From Halls of Taft High to Hall of Fame

Unassuming by nature, unsung for much of his 20-year career with the Milwaukee Brewers, Robin Yount is beloved by the people of that city because he is a reflection of them.

But Yount, who retired in 1993 and is expected to be elected into the Hall of Fame when he becomes eligible in 1998, spent his formative years in Woodland Hills.

Yount played shortstop at Taft High, graduating in 1973 after being named City Section Player of the Year, and was playing for a Woodland Hills American Legion team when he was signed by scout Gordon Goldsberry after being the Brewers’ first-round draft pick.

Sporting long, curly locks of sandy-brown hair and a relaxed playing style, Yount spent only one season in the minors and became the Brewers’ starting shortstop in 1974 at age 18.

Twenty years later, he had quietly amassed some of the most impressive numbers in baseball history. Yount is one of only five players to have more than 11,000 at-bats (Pete Rose, Hank Aaron, Carl Yastrzemski and Ty Cobb are the others), and he ranks among the top 20 in hits, total bases, singles, doubles and games played.

He was named American League most valuable player in 1982 and 1989, becoming the third player to be named MVP at two different positions. Yount moved to the outfield after recovering from shoulder surgery in 1985.

Yount, 41, serves as the Brewers’ outfield instructor during spring training and eventually plans to become a full-time coach. For now, he is taking it easy, living in the Phoenix suburb of Paradise Valley with his wife, Michele, and their four children, Melisa, 17; Amy, 15; Dustin, 13; and Jenna, 9.

Yount’s parents, Philip and Marion, and two older brothers, Jim and Larry, also live in the Phoenix area. Larry Yount, 47, pitched in the Houston Astros organization for eight seasons and made an appearance in one major league game.