Fenway Park has long been a haven for hustling, gritty ballplayers and hardball cult heroes, and one of Boston's most beloved will make his triumphant return this weekend when the Brewers visit for an interleague series.

Gabe Kapler left a job managing within the Red Sox organization this season and signed with the Milwaukee Brewers as a free agent outfielder.

There were unsubstantiated reports of ruffled feathers within the Red Sox organization when the intense Kapler left managing after a period of contemplation, but Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein had nothing but positives when asked about his former Class A Greenville Drive skipper.

"Gabe was a valuable role player for us, but he was also a great teammate and important part of our clubhouse," wrote Epstein in an e-mail. "He and we thought managing in our system was a great landing spot for him, but it turned out to be just part of the journey. We will always wish him the best."

The 32-year-old rekindled the playing portion of his journey this spring, and opened the 2008 season as one of the Brew Crew's hottest hitters. But he has since reverted to fourth-outfielder status as injured players have returned to the Brewers lineup and center fielder Mike Cameron is back from his season-opening suspension.

Kapler's former teammates are looking forward to his return to Fenway in his first visit since his stint with the Red Sox.

"To have the start he's had (with the Brewers) after not playing for a year is a testament to what a great athlete he is," Sox catcher Jason Varitek said. "I'm just excited because I think the fans should really go bananas when they see him come back."

Kapler is hitting .273 with four home runs and 13 RBIs -- greater total offensive production than Sox third baseman Mike Lowell this season -- but is remembered best around Sox quarters for the unflinching warrior spirit he carried with him to the Sox clubhouse each and every day.

Kapler would sit on the bench for days -- and sometimes weeks -- on end, and then compete with gusto on the base paths, in the outfield and in the batter's box whenever his opportunities arose. Kapler's best season with the Sox came in 2004 when he hit .272 with six home runs and 33 RBIs. He clearly injected his intensity into the team's overall makeup.

"He is my all-time favorite teammate and one of my favorite people to play baseball with," said Varitek, who formed a tight bond with players like Kapler, Kevin Millar and Johnny Damon during the Sox's first World Series title run. "I love the way he plays and attacks the game. He's just Kap. The only thing that's tough is that I hope he doesn't play well until the next series."

It's virtually impossible that Kapler's big personality won't have an effect on the three-game set, one way or another.

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