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Baseball America’s National Freshman of the Year at the University of Miami in 2003, Ryan Braun was a two-time All-American. His collegiate performance convinced the Brewers to select him as the fifth overall pick in the 2005 MLB draft.

He continued his success as a professional. In 2006 Braun was Milwaukee’s Minor League Player of the Year. The following season he took the big leagues by storm. The National League leader in slugging percentage in 2007, Braun was named the Senior Circuit’s Rookie of the Year.

In his first six big seasons in Milwaukee Braun hit .313, averaging 34 homers and 107 RBI per season. He received MVP consideration each year.

An All Star and Silver Slugger Award winner every season from 2008-2012, Braun was the NL MVP in 2011. That season he established career highs in batting average (.332), on-base percentage (.397), OPS+ (166), and WAR (7.7).

Things quickly changed. In October of 2011 Braun failed a baseball drug test. Though his lawyers successfully appealed the results, many doubted that Braun was clean.

He responded with an outstanding season in 2012. Braun led the league in runs (108), homers (41), OPS (.987), and total bases (356). He also swiped enough bags to post his second consecutive 30-homer/30-stolen base campaign. The Brewers left fielder finished second to Giants catcher Buster Posey in MVP balloting.

In 2013 his career took a dark turn. A rejuvenation clinic called Biogenesis of America came under scrutiny for supplying big leaguers with performance-enhancing drugs.

In July of that year, Braun admitted that his 2011 test for PEDs was accurate. As a result of the Biogenesis scandal thirteen players including Alex Rodriguez, Nelson Cruz, and Braun were handed suspensions.

Milwaukee fans continued to embrace Braun who was roundly booed in stadiums across the county.

Braun continued to produce. On August 19, 2015 he hit the 252nd career homer. The hit pushed Braun past Robin Yount to the #1 spot on the Brewers franchise home run leaderboard. It was 22 years to the day after Yount hit his 251st and final career bomb.

With 25 homers and 84 RBI, Braun made the last of his six all star teams in 2015. The next season he had his final 30-homer season.

By 2017 Bruan’s big league career began to wind down. That year he was inducted into the University of Miami’s Sports Hall of Fame.

A Rookie of the Year, MVP, six-time All Star, and five-time Silver Slugger, Braun played his final MLB game on September 27, 2020.

His final career statistics include 352 homers, passed the 1,000 mark in both runs scored and RBI. The California native boasts a lifetime WAR of 47.1 and a career OPS+ of 134.

Under normal circumstances Braun’s trophy case and numbers might put him in the Cooperstown conversation. Instead they serve as tainted accomplishments achieved during baseball’s steroid era.

In the collection is the official document from Major League Baseball. Braun’s father Joe signs the bottom for his son to collect a 2011 All Star ring during his MVP season.