Craig Counsell Retires from Brewers, will join Front Office
By: Nick Goddard
Updated: January 20, 2012
MILWAUKEE (Milwaukee Brewers) - The Milwaukee Brewers today named Craig Counsell Special Assistant to the General Manager. The announcement was made by Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Melvin.
Counsell will be introduced this afternoon at a 1:30 CT press conference in the media interview room at Miller Park.
"We are pleased to have Craig join our organization in a very significant role," said Melvin. "His knowledge of how to play the game along with his work ethic and passion to see the Brewers succeed will now be utilized and welcomed by our front office."
Counsell, 41, completed his 15th Major League season as a player in 2011. He owns a career .255 batting average in 1,623 games with Colorado (1995, '97), Florida (1997-99), Los Angeles (1999), Arizona (2000-03, '05-06) and Milwaukee (2004, '07-11). He played on four teams that qualified for the postseason, including World Series championships with Florida (1997) and Arizona (2001). He was named Most Valuable Player of the 2001 National League Championship Series after batting .381 in the Diamondbacks' five-game victory against Atlanta.
"I am excited to begin a new challenge in baseball," said Counsell. "I look forward to contributing in any way I can to the success of an organization that has been a special part my life for many years."
Counsell follows in the footsteps of his father, John, who worked in the Milwaukee front office as Director of the Speakers Bureau from 1979-85 and Director of Community Relations from 1986-87 following a five-year playing career as an outfielder in the Twins organization (1964-68).
Counsell, a 1988 graduate of Whitefish Bay High School, currently resides in that same town with his wife, Michelle, their sons, Brady and Jack, and daughters, Finley and Rowan.
