'It means the world to me': Brewers slugger Ryan Braun officially retires during ceremony at American Family Field
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Longtime Milwaukee Brewer Ryan Braun was greeted by a raucous crowd as he appeared before fans for his official retirement ceremony from baseball on Sunday, Sept. 26, at American Family Field.
The thunderous welcome was a nice return to normalcy for Braun, who's last appearance at the ballpark was while playing in front of an empty ball park in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ryan Braun steps to the podium. Before speaking he took a moment and looked around the stadium. He played all of 2020 without Brewers fans in the stands pic.twitter.com/5yyW4jpE61
— Darius Joshua (@DariusJoshuaTV) September 26, 2021
Braun spent his entire, illustrious 14-year career with the Brewers with many special moments inside that building.
The six-time All Star was the 2011 National League MVP and 2007 NL Rookie of the Year.
It’s fitting that Ryan Braun said the “series of moments” that he will reflect on involve the various times clinching a postseason berth or division title as the Brewers have that chance today. Tons of family, friends and former teammates in hand for his retirement ceremony pic.twitter.com/de9PVK7UNp
— Darius Joshua (@DariusJoshuaTV) September 26, 2021
The longtime fan favorite for many Brewers fans retires as the all-time franchise leader in home runs, and is in the top five in 11 other categories including hits, runs and RBIs.
Braun: It’s been a phenomenal 14 years in Milwaukee, it’s my second home pic.twitter.com/SrsCjLn65O
— Darius Joshua (@DariusJoshuaTV) September 26, 2021
Braun said he's proud he was proud that his accomplishments and career happenedall in one place.
"It means the world to me," Braun said. "I said it before, but I feel very incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to have spent my entire career here. For my family and I to be very immersed in this community, to have had the opportunity to use my platform to positively impact so many peoples lives in this community and hopefully remain a part of this community. It's very rare for any athlete to have that chance, so I feel incredibly fortunate and incredibly blessed that it turned out the way it did."
During Braun's 14 years in Milwaukee, The Brewers made the postseason five times, including an NL Central title in 2018.
Ryan Braun's first pitch was just a littleee off the plate. I was going to say they could use his bat down 1-0, but Adames two run homer in the first gives the Brewers a 2-1 lead through one pic.twitter.com/Swusj15u0Q
— Darius Joshua (@DariusJoshuaTV) September 26, 2021