Milwaukee Brewers Ryan Braun Autographed \'07 NL ROY SIGNED Baseball Bat COA HOLO For Sale

Milwaukee Brewers

Ryan Braun

hand signed

07 NL ROY Inscribed

Autographed Rawlings Blue ring

Ryan Braun Personal Engraved

Professional Model

Black Big Stick Baseball Bat

with Mikita Sports matching numbered holograms

with COA!

Did you know: Mikita Sports was the Ryan\'s exclusive signing agent during his first few years in the league

and my former company was the exclusive distributor in Wisconsin for Ryan\'s autographs!

Wow - Great combination of Braun Personal engraved Professional Bat , matching numbered authenticity with great signature!

You will receive the exact bat shown!!

INCLUDES US INSURED TRACKED PRIORITY SHIPPING!!!

Thank you for looking!

NOTE: I recently sold my sports memorablia ownership interest in Legends of the Field and am selling much of my personal collection. I have attended a majority of my former companies\' signings over the last few years including Greg Jennings, AJ Hawk, Brian Urlacher, LeRoy Butler, Gilbert Brown, Tommie Harris, Bernard Berrian, Ben Sheets, Corey Hart, Prince Fielder, Devin Hester to name a few. In addition, I\'ve acquired some of my collection directly from our vendor partners Steiner Sports, Mounted Memories, Official Brett Favre, TriStar Productions, Upper Deck Authenticated UDA, Schwartz Sports, Radtke Sports and many more. My point is you can offer with confidence as I\'ve acquired these items direct from their signing agent or from the athlete. Also, I will be listing many more items on over the next few weeks/months. Please add me as a favorite seller, visit my store, and receive updates as to any new items being listed.

Ryan Braun

Milwaukee Brewers – No. 8

Left fielder / Third baseman

Born: November 17, 1983 (age 29)

Mission Hills, Los Angeles, California

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

MLB debut

May 25, 2007 for the Milwaukee Brewers

career statistics

(through July 21, 2013)

Batting average

.312

Hits

1,156

Home runs

211

Runs batted in

681

Slugging percentage

.564

Teams

Milwaukee Brewers (2007–present)

Career highlights and awards

NL MVP (2011)

5× All Star (2008–2012)

5× Silver Slugger Award (2008–2012)

NL Rookie of the Year (2007)

NL home run leader (2012)

2× 30-30 club (2011–2012)

Ryan Joseph Braun (born November 17, 1983), is an American baseballleft fielder and third baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major LeagueBaseball (MLB). Braun is considered a five-tool player for his ability to hitfor power and average, his baserunning speed, and his excellent fielding andarm strength.[1] He was ranked number seven by the Sporting News in its 2012list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball, and won the National League(NL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2011.

Braun was a two-time All American at the University of Miami, where hewas named \"National Freshman of the Year\" by Baseball America in2003. The Brewers drafted him with the fifth pick in the first round of the 2005MLB Draft. He was the team\'s Minor League Player of the Year in 2006. Braunmade his major league debut in 2007 and was named the NL Rookie of the Yearthat year. In each of the five subsequent seasons, he was named to the NLAll-Star team and won an NL Outfielder Silver Slugger Award. Braun has led theNL three times in slugging percentage (in 2007, while setting the major leaguerookie record, 2011, and 2012), three times in extra-base hits (2008, 2011–12),and once each in hits (2009), home runs (2012), and runs (2012). On defense, heled all major league outfielders in fielding percentage in 2008, and has twiceled NL left fielders in fielding percentage (2009, 2011) and range factor(2009, 2012). His 128 home runs through 2010 were the eighth-most by any majorleaguer ever through their first four seasons. Through 2012, he was third amongall active ballplayers in career slugging percentage, and first among activeleft fielders in career fielding percentage.

Braun came under scrutiny for a disputed testosterone test that hefailed in 2011, and then for his connection in 2012 to the Biogenesis ofAmerica clinic that allegedly provided performance-enhancing drugs toprofessional baseball players. After MLB\'s investigation following theBiogenesis scandal, on July 22, 2013, Braun was suspended without pay for theremainder of the 2013 season and playoffs (totaling 65 regular season games)for violating the league\'s drug policy.[2]

Braun is currently engaged to model Larisa Fraser.[3]

High school career[edit source]

Braun was a four-year letterman on the Granada Hills High Schoolbaseball team, and three-year team captain and Most Valuable Player (MVP). Heplayed shortstop, and pitched through his junior year. As a sophomore in 2000,he recorded the highest batting average of his prep career (.456), whileposting a .654 on-base percentage (OBP). During his junior year, he hit .421,with a .668 OBP. Braun capped off his high school career by batting .451 as asenior, with an OBP of .675, and breaking the school record for career homeruns with 25.[4]

He was a two-time all-area selection by the Los Angeles Times, and athree-time choice by the Los Angeles Daily News. As a senior, Braun was ratedthe sixth-best shortstop prospect in the country by Team One Baseball, andamong the top 100 overall prospects by Baseball America.[5] He graduated in2002, but went undrafted as he told teams that he intended to attendcollege.[6][7]

Braun excelled academically as well—his worst grade was one B, inAdvanced Placement Chemistry.[8][9]

College career[edit source]

Offered baseball scholarships by Stanford and UC Berkeley, he insteadattended the University of Miami on an academic scholarship, due to hisexcellent high school grades.[8] He chose Miami for its academics, its athletics,and its social scene, noting: \"I think the girls were the deal closer onthe recruiting trip.\"[7][10]

There, Braun was named \"National Freshman of the Year\", and afirst-team \"Freshman All-American\", by Baseball America in 2003, aswell as first team All American by the Jewish Sports Review.[11] He was alsonamed first-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball.[6] He clinched the awardsby batting .364 with 76 runs batted in (RBIs) and 17 home runs. As a sophomoreshortstop/designated hitter, Braun hit .335, slugged .606, and had 21 stolenbases.

