a league-leading 210 hits and 46 doubles. In addition, Yount launched 29 homers and drove in 114 runs. He was awarded the American League’s Most Valuable Player for the ’82 season, the first such honor of his career.
He also won the Gold Glove Award for his defense at short in 1982.
“He could do everything. He never stopped hustling. He was what a ballplayer is supposed to be,” said Brewers broadcaster and Ford C. Frick award winner Bob Uecker.
Yount’s efforts in 1982, in conjunction with Molitor and the Harvey’s Wallbangers lineup featuring Cecil Cooper, Gorman Thomas and Ben Oglivie among others, led the Brewers to their first World Series appearance in franchise history. In the Fall Classic, the Brew Crew ultimately fell to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. Yount played well in the series hitting .414 with three doubles and a home run.
In 1985, entering his age 29 season and battling arm injuries, Yount changed positions moving from his customary shortstop spot to the outfield.
Four years later in 1989, Yount would win the second MVP Award of his career, this time as the Brewers every day center fielder. Yount hit .318 in 1989, the second highest single-season mark of his career. He added 38 doubles and 21 homers while driving in 103 runs.
At the time, Yount was just the third player in history to win the MVP award at two different positions joining Hall of Famers Stan Musial and Hank Greenberg.
Yount was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999 along with Nolan Ryan and George Brett – whose 3,000th hit came just three weeks after Yount’s.
“Yount is the greatest example there is, the perfect player, the ultimate competitor,” former teammate B.J. Surhoff said.
Ryan Turnquist was the 2015 public relations intern in the Frank and Peggy Steele Internship Program at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
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01.01.2023
