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A
largely unheralded performer, Paul
Molitor received due recognition by
challenging baseball's great hitting
streaks in 1987. A solidly built
righthander with especially strong
legs but weak hamstrings, Molitor
overcame two trips to the disabled
list in 1987 to lead the
American League in runs scored
(114) and doubles (41) while
finishing second in the batting race
(.353). His hit streak was the talk
of baseball when it ended at 39
games. The Brewers were 76-41 with
him in the lineup, 22-23 without...Book
Paul Molitor for Your Event
Molitor
was TSN AL Rookie of the Year
in 1978, playing shortstop (while
Robin Yount was injured) and
second base. Voted into the 1980
All-Star Game at second base,
Molitor moved to centerfield in
1981, then to right after surgery
repaired torn left ankle ligaments.
He moved to third base in 1982 and
played brilliantly in the regular
season, with a league-high and
club-record 136 runs scored, and in
the postseason, including a
World Series-record five hits in
one game. Another severe setback was
a 1984 elbow injury that required
surgery. He was Milwaukee's Comeback
Player of the Year in 1985. The
leadoff batter's prime position
since 1982 was third base, but he
was also used extensively as a
designated hitter, not because of
any fielding deficiency but to
protect him from injury.
In 1998, in his last season as an
active player, Molitor won the
Branch Rickey Award, which is given
to major league players for their
community service, and the Lou
Gehrig Memorial Award, which goes to
someone who best exemplifies the
giving character of the onetime
Yankees first baseman. Since he left
the field as an active player,
Molitor has worked as a Twins
broadcaster in 1999, the Twins'
bench coach in 2000 and 2001, the
Twins' roving minor league
baserunning and infield coordinator
in 2003, and, most recently, was
named the hitting coach for the
Seattle Mariners prior to the 2004
season. The Brewers retired his
uniform No. 4 in 1999.
Molitor was inducted in Cooperstown
in 2004.
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