During his junior year, his final and most successful at Miami, Braunbatted .396 with 18 home runs, a .726 slugging percentage, 76 RBIs and 23stolen bases. He was ninth in slugging and 10th in RBIs in NCAA Division I, andwas named to Baseball America\'s 2005 College All-American Team as the DH. Hemoved from shortstop to third base during the year. His performance earnedBraun the Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Player of the Year award, and aspot as one of the finalists for the Golden Spikes Award, the most prestigiousindividual award in college baseball.[6][12]

Draft and minor leagues[edit source]

The Milwaukee Brewers drafted Braun in the first round (fifth overall)in the 2005 major league draft as a third baseman, and he signed for $2.45million.[13]

Assigned to the Helena Brewers in the Advanced Rookie Pioneer League in2005, Braun batted .341/.383/.585 in 10 games. He was then promoted to the WestVirginia Power in the Class A South Atlantic League, where he hit.355/.396/.645, and was rated the fifth-best prospect in the league.[14] Hismost memorable moment there was when he hit a walk-off grand slam to lead thePower into the playoffs.[15] Following the 2005 season he was rated by BaseballAmerica as the Brewers\' Best Minor League Hitter for Average, the fifth-bestprospect in the South Atlantic League, and the third-best prospect in theBrewers organization.

Braun began 2006 playing for the A-Advanced Brevard County Manatees. Heearned a spot in the Florida State League All-Star game, and played in theAll-Star Futures Game. He was rated the top third base prospect in the FSL, andBaseball America rated him the best batting prospect in the league. On June 21,Braun was promoted to the Class AA Huntsville Stars (Alabama) of the SouthernLeague. In July he was voted the Brewers\' Organizational Player of the Month,and at the end of the season he was voted the sixth-best prospect in theSouthern League.[16] Collectively between Class A and Class AA, Braun finishedwith a .289 average, 22 home runs, 77 RBIs, and 26 stolen bases. He receivedthe 2006 Robin Yount Performance Award as the Milwaukee Brewers Minor LeaguePlayer of the Year.[17]

Later in 2006, in the Arizona Fall League he hit .326/.396/.641 in 92at bats for the Scottsdale Scorpions.[18] He led the AFL with 16 extra-basehits, tied for tops with 9 doubles, ranked second in slugging percentage andHR/AB ratio (1/15), tied for second in home runs (6), and tied for third inRBIs (25). He was rated one of the top three prospects in the league, and wasvoted to the AFL All-Prospects Team.[18][19]

Baseball America rated Braun the Brewers\' #2 prospect for 2007.[16] Hebegan the year with the Nashville Sounds of the AAA Pacific Coast League.Before being called up to the majors in late May, in 113 at bats he led the PCLwith a .726 slugging percentage while batting .354 (6th), with 10 home runs(T-2nd) and a .426 on base percentage (5th).[20]

Milwaukee Brewers (2007–present)[edit source]

2007: Rookie of the Year

The Brewers brought Braun to spring training in 2007.[18] Their regularthird baseman Corey Koskie was suffering from post-concussion syndrome, andmissed the entire year.[21] In 11 spring training games, Braun tied for 10th inthe majors in home runs (5), and second in RBIs (15).[22][23]

In 2007, Braun had what some sportswriters called one of the mostdominant rookie seasons in baseball history.[24] Called up on May 24 by theBrewers, he hit his first major league home run two nightslater.[25][26][27][28] Braun was voted the National League (NL) Rookie of theMonth for June, ranking first in RBIs (21) and tied for first in home runs (6)among NL rookies that month. He also recorded a .716 slugging percentage and a.435 OBP.[29] In July, Braun became the fastest in Brewer history to hit 10major league home runs, doing so in his 38th game.[30] He hit his 15th home runin the 50th game of his career, and his 20th in his 64th game, making him thefastest to those milestones since Albert Pujols in 2001. He was also thefastest to 20 homers in Brewers history.[31][32] At month\'s end, he receivedhis second consecutive NL Rookie of the Month Award, as well as his first NLPlayer of the Month Award (making him the first player to have won both awardsin the same month). He hit a league-leading 11 home runs, with 25 RBIs, whilebatting .345.[33]

In mid-August, Yost moved Braun from third in the batting order tocleanup, switching him with Prince Fielder. The move was expected to allowBraun to steal more, as batting before Fielder was not conducive to him riskingbeing thrown out on steal attempts. Additionally, successfully stealing a basewould hypothetically allow opponents to intentionally walk Fielder and avoidpitching to him.[34] At the end of the month, however, Yost reverted to hisprevious batting order.[35] On August 26, Braun hit his 25th home run in his82nd game, quicker than any major leaguer since Mark McGwire in 1987.[36][37]

On September 9, the Brewers became the third team in major leaguehistory to start a game with three straight home runs, as Rickie Weeks, J. J.Hardy, and Braun homered in consecutive at bats. Braun said, \"That waspretty cool. I was never part of something like that before.\"[38] Braun\'shome run in that game also broke the Brewers rookie record for home runs(28).[39] Braun hit his 30th homer in his 94th game, a pace no player had setto start a career since McGwire hit 30 in 84 games during 1986 and 1987.[40]

Braun finished with an NL-leading .634 slugging percentage, a mark thatset new all-time rookie and Brewers records.[41][42] He was fifth in the leaguein at bats per home run (13.3) and OPS (1.004), tied for fifth in home runs(34), and eighth in batting average (.324) among hitters with at least 490plate appearances.[43] He led the Brewers in batting average and sluggingpercentage, and was second behind Fielder in home runs, runs (91), and RBIs(97), tied for second in triples (6), and third in OBP (.370) and steals (15),despite not having played in the first 48 games of the season.[44] Braunobliterated the club rookie records of 28 home runs and 81 RBIs, set by Fielderin 2006.[45]

\"I was always small. I was a leadoff hitter growing up, until Iwas 13 or 14 years old and had a little growth spurt and started hitting homeruns.\"

—Ryan Braun[46]

Braun had considerable success against left-handed pitchers. He had thebest batting average (.450), OBP (.516), and slugging percentage (.964) of anymajor league hitter with at least 125 plate appearances against lefties, andwas tied for second in the majors in home runs (15).[47][48] Braun credits hisfather with his success against lefties. \"My dad is left-handed, sogrowing up, the majority of time, I took batting practice off of him.\"[49]

