After seeing 23 games with the Brewers the year before, Matt Mieske expressed confidence in making the big club for longer going into 1994, according to The La Crosse Tribune.
"They know what I'm capable of," Mieske told The Tribune that March. "I can play all three outfield positions, and I can hit for power. I'm not going to hit as many home runs as (Greg) Vaughnie, but I'm going to get my share."
Mieske did make the Brewers that year - and the majors each year over the six seasons after that. By the end of his career, he'd seen time in eight big league campaigns and hit 56 home runs.
Mieske's career began in 1990, taken by the Padres in the 17th round of the draft out of Western Michigan University.
Mieske started with the Padres at short-season Spokane. He hit .340 over 76 games, with 12 home runs. He played 1991 at high-A High Desert, then moved to the Brewers in the Gary Sheffield trade.
Mieske played 1992 at AAA Denver and started 1993 at AAA New Orleans. He then debuted in Milwaukee in May 1993. He saw 23 games and hit .241.
Mieske then saw 84 games with the Brewers in 1994, 117 in 1995 and a career-high 127 in 1996. He hit .278 in 1996, with 14 home runs.
That May, Brewers manager Phil Garner praised his starter Mieske to The Wisconsin State Journal.
"He's making pitchers work and giving himself the best possible chance to get on base," Garner told The Journal. "Matt has some power, but he's not taking himself out of at-bats by fishing for bad pitches."
After playing 1997 back with Milwaukee, Mieske played 1998 with the Cubs. He hit .299 in 77 games. He then played 1999 between Seattle and Houston, then 2000 between Houston and Arizona.
Mieske ended with a career .262 average in 663 major league games played.
In 2013, Mieske was inducted into a local Michigan Hall of Fame and he spoke about his career.
"I can honestly say looking back that I left everything I had on the field," Mieske said, according to MLive.com. "I have no regrets, and that's a blessing."
- La Crosse Tribune, March 22, 1994: Mieske eager to make some noise in Brewers' lineup
- Wisconsin State Journal, May 9, 1996: Mieske flourishing in starting role
- MLive.com, Jan. 27, 2013: No regrets: former major leaguer Matt Mieske talks memorable at-bats
Made the Majors:1,343-33.2%-X
Never Made Majors:2,699-66.8%
5+ Seasons in the Majors:548-X
10+ Seasons in the Minors:333
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