Earlier this year, the baseball world and the Milwaukee Brewers family mourned the loss of the legendary Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Uecker, who passed away at the age of 90. His indelible impact on the game and the community is still felt, but as baseball teaches us, the game must go on.
Sadly, the Brewers are once again in mourning after news surfaced today of the passing of Jason Conti, a former Brewer who played with the team in 2003. Conti’s life was tragically cut short at just 50 years old.
While Conti might not be a household name among Brewers fans, he did make his mark during the 2003 season, appearing in 30 games. During his time with the Brewers, Conti posted a batting line of .229/.255/.396, including two home runs and seven RBIs.
Conti’s journey to Milwaukee began when he was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 32nd round of their inaugural 1996 amateur draft class. He made his MLB debut with the Diamondbacks in 2000 and was part of the roster during their 2001 World Series-winning season, appearing in five games that year.
In a post-2001 season trade, Conti was sent to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Mike Difelice, another player with ties to the Brewers. The Brewers acquired Conti themselves in March 2003, trading Javier Valentin to seal the deal.
Conti’s major league career wrapped up with the Texas Rangers in 2004, marking the end of his on-field journey in the big leagues.
The news of Conti’s passing surfaced through an Instagram post by Kevin Kramer, a former player for the Pittsburgh Pirates and a college teammate of Conti’s. The post revealed that Conti had suffered a severe brain injury a few weeks ago, which ultimately led to his passing.
Conti’s story is a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of life and the cherished memories that those around the baseball world hold on to, both the celebrated and the quietly treasured moments.