Braun collected several awards at season\'s end. He won the 2007 NL Rookieof the Year Award in a vote by 32 members of the Baseball Writers\' Associationof America. He beat out Troy Tulowitzki by 2 points in the closest NL votesince the system was revised in 1980.[50] Of all prior NL Rookies of the Year,only Pujols and Willie McCovey hit for higher batting averages in their rookieyear.[51] Braun was voted the 2007 NL Sporting News Rookie of the Year by 488major league players and 30 managers.[52][53] Braun also received the 2007Players Choice NL Most Outstanding Rookie in a vote by his fellow major leagueplayers.[54] \"When your peers recognize you with an award, that\'sgreat\", he said. \"Those are the guys out there on the field with you,competing against you. Their opinion counts the most, for a player.\"[55]In voting for the NL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award, Braun received two10th-place votes and finished 24th overall.[56]

2008: All-Star and Silver Slugger[edit source]

In March 2008, the Brewers renewed Braun\'s contract for $455,000, a$75,000 increase.[57] Braun then signed an 8-year, $45–$51 million contractextension (the total depending on his \"Super 2\" service-time rankingafter the 2009 season) on May 15, 2008.[58] The contract is through the year2015. The deal included Braun\'s $455,000 salary for 2008, and a $2.3 millionbonus in 2008. It could increase to $51 million through incentives. Braun alsohas a no-trade clause for the first four years, and then a limited no-tradeclause allowing him to block deals to 12 teams from 2012 to 2013, and 6 teamsfrom 2014 to 2015. The contract will keep Braun locked up through his age-31season.[59] It was the largest contract in Brewers\' history, surpassing JeffSuppan\'s. It was also the largest contract in baseball history given to aplayer with less than three years\' experience.[60] Braun\'s agent, Nez Balelo,crunched enough numbers to show him what he potentially could have made overthe life of this contract if he had chosen not to sign it. \"But thequestion I ultimately asked myself was, `What can\'t I buy with that amount ofmoney?\"\' Braun said.[61]

Braun in 2008

Braun drove in 134 runs in his first 162 games in the majors, more RBIsthan any active player.[62][63] He reached the 150-RBI milestone faster thanany major leaguer since Boston\'s Walt Dropo needed only 155 games, in 1949–51.On June 17, 2008, he drove in his 152nd career RBI, in his 182nd game.[64]

raun was named the NL\'s Player of the Month, after batting .366 in July(6th in the NL) with 9 home runs (3rd), and 23 RBIs (7th). He also led theleague with 76 total bases and 18 extra base hits, and was among NL leaderswith 37 hits (2nd), 3 triples (2nd), and a 1.163 OPS (3rd). He had back-to-back4-hit games, just the 5th player in team history to accomplish that feat.[65]\"It\'s a huge honor\", Braun said. \"The way I look at it, you\'rethe MVP of the National League for that month. It\'s definitely a bigaccomplishment.[66]

As of August 8, Braun\'s major league career start was one of the bestever. In 227 games to start a career, he was first with 558 total bases and 133extra base hits, second with 64 home runs, and tied for second with 181RBIs.[67]

On August 9, Braun strained the intercostal muscles around his obliqueribcage. That led to him missing a number of games, and shortening his swingfor a few weeks.[68][69] After returning, on September 25 he hit his firstgrand slam in \"grand\" fashion. With the bases loaded, he delivered a2-out, 2–2 pitch from the Pirates\' Jesse Chavez into the left field bleachersof Miller Park in the bottom of the 10th inning, winning the game 5–1, andkeeping the Brewers\' 2008 postseason hopes alive. Three days later, Braunhelped put the Brewers into the postseason for the first time since 1982, byhitting a go-ahead 2-run homer in the bottom of the 8th against the Chicago Cubs.The homer was the difference in the game, which gave the Brewers a one-gamelead over the New York Mets for the NL wild card.

Braun was a starting outfielder for the NL in the 2008 All Star Game.He finished first in fan voting among NL outfielders, and second among all NLplayers, with 3,835,840 votes, behind only Chase Utley of the Phillies(3,889,602).[70] He also finished first in player voting.[71] Braun was thefirst Brewers outfielder voted to start an All Star game.[72] He was one ofseven first-time starters in the game, and–along with Kosuke Fukudome and JoshHamilton–one of only three who had not reached the major leagues until 2007 or2008.[70]

Braun came in third in the Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium. \"It\'ssomething you dream about\", Braun said. \"That\'s as big a stage as youcan get on.... it\'s going to be a lot of fun.\"[73] He had his friend andagent, Nez Balelo, a former minor league infielder, pitch to him.[74][75]Braun\'s longest homer was estimated at 448 feet.[76] He hit seven home runs ineach of the first and second rounds, finishing with 14 (three behind finalistJustin Morneau, who hit five in the final round to win the Derby).[77]

On June 3, Braun became the third-fastest major leaguer to reach 50career home runs. He did so in 171 career games; the only players to reach thatplateau sooner were Rudy York and Mark McGwire.[78][79] On July 8, Braun hithis 56th home run in his 200th game, the third-highest total ever in a majorleaguer\'s initial 200 games, behind McGwire (59) and York (59).[80]

In early August, Braun hit his 30th home run, becoming just the secondplayer in MLB history to hit 30 or more homers in each of his first twoseasons, joining Pujols.[69][81] Braun hit 71 home runs in his first twoseasons, tying him with Pujols for fourth all-time. Joe DiMaggio tops the listwith 75 home runs, followed by Ralph Kiner (74) and Eddie Mathews(72).[67][82][83]

In 2008, in 151 games Braun hit 37 home runs (tied for 4th in the NL,behind Ryan Howard, Adam Dunn, and Carlos Delgado), with 106 RBIs (9th), andbatted .285 with a .553 slugging percentage (5th).[84] He also led the leaguewith 83 extra base hits, and had 338 total bases (2nd in the NL), 7 triples(6th), 16.5 at-bats-per-home-run (10th), and 611 at bats (10th).[85] 12.5% ofhis plate appearances were extra base hits (3rd in the NL; behind Ryan Ludwickand Pujols), he had 29 infield hits (7th), and he stole third base 6 times(9th).[86][87]

Braun in 2008

Against starting pitchers, Braun hit .244 the first time he faced themin a game, .331 the second time, and .328 with a .672 slugging percentage thethird time.[88] Braun led the Brewers in batting average, slugging percentage,triples, home runs, RBIs, extra base hits, total bases, at-bats-per-home run,OPS (.888), runs (92), and hits (174).[89]

Braun hit .313 in October against the Phillies in his first postseasonseries, which the Brewers lost 3–1.

