I knew this day would come at some point this winter. The longer the whole process of Prince Fielder signing with another team was one I had come to grips with dating back to the 2010 season when I gave him a standing O in what I thought was his final game at Miller Park then. The news today he has signed with the Detroit Tigers for $214 million over nine years made it real. He will not be climbing out of the dugout at Miller Park this season.
Was there a Brewers player in the last seven years more exciting to watch? It would be hard to argue against a guy that averaged 40 home runs and 113 RBIs while playing no less than 157 games per season while he was the every day first baseman over the last five years. In his somewhat short time here he at or among the team leaders in single season statistical categories that include extra-base hits (tied with Robin Yount with 87 in 2007), walks (114 in 2010), home runs (his 50 in 2007 in first and 46 in 2009 is second) and RBIs (141 in 2009). For his career, his 230 home runs ranks him second all-time behind just Robin Yount's 250. Take a look at the stats on MLB.com to remember Prince in a Brewers jersey for a little bit longer.
It has been a good ride Prince. I will miss you. The Beastmode this year was the funnest thing surrounding this team in a long time and you made the Keg jump and jive. All of us in Brewer Nation will miss you. But I'm not mad at you. As someone who is searching for a new job that pays more I respect you did it your way and got what you deserved. I'll always be cheering for you, except when you play against my beloved Brewers. When you make your first trip to Miller Park, I will lead the standing ovation. You were part of the revival of baseball in this town and as a fan I thank you for that.
To remember all of your greatness, let's take a trip down memory lane and check out some of your greatest moments as a Brewer. Oh what fun it has been.
The date was June 25, 2005. It will go down as a great day in Brewers history when the Prince made his debut and hit his first of 230 home runs as a member of the Brewers. Oh, Rickie Weeks hit his first career long ball that day, too. Check the vid, here.
On September 25, 2007 Prince showed what he was capable of by becoming the first Brewer and youngest player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs in a season. I have a bobblehead commemorating that moment.
One of those 50 was a bit unorthodox as it was of the inside-the-park variety at the Metrodome against the Twins. Yes, the big guy could move it around the bases when he had to. He has two inside-the-park homers for his career. Check it out, here.
Prince has hit his share of walkoff homers. I'm pretty sure few compare to the one that led to the "bomb celebration" at home plate. I was at this game. Yes, AWESOME is about the right word. Would have been better had I won the $50 or so in the pass the cap, but I'll take the moment.
He set the Brewers RBI record on Sept. 19, 2009. It came with a sacrifice fly, but helped him on his way to 141 RBIs that season. Still impressive.
The big guy was huge on the national stage. In 2010 he won the home run derby.
Then in 2011, he had the biggest shot in the actual All-Star Game. Yes our mighty Prince was showing he was ready for the big stage.
The three home runs you hit on Sept. 27 last season against the Pirates help lock up the NL Central crown. Yeah, he had to carry the team at times. But he was good for it.
For those that said the big guy couldn't do it in the playoffs, he made a difference in Game 1 of the NLCS. Possibly his biggest postseason performance.
One final look at Prince's final at-bat as a Brewer, as seen from Section 223, Row 6, Seat 7.
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