Reporting from Milwaukee — Hall of Famer Robin Yount grew up in Woodland Hills, playing at Sunrise Little League and Taft High. He said he did not get to Dodger Stadium all that often as a kid, apparently by choice.
“I was a Giant fan,” Yount said. “I didn’t really care for the Dodgers all that much.”
Yount, who threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 7 of the National League Championship Series on Saturday, played his 20-year career with the Milwaukee Brewers. He was 27 when he played in the 1982 World Series. The Brewers — then in the American League — lost to the St. Louis Cardinals, and he never made another postseason appearance.
He nearly joined the Angels as a free agent after the 1989 season, courted by founding owner Gene Autry. Yount, already a two-time most valuable player, ultimately decided to return to the Brewers, then owned by future commissioner Bud Selig, for what was then considered a lavish deal: three years, $9.6 million.
“It was the right thing to do at that point in my career,” Yount said. “Mr. Selig convinced me that it was the right thing to do. The fans of this community and Wisconsin convinced me it was the right thing to do.
“And, as bad as I wanted to go chase that ring, after I had made the decision to stay, I knew it was the right thing to do.”
Yount played through the 1993 season and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999. The Angels did not post a winning record in any season from 1990 to 1993 while the Brewers recorded two, but never advanced to the playoffs.
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Dodgers Yasiel Puig celebrates with Manny Machado in locker room after capturing the National League Championship Series. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times )
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Dodgers Yasiel Puig celebrates in locker room after Dodgers defeated Brewers 5-1. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times / )
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Dodgers celebrate in the locker room after winning game seven of the National League Championship Series. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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The Dodgers celebrate a 5-1 win over the Brewers in game seven. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers celebrate after capturing game seven of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times / )
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The Dodgers pose for pictures after beating the Brewers in game seven of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times / )
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Dodgers Clayton Kershaw celebrate with teammates after defeating the Brewers 5-1 in game 7 at Miller Park. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times )
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David Freese’s baby crawls over the NLCS logo as the team celebrates a 5-1 win over the Brewers. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers Clayton Kershaw kisses his daughter after game seven. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Joc Pederson celebrates with Dodgers teammates after beating the Brewers 5-1 in game sevem. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers Clayton Kershaw celebrates following the National League Championship Series. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times / )
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Yasiel Puig and Clayton Kershaw celebrate a 5-1 win over the Brewers in game seven. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers Manny Machado celebrate after game seven of the National League Championship Series. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times / )
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Brewers shortstop Orlando Arcia tags Kiké Hernandez who is caught stealing in the seventh inning in game seven. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers Yasiel Puig celebrates after hitting a three run homer in the sixth inning. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers Yasiel Puig celebrates with teammates after hitting a three run homer in the sixth inning. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Yasiel Puig celebrates after hitting a three run homer in the sixth inning. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Yasiel Puig is pumped after hitting a three run homer in the sixth inning (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers Yasiel Puig celebrates after hitting a three run homerun in the 6th inning. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers Yasiel Puig celebrates with Max Muncy after hitting a three run home run in the 6th inning. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times )
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Dodgers left fielder Chris Taylor celebrates after catching a drive by Brewers Christian Yelich in the 5th inning. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times )
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Dodgers relief pitcher Juan Urias throws in the fifth inning. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times )
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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts pats Walker Buehler after taking him out of the game in the fifth inning. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times / )
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Dodgers Walker Buehler lays down a bunt as Brewers catcher Erik Kratz looks on in the 5th inning. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times / )
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Yasiel Puig misses a fourth inning double by Brewers second baseman Travis Shaw. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Brewer fans cheer on the home team during game seven. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times / )
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Walker Buehler readies himself for the next batter during a budding Brewers rally in the second inning. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers Yasiel Puig celebrates hitting a second-inning double. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Cody Bellinger celebrates with Yasiel Puig after hitting a second inning, two run homer. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Cody Bellinger flexes his muscle as he rounds the bases on a second inning, two run homer. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers Cody Bellinger celebrates with Manny Machado after hitting a two run homerun the second inning. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times / )
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As Brewers first baseman, Jesus Aquilar, looks on, Dodgers Cody Bellinger rounds first base after hitting a two-run home run in the second inning. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times )
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Dodgers Cody Bellinger tosses the bat after hitting a two run home run in the second inning. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times )
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Dodgers Cody Bellinger watches his towering home run in the second inning. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times )
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Dodgers Max Muncy is out at second base as Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Travis Shaw throw to first to complete the double play in the first inning. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times )
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Fans take photos with Manny Machado before Game 7. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Milwaukee Brewers Christian Yelich celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo homerun in the first inning. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times )
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Yasiel Puig can’t reach a first inning homer by Christian Yelich. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Chorizo Sausage glances at a follower as the rest of the famous racing sausages head to the main level of Miller Park before Game 7. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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With the Dodgers looking on, Milwaukee Brewers Christian Yelich celebrates after hitting a solo homerun in the first inning. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times )
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Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw works out before the start of Game 7 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on Saturday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers pitchers Pedro Baez and Julio Urías head to the clubhouse after pregame warmups. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
“We’re not like some of the biggest franchises that experience this stuff a little more than we have over Brewer history,” Yount said. “So when a team is this good and plays this well in the playoff atmosphere, we’re all excited. I’m as excited as anybody.”
Yasmani Grandal sits again
Yasmani Grandal began the postseason as the Dodgers’ clear starting catcher. He was their primary catcher for the entire season, leaving the struggling Austin Barnes as his backup. But Barnes seized the starting role during the NLCS after Grandal’s dismal performance on offense and defense, and didn’t relinquish it.
Grandal entered Saturday three for 24 with 11 strikeouts, two passed balls and two errors in the series. He last started in Game 3.
Barnes made his third consecutive start and fourth of the series Saturday after not appearing in the National League Division Series against Atlanta. Manager Dave Roberts said he considered giving the nod to Grandal, who had generated chemistry with starter Walker Buehler, but stuck with Barnes.
“It was a tough one,” Roberts said before the game. “Yasmani has been our starting catcher all year long. And, Walker, they’ve had success together. But I just feel right now the way that Austin is receiving, sync’d with our guys as far as game planning, I just feel that this, for one game right now, today, gives us the best chance.”
Yasiel Puig moves up more lists
Yasiel Puig passed Davey Lopes for sole possession of fifth place on the Dodgers all-time postseason hits list with his double against Jhoulys Chacin in the second inning Saturday. The double was Puig’s 44th playoff hit. Pee Wee Reese is next up on the list with 47. Steve Garvey is tops in franchise history with 63.
Four innings later, he hit a three-run home run to surpass Duke Snider for fifth in runs with 22. Puig is also first in franchise history in games played (53).
jorge.castillo@latimes.com
Twitter: @jorgecastillo