Braun was voted to the 2008 NL Sporting News All Star Team, by a panelof 41 major league general managers and assistant general managers.[90] He alsowon the 2008 NL Outfielder Silver Slugger Award, in a vote by major leaguecoaches and managers who select the top offensive performer at each position inboth leagues. The award, sponsored by Louisville Slugger, is based on acombination of statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, andslugging percentage, as well as the coaches\' and managers\' general impressionsof a player\'s overall offensive value.[91] In voting for the 2008 NL MVP award,Braun was third (with 139 points), behind Pujols and Ryan Howard.[92]

2009: All Star, Silver Slugger, and Team USA[edit source]

In 2009, Braun was named to Sporting News\' list of the 50 greatestcurrent players in baseball, ranking No. 32. A panel of 100 baseball people,many of them members of the Hall of Fame and winners of major baseball awards,were polled to arrive at the list.[93]

Braun was invited to play for Team USA in 2009 in the second WorldBaseball Classic. \"I\'m really excited to get to represent mycountry\", he said. \"It\'s an honor just to get invited for theevent.\"[94] He batted .381 as the team\'s starting left fielder, helping itreach the semi-finals.[95][96]

\"One thing is for certain: You\'ve got to tie Braun up from time totime. If you don\'t, he\'s going to feast on you.\"[97]

—Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella, defending Ryan Dempster for hittingBraun

Braun was named NL Player of the Week for May 4–10, after leading theNL with 12 RBIs for the week while hitting .458/.567/.958 with 3 home runs. Hehit the second grand slam of his career and recorded a career-high six RBIs onMay 6, and on May 9 he reached base in all five of his plate appearances.[98]

Braun led all NL outfielders in fan voting for the All Star Game forthe second year in a row, with 4.1 million votes, ahead of Raúl Ibáñez andCarlos Beltrán.[99] He was third among all NL vote-getters, trailing Pujols andChase Utley.[100] He was the first Brewer to be voted in as a starter inconsecutive years since Robin Yount (in 1982 and 1983), and the third Brewerposition player voted to start twice, along with Yount and Paul Molitor (1980and 1988).[101][102] Braun started in right field, the first time he had everplayed the position, and batted cleanup, going 0–2.[103]

Braun was second all-time, with 79 home runs over his first twocalendar years in the major leagues, to Phillies Hall of Famer Chuck Klein(83); ahead of third-place Joe DiMaggio and Mark McGwire (77).[104] If Brauncontinues to hit home runs at the rate he had hit them through July 1, 2009, hewill reach 600 home runs in his 15th major league season.[105] In September,Braun became the second-fastest active player to hit 100 home runs (behind onlyRyan Howard), as he hit his 100th homer in his 400th major league game.[106]Later in the month, he became the second player in major league history(joining Pujols) to hit 30 or more home runs in each of his first threeseasons.[107] Braun\'s 103 home runs in his first three Major League seasons aresixth-most in baseball history, behind Pujols (114), Mark Teixeira (107), andthree Hall of Famers—Kiner (114), Matthews (112), and Joe DiMaggio (107).[108]

As in 2007, in 2009 Braun had even greater success against left-handedpitchers. Against them he had the second-best OBP (.475), slugging percentage(.723), and OPS (1.198), and third-best batting average (.395), of all NLhitters with at least 125 plate appearances.[109]

He finished the season with an NL-leading 203 hits, becoming the firstBrewer to lead his league in hits since Molitor topped the AL in 1991.[110]Braun became the fourth Brewer in team history to collect 200 or more hits in aseason, and the first in 18 years. He joined Cecil Cooper, Molitor, andYount.[111] His .320 batting average at the end of the season was the highestby a Brewer since Jeff Cirillo hit .326 in 1999.[112]

In 2009, in addition to leading the NL in hits, Braun was 2nd in runs(113), 4th in RBIs (114), total bases (350), extra base hits (77), and hit bypitch (13), 7th in batting average (.320) and power-speed number (24.6), 8th inOPS (.937), 9th in slugging percentage (.551) and doubles (39), tied for 10thin triples (6), and tied for 11th in home runs (32).[113] He was also 4th inthe league in infield hits (25).[114]

He became only the second Brewer ever to hit 30 home runs and steal 20bases in the same season.[115] Braun also became the eighth player in majorleague history with at least 100 runs, 100 RBIs, 200 hits, 30 homers, 20 stolenbases, and a .300 average in the same season.[108]

Braun was voted to the NL Sporting News All Star Team in 2009, makingit for the second year in a row. He received votes from all 14 voting NL teamexecutives (as did Pujols and Utley; Mauer was named on all AL ballots).[116]Braun was awarded the 2009 NL Outfielder Silver Slugger Award, winning it forthe second year in a row.[108] He became the first Brewer since Molitor, morethan two decades prior, to win a Silver Slugger Award in consecutive years.Cecil Cooper is the only other Brewer to have done it.[108]

2010: All Star and Silver Slugger[edit source]

Braun was named to Sporting News\' 2010 list of the 50 greatest currentplayers in baseball, ranking No. 22.[117]

He was elected a starting NL All Star outfielder for the third year ina row, in 2010.[118] Braun led all major league outfielders in All Star votesfor the third straight year, with 2,972,525, despite Milwaukee being thesmallest media market in the majors.[118][119] As in 2009, he received morevotes than any NL players other than Pujols and Utley.[120] He became the firstBrewer to be a three-time All Star starter, passing Yount and Molitor.[118]

Braun was named NL Player of the Week for August 1–8, after leading themajors with a .538 batting average, 14 hits, and 8 runs scored, and notching acareer-best 5-hit performance in one game.[121][122]

For the season, Braun was 2nd in the NL in hits (188) and doubles (45),5th in total bases (310), 6th in runs (101), 7th in RBIs (103) and extra basehits (71), and 9th in batting average (.304).[123]

