Darrell Porter is far more known for his work with the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals, but he would get his start in Milwaukee, where he was a former fourth overall pick. 

After minor league apprenticeship, Porter peaked in 1973 with 16 homers, 67 RBI, and a .363 OBP, finishing third in Rookie of the Year. He gained wider recognition in 1974 with 104 hits and his first All-Star selection. In 1975, he hit a career-high 18 homers and drew 89 walks, second in the American League.

Following the 1976 season, the Brewers reshaped their core with a five-player trade on December 6, sending Porter and Jim Colborn to the Royals. He reached new heights in Kansas City and St. Louis, famously returning to Milwaukee in the 1982 World Series as Series MVP to haunt his former club, but his foundation was built at County Stadium.

Porter compiled 391 hits, 54 home runs, and a .346 on-base percentage as a Brewer.

A left-handed outfielder who had been a bench piece for the powerhouse Orioles, Dave May was traded to Milwaukee in May of 1971, and the move proved beneficial to both parties.

May’s time as a Brewer was truly remarkable, marking a peak in his career during the expansion era. After establishing himself as a solid player between 1971 and 1972, 1973 became a standout year for him. That summer, he delivered an outstanding season, batting .303 and hitting a career-high 25 home runs. He led the American League in Total Bases (295) and Win Probability Added (WPA), and totaled 189 hits. His impressive performance earned him an All-Star selection, and he finished eighth in the MVP voting, reaching a true highlight of individual achievement.

Although he was a key part of the young franchise's foundation, his first Milwaukee chapter came to a close when he was traded to the Atlanta Braves. This trade marked a historic moment in baseball, as May was the main player exchanged for the legendary Hank Aaron, bringing "The Hammer" back home to Milwaukee to finish his career.

May returned to Milwaukee via trade from the Rangers to provide veteran leadership during the club's first pennant push. Used in a specialized, high-leverage bench role, he reached 652 hits with the Brewers before a late-August trade to Pittsburgh ended his time in the American League.  A member of the Brewers Wall of Honor, May had 652 hits, 83 home runs, and a .267 batting average.

Lary Sorensen debuted in Milwaukee in 1977 as an eighth-round draft pick from the University of Michigan, rapidly ascending through the system to become a foundational arm in the Brewers' rotation.

After a strong rookie debut, Sorensen truly shone during the 1978 season. It was a remarkable year for him, finishing with an 18-12 record and a career-low 3.21 ERA. He ranked second in the American League for walks per nine innings with just 1.6, and came in fifth in complete games with 17. This season also brought him well-deserved recognition, as he was chosen for the All-Star team. During the game, he impressively retired nine straight National League hitters, including legends like Pete Rose and Joe Morgan, during his three innings of pitching.

Between 1979 and 1980, he was a mainstay in the rotation, with back-to-back seasons of at least 12 wins. He showed command of the strike zone, finishing in the top ten in BB/9 both years and leading with 24 complete games. His 'rubber arm’ enabled him to average over 230 innings per season during his peak.

In December of 1980, the Brewers finalized a massive seven-player blockbuster trade with the St. Louis Cardinals. Sorensen was the primary starting pitcher sent to St. Louis in exchange for a package that brought Hall of Famers Rollie Fingers and Ted Simmons, along with Pete Vuckovich, to Milwaukee.  Sorensen was honored by the Wall of Fame and as a Brewer, and had a 52-46 record, a 3.74 ERA, and 50 complete games for the squad.

Jim Colborn arrived in Milwaukee in late 1971 via a trade that sent Brock Davis to the Brewers for Jose Cardenal. Initially a versatile pitcher in Chicago, he became the Brewers’ first true pitching star during the expansion era.

After a strong transition year in 1972, Colborn truly shone in 1973. That season, he created a memorable campaign that became a key part of the franchise's history, becoming the first Brewers pitcher to win 20 games. He finished with a 20-12 record, a 3.18 ERA, and completed 22 games, second most in the league. His achievements earned him an All-Star spot and placed him sixth in the Cy Young Award voting, highlighting his growing recognition and success.

Between 1974 and 1976, he was a key player, consistently pitching many innings. Although he didn’t reach his 1973 20-win peak, he had a notable 1974 season with 10 wins and led the staff with 229 innings.  After the 1976 season, Colborn was traded to Kansas City.  He would later be honored in the Brewes Wall of Honor, and stat-wise, he had a 54-60 record, a 3.65 ERA, and 410 strikeouts.