Teddy Higuera to be inducted into Miller Park Walk of Fame
The Milwaukee Brewers today announced that pitcher Teddy Higuera will be honored this season as he has been voted as the newest member of the Miller Park Walk of Fame. A total of 32 votes were cast and Higuera received 25 votes (78.1%), exceeding the threshold of 65% needed for election.
Higuera fell just two votes shy of election last year.
A lifetime Brewer, Higuera played nine seasons with the team. He started his career in 1985 and went 15-8 with a 3.90 ERA with 127 strikeouts, while finishing as the American League runner-up for Rookie of the Year. The following season, Higuera posted a 20 win season, going 20-11 with a 2.79 ERA, with 207 strikeouts and 17 complete games. He earned All-Star honors and finished second on the Cy Young Award ballot. Higuera followed his success by setting the franchise record for strikeouts in a season with 240 in 1987, as he went 18-10 with a 3.85 ERA. He went 94-64 with 3.61 ERA in his career, and currently ranks third among franchise leaders in career wins and strikeouts (1,081).
"We are thrilled to honor Teddy Higuera with a plaque on the Miller Park Walk of Fame," said Brewers Chief Operating Officer Rick Schlesinger. "Teddy was a lifetime Brewer, and he still ranks among franchise leaders in many pitching statistics. Just as important, though, is that he's always been an engaging personality and a terrific representative of those who have worn the Brewers uniform. We look forward to his return to Milwaukee and the opportunity to recognize his achievements with a permanent marker at Miller Park."
Higuera will travel to Milwaukee and be recognized for the honor in a pre-game ceremony on Friday, August 14 as the Brewers face the Phillies at 7:10 pm.
Joe Adcock (20 votes) and Mike Caldwell (17) were the closest to qualifying among eligible former players and coaches.
There were a total of 29 Brewers players and seven Braves players on the ballot. The ballots included on-field personnel who wore a Brewers or Braves uniform for a minimum of three seasons but have been retired from playing/managing roles for at least three seasons. All players and managers receiving votes on at least 5% of the ballots will remain eligible in 2016.
Past inductees include Hank Aaron, Rollie Fingers, Paul Molitor, Robin Yount in 2001; Commissioner Bud Selig and Cecil Cooper in 2002; Bob Uecker and Harry Dalton in 2003; Jim Gantner and Gorman Thomas in 2004; Don Money and Harvey Kuenn in 2005; Eddie Mathews, Warren Spahn and John Quinn in 2007 (the first year that former Braves players appeared on the ballot); Lew Burdette in 2010 and Johnny Logan in 2013.
Each inductee is honored with a granite plaque that is placed into the terrace area walkway that surrounds Miller Park. The full results are as follows:
Brewers:
LAST | FIRST | VOTES | PERCENTAGE |
Augustine | Jerry | 2 | 6.3% |
Bamberger | George | 15 | 46.9% |
Bando | Sal | 7 | 21.9% |
Branyan | Russell | 0 | 0.0% |
Caldwell | Mike | 17 | 53.1% |
Castro | Bill | 4 | 12.5% |
Cirillo | Jeff | 10 | 31.3% |
Counsell | Craig | 5 | 15.6% |
Davis | Doug | 0 | 0.0% |
DiFelice | Mark | 0 | 0.0% |
Garner | Phil | 1 | 3.1% |
Helms | Wes | 0 | 0.0% |
Higuera | Teddy | 25 | 78.1% |
Hisle | Larry | 4 | 12.5% |
Jenkins | Geoff | 16 | 50.0% |
Lezcano | Sixto | 4 | 12.5% |
Loretta | Mark | 8 | 25.0% |
Moore | Charlie | 5 | 15.6% |
Oglivie | Ben | 14 | 43.8% |
Plesac | Dan | 10 | 31.3% |
Rivera | Mike | 0 | 0.0% |
Schroeder | Bill | 3 | 9.4% |
Scott | George | 12 | 37.5% |
Simmons | Ted | 11 | 34.4% |
Slaton | Jim | 10 | 31.8% |
Stetter | Mitch | 0 | 0.0% |
Sveum | Dale | 4 | 13.80% |
Vaughn | Greg | 7 | 24.10% |
Vuckovich | Pete | 13 | 44.80% |
Braves:
LAST | FIRST | VOTES | PERCENTAGE |
Adcock | Joe | 20 | 62.5% |
Bruton | William | 2 | 6.3% |
Buhl | Robert | 6 | 18.8% |
Crandall | Del | 8 | 25.0% |
Haney | Fred | 6 | 18.8% |
Mantilla | Felix | 2 | 6.3% |
Pafko | Andy | 5 | 15.6% |