Braun hit the 8th-most home runs by any major leaguer through his firstfour seasons (128).[124] He also became the fifth player in major leaguehistory to hit at least 125 homers with a .300 average over his first fourseasons, joining Joe DiMaggio, Chuck Klein, Pujols, and Ted Williams.[125] His94 home runs in 2008–10 were the most by any right-handed outfielder.[126]

He was the first player in Brewers history to hit 20 or more home runsin each of his first four seasons, and the third Brewer to have 100 or moreRBIs in three consecutive seasons (joining Richie Sexson (2001–03) and PrinceFielder (2007–09)).[127][128] He also became the second player in Brewershistory to have consecutive 100-RBI, 100-run seasons (joining Cecil Cooper, whodid it in 1982–83).[129]

Braun was awarded the 2010 NL Outfielder Silver Slugger Award, winningit for the third year in a row.[130] He became the second Brewer to win aSilver Slugger Award in three consecutive years, joining Cecil Cooper(1980–82).[130] Robin Yount is the only other Brewer to have won the awardthree times (1980, 1982, and 1989).[130] Braun was also voted to the 2010 NLSporting News All Star Team, making the team for the third year in a row.[131]

2011: NL MVP, All Star, Silver Slugger, and 30–30 club[edit source]

Braun in 2008

In 2011, Braun was again named to Sporting News\' list of the 50 greatestcurrent players in baseball, ranking No. 16. A panel of 21 MLB executives waspolled to arrive at the list.[117][132]

He was named NL Player of the Month for April, after tying for the NLlead in home runs (10) and runs scored (24), while setting a new team record byreaching base in 28 consecutive games to start a season (erasing Yount\'s recordof 23 games, set in 1983). He was also named NL Player of the Week, for theweek ended April 25.[133]

He led all National League players in All Star balloting, with anNL-record 5.93 million votes, as he garnered more votes than any other NLoutfielder for the fourth year in a row. He was voted an NL All Star starterfor a franchise record fourth time.[134][135] Braun had a 23-game hittingstreak, the third-longest in team history.[134]

On August 31, he hit a ball deep to left-center field and tried for aninside-the-park home run, but fell on his way to home plate and was tagged out.The crowd gave him a standing ovation for his effort.[136]

On September 23, Braun hit a three-run, 450-foot home run that sealedthe Brewers\' NL-Central-clinching victory. He reflected that it was\"eerily similar\" to his home run on the last day of the 2008 season,also in the bottom of the eighth inning with the game tied 1–1, which enabledthe Brewers to reach the postseason for the first time since 1982.[137] PrinceFielder observed: \"It\'s not new. That\'s what he does.\"[137][138]

He was named the NL Player of the Month for the fourth time in hiscareer in September, after tying for second in the league with 8 home runs and22 RBIs, while batting .330.[139]

raun accepts his 2011 National League MVP award from 1989 AmericanLeague winner Robin Yount.

In 2011, Braun led the National League in slugging percentage (.597),OPS (.994), and extra base hits (77). He was 2nd in the NL in batting average(.332), runs (109), and total bases (336), 4th in RBIs (111) and doubles (38;tied), 5th in on base percentage (.397) and hits (187), 6th in home runs (33;T), and 7th in stolen bases (33; a career high).[135][140][141] On defense, heled all major league left fielders in fielding percentage, at .996.[142]

Braun became the 7th player to have at least four 30-homer, 100-RBIseasons in his first five years, joining Chuck Klein, Joe DiMaggio, TedWilliams, Ralph Kiner, Mark Teixeira, and Albert Pujols.[143] He also becamethe 11th major leaguer to hit at least 30 home runs in four of his first fiveseasons.[143] He joined Klein, DiMaggio, Williams, Kiner, Eddie Mathews, FrankRobinson, Mark McGwire, Teixeira, Pujols, and Dan Uggla.[143]

In 2011, Braun became the second Brewer (and 56th player in MLBhistory) to join the 30–30 club, joining Tommy Harper (1970).[143][144] He wasalso the second player in Brewers\' history to have two 20-steals/20-homersseasons, joining Corey Hart.[145] He became the first Brewer to post three100-run, 100-RBI seasons.[146] In addition, he became one of three Brewers whohave had four 100-RBI seasons, joining Cecil Cooper and Prince Fielder.[146]

Through 2011, he was third among active ballplayers in career sluggingpercentage (.563), behind Pujols and Alex Rodriguez, and first among leftfielders in career fielding percentage (.994).[147][148][149] He was also theBrewers\' all-time leader in career batting average (.312), slugging percentage,and OPS (.933), and fourth in on base percentage (.371).[42]

Braun accepting his 2011 Silver Slugger Award from Brewers owner MarkAttanasio

In the 2011 playoffs, through October 14 Braun set the major leaguepostseason record by reaching base in the first inning in nine consecutiveplayoff games.[150] He also tied Yount and Molitor for the Brewers\' team recordwith his 22nd career postseason hit, and tied Charlie Moore for team\'s longestpostseason hitting streak, at 7 games.[150][151] In the postseason he led theBrewers with a .405 batting average, while driving in a team-best 10 RBIs.[135]

Braun was awarded the 2011 NL Outfielder Silver Slugger Award, winningit for the fourth year in a row.[152] That set a Brewers team record, and hebecame the fourth NL outfielder to win the award four years in a row, joiningBarry Bonds (who did it twice, from 1990 to 1994 and 2000 to 2004), Dale Murphy(1982–85), and Sammy Sosa (1998–2002).[152] He was named the team\'s 2011 MVP inunanimous voting by the Milwaukee chapter of the BBWAA.[135]

On November 22, Braun was named the NL MVP award winner for the 2011season, receiving 20 of 32 first place votes.[153]

2012: All Star, Home Run Champion, Silver Slugger, 40–30 club[editsource]

On April 30, 2012, he became the first player to hit 3 home runs in onegame at Petco Park. Braun was named to his fifth consecutive NL All-Star teamas a reserve outfielder. It marked Braun\'s fifth All-Star honor, tying him withCecil Cooper and Paul Molitor for the most in Brewers franchise history. OnJuly 20, Braun had his 1,000th career hit. He accomplished the feat in his815th game, sooner in his career than Pete Rose, the all-time hits leader, whodid it in his 831st game.[citation needed]

On September 16, Braun hit his 200th career home run, against the NewYork Mets. In his following at bat, Braun hit another home run, his 40th of theyear, the first time he had reached the 40-home-run mark.[citation needed]

In 2012, Braun led the National League in home runs (41), runs scored(108), total bases (356), and power-speed number (34.6), and led the league inOPS (.987) and extra-base hits (80) for the second consecutive year. He was 2ndin the NL in RBIs (112), slugging percentage (.595), and hits (191), 3rd inbatting average (.319), 4th in on-base percentage (.391), and 9th in stolenbases (30).[154] On defense, he led all NL left fielders in putouts (276) andin range factor/game (1.87).[154] By driving in more than 100 runs in 2012 forthe fifth consecutive year, Braun became the first player in Brewers history tohave five 100-RBI seasons. Cecil Cooper and Prince Fielder each drove in 100runs four times.[155] Braun became the ninth player in major league history tohave a season of 40 home runs and 30 stolen bases.[156]

Braun was awarded the 2012 NL Outfielder Silver Slugger Award, winningit for the fifth year in a row.[157] His five consecutive awards are thelongest active streak in the major leagues.[157]

Braun finished second in National League MVP voting for 2012, behindBuster Posey.

2013 season[edit source]

In 2013, Braun played in 61 games with a .298 batting average including14 doubles, 9 home runs, and 38 RBIs in 225 at-bats. On July 22, 2013, Braunwas suspended without pay for the remainder of the season for violations of theBasic Agreement and its Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.[158]

Disputed testosterone test[edit source]

On December 10, 2011, a confidential urine test conducted in October2011 was leaked to ESPN\'s Outside the Lines.[159][160][161][162] They reportedthat Braun had tested positive for an elevated level of testosterone caused bya performance-enhancing drug and faced a 50-game suspension. The Daily Newsquoted a source who said that the test results were \"insanely high, thehighest ever for anyone who has ever taken a test, twice the level of thehighest test ever taken\".[163] A second test conducted by an independentlaboratory showed normal testosterone levels.[164] Braun appealed the positivedrug test in January 2012, and a three-member panel overturned the results on a2-to-1 vote on February 22, 2012.[165] It was the first time that a MLB playerhad successfully challenged a drug test result.[166] The arbitration panel,consisting of MLB representative Rob Manfred, players\' union lawyer MichaelWeiner, and Shyam Das, determined that Braun had raised valid questions aboutthe manner in which test collector Dino Laurenzi, Jr. had handled hissample.[167]

The New York Times wrote that Braun \"won on atechnicality\".[168] Braun\'s sample was collected and sealed on a Saturday.Laurenzi said that no FedEx delivery center was open, and he subsequentlyfollowed established protocol and stored the samples in a Rubbermaid container;he dropped the samples off to an open FedEx center on Monday.[164] Braun,though, said there were at least five FedEx locations within 5 miles that wereopen until 9 p.m. and there also was a 24-hour location.[169] MLB argued thatthere was no evidence of tampering of the sample, and the United StatesAnti-Doping Agency said the testosterone levels in the samples would not growin a refrigerator over a weekend.[164] MLB\'s drug-testing program states thatthe samples should be sent to the laboratory on the same day they are collected\"absent unusual circumstance\".[164]

Links to Biogenesis clinic and MLB suspension[edit source]

Main article: Biogenesis baseball scandal

In February 2013, Yahoo! Sports reported that Braun\'s name appearedthree times in records of Biogenesis of America, a Coral Gables clinic allegedto have distributed performance-enhancing drugs to a number of Major LeagueBaseball players who tested positive for banned substances.[170] One entrynoted that Braun owed the clinic between $20,000 and $30,000.[170] Braun\'s namewas not listed next to any specific PEDs, unlike some of the other playersmentioned in the records.[170] Braun released a statement maintaining that hisattorneys had retained the clinic\'s operator, Anthony Bosch, as a consultantduring his appeal of his positive drug test the previous season, and denied anyfurther dealings with the clinic.[170]

Later that month, ESPN\'s Outside the Lines obtained a new Biogenesisdocument from April 2012 listing Braun among three other MLB players with thenotation: \"MLB Ryan Braun + 1500.\"[171] An ESPN source said to befamiliar with Bosch\'s operation claimed the list was of players who obtainedPEDs from Bosch and their respective balances, with a circle around the plussign next to a player\'s name indicating his balance was paid off.[171] In lateApril, Bosch confirmed to ESPN that Braun\'s legal team merely consulted withhim during Braun\'s appeal, and confirmed that he never spoke to Braunhimself.[172]

On June 4, 2013, ESPN reported that MLB was preparing suspensions forplayers linked to using PEDs provided by Biogenesis of America, and itsfounder, Anthony Bosch. ESPN reported that Braun could have been suspended foras many as 100 games if found guilty, although the appeals process could takemonths and not yield a suspension until 2014.[173]

n July 22, 2013, MLB suspended Braun for the remaining 65 games of theregular season, plus the entire postseason, for his involvement with theBiogenesis clinic. Braun, who will lose $3.25 million as a result, did notappeal the suspension. In a statement, he said, \"I realize now that I havemade some mistakes. I am willing to accept the consequences of thoseactions.\" ESPN reported that Braun decided to \"strike a deal\" withMLB after being presented with the evidence against him.[174] Braun was thefirst superstar to be suspended for performance-enhancing drugs during the peakof his career. Called a \"liar\", he was heavily criticized by themedia and other players, particularly for tarnishing Laurenzi\'sreputation.[175][176] In particular, it was later exposed that Braun engaged ina campaign for support from players around the league, accusing Laurenzi Jr. ofbeing an anti-Semite.[177][178]

Although the standard suspension for a first offense under MLB\'s drugpolicy is 50 games, Braun was suspended an additional 15 games for his actionsduring and after his appeal of the 2011 test. According to the MilwaukeeJournal-Sentinel, MLB officials were particularly angered by a speech Braunmade during 2012 spring training in which he attacked Laurenzi\'s integrity andthe integrity of the drug program as a whole. MLB considered Braun\'s speech, aswell as his earlier attacks on Laurenzi, to be conduct detrimental tobaseball—an offense punishable under the collective bargaining agreement, notthe drug policy. Braun accepted the additional suspension without appealbecause of overwhelming evidence in the Biogenesis case.[179] On August 22,Braun released a statement in which he apologized for using PEDs.[180]

Player profile[edit source]

\"He looks like \'The Natural.\'\"[181]

Jim Powell, former Brewers\' radio voice

raun has the ability to hit for average and significant power. Hisfluid swing is compact and short, with tremendous bat speed and a protractedfollow-through.[182][183] Braun waits well on offspeed pitches, and uses theentire field.[184] He drives the ball, no matter where it is in the strikezone.[185] Brewers hitting coach Jim Skaalen observed: \"He\'s gottremendously quick hands and really hits through the ball. He stays on the ballas well as anyone we\'ve got.\"[45][183]

Speed[edit source]

In addition, his speed garnered him comparisons to New York Yankeesthird baseman Alex Rodriguez.[186] Braun has been timed at 4.2 seconds to firstbase from the right side of the plate.[187] In spring training in 2007, he wassecond-fastest in the Brewers\' 60-yard dash.[188]

Third base[edit source]

A shortstop most of his life and in college, Braun was inconsistent ondefense after switching to third base in 2006.[7] However, he was noted for hisathleticism, his occasional web gems,[45] and particularly for his powerfulthrowing arm,[185] which was rated the best infield arm in the Brewers\' minorleague system by Baseball America in early 2007.[189] Braun was charged with 34errors in 2006, the majority on throws. \"It\'s a matter of properfootwork\", said Ash in early 2007. \"Most of his problems come becausehe relies on his arm, which is very strong.\"[190]

\"I think Braunie\'s biggest problem is reading the ball off thebat. He\'s gotten a lot better on the routine plays, has gotten a lot betterwith his throws. He\'s a very good athlete. He\'s working very hard at it. He\'sgoing to get better, no doubt about it. He hasn\'t played a lot of third base.We tend to forget that.\"[45]

—Brewers coach Dale Sveum, a former big league third baseman.

While Yost removed Braun from a number of games in September 2007 fordefense, he praised Braun for his improvements.[191] \"The great thing aboutit is it doesn\'t involve throwing at all now\", said Yost, referring toBraun\'s biggest issue in the spring. \"It involves first-step quickness tothe ball, which will increase his range. [He needs to] soften his hands alittle bit. [His] hand-eye coordination to the ball needs to be a littlebetter. That comes with repetition, repetition, repetition.\" Braunfinished 2007 last of all eligible third basemen in fielding percentage (.895,with 26 errors; only the fourth third baseman since 1916 to play 100 games ormore in a season and have a fielding percentage under .900),[192] range factor(2.11), and zone rating (.697). His target at first base was Prince Fielder,who finished 2007 last of all eligible major league first basemen in rangefactor (8.49), and first in errors (14).[193] Similarly, his target at secondbase, Rickie Weeks, had the lowest fielding percentage of all NL second basemen(.976), and the lowest zone rating among all major league second basemen(.737).[194]

It was suggested that it was possible that Braun would learn to playthe position adequately, given that David Wright (who tied for the major leaguelead in errors by a third baseman in 2005, his second in the league)[195] in2007 became a \"passable defender\" (and won the NL Gold Glove at thirdbase).[196]

Braun, for his part, noted after the 2007 season: \"It\'s only mysecond full (professional) year of playing third base. I don\'t expect to beperfect, but I certainly expect to be better than I have been. I have tocontinue to work hard, and hopefully I\'ll improve.\"[45]

Left field[edit source]

In January 2008, however, the Brewers acquired three-time GoldGlove-winning center fielder Mike Cameron, prompting the team to move centerfielder Bill Hall to third base and Braun to left field.

Before the news broke, Braun was taking ground balls at PepperdineUniversity near Los Angeles. General Manager Doug Melvin left him a voicemail,and after returning the call and learning of the team\'s plans Braun grabbed hisoutfield glove, and started taking fly balls. Braun supported the switch.\"[The outfield glove] is not broken in yet, but it will get there. I feellike I\'m a good enough athlete and have a good enough work ethic to make thetransition pretty easily.\"[197]

While Braun\'s outfield experience until then had consisted of \"twogames in center field my freshman year in high school,\"[198] Braun hadspeed, arm strength that would make him stand out against other left fielders,and athleticism to make the transition.[199] Early reports were good, as inspring training in 2008 he showed an ability to cover ground, go back on theball, to his left into the gap, and to his right to cut off balls down theline.[24] Braun looked good tracking liners and high fly balls, and took goodroutes when cutting off balls down the line or in the gap, holding batters tosingles.[200] In March 2008 Manager Ned Yost said that Braun has been\"spectacular\" in left,[201] and \"he\'s got an opportunity one dayto win a Gold Glove in left field. He certainly does.\"[202]

In July, by which time Braun was being mentioned in the press as a GoldGlove candidate, Ed Sedar, the Brewers\' outfield defense expert, said: \"Heprobably has the best arm in baseball in left field. He can cover more groundthan 90% of the outfielders out there.\"[203]

In 2008, Braun led all major league outfielders with a 1.000 fieldingpercentage. He also led all NL left fielders in putouts (275), and was secondin the league in range factor (1.95) and fourth in assists (9), in 1,310.1innings.[204]

On May 23, 2009, Braun was charged with his first error ever in 190games in left field, when his throw to third was not caught by either Bill Hallor Craig Counsell, one of whom should have caught it according to Manager KenMacha, but both of whom were confused as to who was covering thebase.[205][206] In July 2009, ESPN\'s Jon Heyman wrote that Braun had\"become a terrific left fielder in no time\".[207] Braun led all NLleft fielders in 2009 with a .994 fielding percentage. He also led them in putouts(304) and range factor (2.06), was tied for the lead in double plays (2), andwas third in assists (8), in 1,364 innings.[208]

In 2010, Braun led NL left fielders in putouts for the third year in arow (279), was second in range factor per game (1.86), and 4th in assists(6).[123]

Jewish heritage[edit source]

Braun in 2008

Braun\'s father Joe, most of whose side of the family was murdered inthe Holocaust, was born in Israel.[209][210] His father immigrated to theUnited States at age seven.[211] His father is Jewish and his mother Diane isCatholic.[210][211][212]

Braun said \"I am Jewish\", and \"I\'m extremely proud to bea role model for young Jewish kids.\"[210][211] \"It\'s something I\'mreally proud of. But I don\'t want to make it into something more than what it is.I didn\'t have a Bar Mitzvah.... I didn\'t celebrate the holidays.\"[212] Hereiterated: \"It\'s something that draws a lot of interest and something Itake pride in.\"[213][214] Braun\'s mother, however, said he is notJewish.[215]

Braun\'s nickname \"The Hebrew Hammer\",[213][216][217] whichwas also a nickname for former All-Stars Al Rosen[218] and Hank Greenberg,[219]refers to his Jewish heritage. It is also the nickname of former teammate GabeKapler and alludes to former Milwaukee star Hank Aaron (whose nickname was\"Hammerin\' Hank\"), and the movie The Hebrew Hammer, starring AdamGoldberg.[220] In response to the nickname, Braun\'s mother reiterated, “He’stotally not Jewish. I heard some organization started called him ‘The HebrewHammer.’ I said, ‘Oh no.’ My mother would be rolling over in her grave if sheheard that.”[215]

Braun is one of the highest-drafted Jewish ballplayers in the historyof professional baseball. The New York Yankees made Ron Blomberg the number onepick in the 1967 draft.[7] Braun was considered the best Jewish minor leaguebaseball prospect in 2006,[221] and became major league baseball\'s first JewishRookie of the Year the following season.[222][223] In each of 2007 and 2008,Braun hit more home runs (34 and 37) than all but 3 of the top 10 career Jewishhome run hitters had hit in their best seasons. Only Hank Greenberg (58), ShawnGreen (49), and Al Rosen (43) hit more in a single year. Through the 2012season, he was 2nd on the all-time career list in batting average (behind HankGreenberg), tied for 3rd in home runs (with Sid Gordon; behind Hank Greenbergand Shawn Green), 7th on the RBI list (behind Al Rosen), and 8th in hits(behind Mike Lieberthal), for Jewish major leaguers.[224]

\"Braun\" was, coincidentally, the family name of Sandy Koufax,until his mother remarried and he took his stepfather\'s name. \"There\'s no[family] connection that I know of\", Braun said, \"but it\'s kind ofcool.\"[213] In another coincidence, Braun lived for a time with hismaternal grandfather in a house that previously belonged to Jewish Hall of Famefirst baseman Hank Greenberg.[211] Braun\'s grandfather has lived in the housefor over 40 years.[7]

In December 2007, Braun was the only Jewish athlete invited byPresident George W. Bush to the annual Hanukkah Dinner at the White House,where he talked baseball with the President.[69][225] Braun was later featuredin the 2008 Hank Greenberg 75th Anniversary edition of Jewish Major LeaguersBaseball Cards, published in affiliation with Fleer Trading Cards and theAmerican Jewish Historical Society, commemorating the Jewish Major Leaguersfrom 1871 through 2008.[223] He joined, among other Jewish major leaguers, BradAusmus, Kevin Youkilis, Ian Kinsler, Brian Horwitz, Gabe Kapler, Jason Marquis,Ike Davis, Jason Hirsh, John Grabow, Craig Breslow, Scott Feldman, and ScottSchoeneweis. Braun was one of three Jewish players in the 2008 All-Star Game,joining Kinsler and Youkilis, and one of three Jewish players on the Team USA2009 World Baseball Classic team, joining Youkilis and Grabow.[226][227] He andFeldman were voted the 2009 co-Jewish MVP by Jewish Major Leaguers, and he wasvoted the 2010 Jewish MVP as Breslow received the Most Valuable Jewish Pitcherhonors.[228][229] \"There aren\'t too many Jewish athletes at the highestlevel\", said Braun. \"It\'s something that I certainlyembrace.\"[230][231]

Braun was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall ofFame in January 2010.[232][233]

The Jewish Daily Forward listed him as number five in the 2011\"Forward 50\", its list of the 50 most significant American Jews.[234]

In 2011, Braun became the fourth self-identifying Jewish player, andthe first in nearly a half-century, to win the Most Valuable Player Award,after Greenberg (1935 and 1940), Rosen (1953), and Koufax (1963). In April2012, Shalom Life ranked him Number 5 on its list of “the 50 most talented,intelligent, funny, and gorgeous Jewish men in the world.\"[235]

Outside pursuits[edit source]

Braun developed his own signature fashion t-shirt line for AfflictionClothing, a California-based clothing manufacturer who manufactures shirts thatare garment dyed and hand distressed.[236] In August 2008, he filmed a YouTubevideo with supermodel Marisa Miller for Remington\'s ShortCut clippers.[237] InOctober 2008, Apple released a commercial for a new iPhone, that showed a clipof Braun\'s 10th inning walk-off grand slam against the Pittsburgh Pirates onSeptember 25, 2008, which kept the Brewers\' Wild Card hopes alive. Gatoradeused the same clip in its November 2008 \"League of Clutch\"commercial.[238]

Braun has signed endorsement deals with CytoSport, a supplement maker,Nike, Wilson, Mikita Sports for autographs and memorabilia, Sam Bat, andAirTran Airways, and is working on his own line of aluminum bats.[69][239] Hehas appeared in commercials for Muscle Milk, Dick\'s Sporting Goods, andregional convenience store chain Kwik Trip.[240] He turned down a request byABC that he appear on the TV show \"The Bachelor\".[241]

In 2010, Braun opened two restaurants in Wisconsin, Ryan Braun\'sWaterfront in Milwaukee\'s Historic Third Ward and Ryan Braun\'s Tavern &Grill in Lake Geneva.[240] In late 2010, Braun\'s Milwaukee location closed forremodeling and re-opened in April 2011 as Ryan Braun\'s Graffito, an Italianrestaurant.[242] In July 2012, Braun teamed up with Green Bay Packersquarterback Aaron Rodgers to open a restaurant, 8-Twelve, in Brookfield, Wisconsin.

Braun lost endorsement deals with Kwik Trip and Nike in 2013 after hewas suspended for using performance-enhancing drugs. In September, SURGRestaurant Group, which manages Ryan Braun\'s Graffito Restaurant and 8-TwelveMVP Bar & Grill, announced that it will end its relationship withBraun.[243]

.