The
Milwaukee Brewers are a professional
baseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The goal is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot square, or diamond...
team based in Milwaukee,
WisconsinWisconsin is one of the fifty U.S. states. Located in the north-central United States, Wisconsin is considered part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the...
, currently playing in the
Central DivisionThe National League Central Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. It was created in 1994, merging two teams from the West and three teams from the East divisions of the National League. In 1998 it became the largest division in Major League Baseball, with the addition of a...
of
Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. Specifically, Major League Baseball refers to the organization that operates the National League and the American League, by means of a joint organizational structure that has developed gradually between...
's
National LeagueThe National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league...
. The team is named for the city's association with the
brewingBrewing is the production of alcoholic beverages and alcohol fuel through fermentation. The term is used for the production of beer, although the word "brewing" is also used to describe the fermentation process used to create wine and mead. It can also refer to the process of producing sake and soy...
industry and plays its home games at Miller Park.
Originating in Seattle,
WashingtonWashington is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Washington was carved out of the western part of Washington Territory which had been ceded by Britain in 1846 by the Oregon Treaty as settlement of the Oregon Boundary Dispute. It was admitted to the Union as the...
, as the
Seattle Pilots, the club played for one season in before being acquired in bankruptcy court by current MLB Commissioner
Bud SeligAllan Huber "Bud" Selig is the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, having served in that capacity since 1992 as the acting commissioner, and as the official commissioner since 1998...
and then moved to Milwaukee. The Brewers were part of the
American LeagueThe American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, that eventually aspired to major league...
from their creation as an expansion club in 1969 through the season, after which they moved to the
National League CentralThe National League Central Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. It was created in 1994, merging two teams from the West and three teams from the East divisions of the National League. In 1998 it became the largest division in Major League Baseball, with the addition of a...
Division.
In , Milwaukee won the American League East Division and the American League Pennant, earning their only
World SeriesThe World Series has been the annual championship series of the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada since 1903, concluding the postseason of Major League Baseball...
appearance to date. In the
SeriesThe 1982 World Series matched the St. Louis Cardinals against the Milwaukee Brewers, with the Cardinals winning in seven games.The Cardinals won the National League East division by three games over the Philadelphia Phillies, then defeated the Atlanta Braves, three games to none, in the National...
, they lost to the
St. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals 1982 season was the team's 101st season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 91st season in the National League. Making up for the previous year's near-miss, the Cardinals went 92-70 during the season and won their first-ever National League East Division title by three games over...
, four games to three.
In , the Brewers achieved their first postseason berth in the 26 years since their World Series appearance as the
wildcardThe wild card was established for Major League Baseball's playoffs in 1994 with the intention of helping the best teams that did not win their division to still have a chance to win the World Series...
team in the National League. They were eliminated in the
NLDSThe 2008 National League Division Series , the opening round of the 2008 National League playoffs, began on Wednesday, October 1 and ended on Sunday, October 5, with the champions of the three NL divisions and one wild card team participating in two best-of-five series. They were:* Chicago Cubs vs...
by the eventual World Series champion
Philadelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies' 2008 season was the 126th season in the history of the franchise. The team finished with a regular season record of 92–70, first in the National League East. In the post-season, the Phillies won the World Series; this was the first major sports championship for...
.
One and done in Seattle (1969)
The Brewers were born at the Major League Baseball winter meetings as the
Seattle Pilots, owned by former
Cleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field . The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
owner
William R. DaleyWilliam R. Daley was a businessman and owner of two franchises in Major League Baseball's American League.He the principal owner of the Cleveland Indians from through . In 1956, Daley purchased Myron H. Wilson's share of the franchise to become owner...
and former
Pacific Coast LeagueThe Pacific Coast League is a minor league baseball league operating in the West, Midwest, and Southeast of the United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League...
president
Dewey SorianoDewey Soriano was the part-owner of the Seattle Pilots baseball team of the American League in , the franchise's only year in Seattle....
. They entered the American League along with the
Kansas City RoyalsThe Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
as part of a hasty round of expansion triggered by the
Kansas City AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the Oakland Coliseum....
' move to Oakland.
SenatorThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the lower house being the House of Representatives. The composition and powers of the Senate and the House are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution . Each U.S state is represented by two senators,...
Stuart SymingtonWilliam Stuart Symington was a businessman and political figure from Missouri. He served as the first Secretary of the Air Force and was a Democratic United States Senator from Missouri .-Education and business career:Symington was born in Amherst, Massachusetts, and grew up in Baltimore, Maryland...
of
MissouriMissouri is a state in the Midwest region of the United States bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. Missouri is the 18th most populous state with a 2008 estimated population of 5,911,605. It comprises 114 counties and one independent city....
had threatened to have baseball's antitrust exemption revoked unless Kansas City was promptly granted another team. They were originally slated to begin play in , but Symington would not accept the prospect of having Kansas City wait three years for another team and pressured MLB to have the Royals and their expansion brethren (the Pilots and the National League's
San Diego PadresThe San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times.The Padres are one of four teams...
and
Montreal ExposThe Montreal Expos is the name of a Major League Baseball team that was located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada from 1969 until the end of the 2004 season, when the team was moved to Washington, D.C. and became the Washington Nationals....
) ready for play in . Until a new stadium (what would become the
KingdomeThe Kingdome was an indoor sports and entertainment arena owned by King County, Washington and located in Seattle, Washington. It was built in 1972–1976 and operated from 1976 until its demolition in 2000...
) was ready, the Pilots would play at
Sick's StadiumSick's Stadium, also known as Sick's Seattle Stadium and later as Sicks' Stadium, was a baseball stadium located in Seattle, Washington's Rainier Valley at the corner of S. McClellan Street and Rainier Avenue S. The site was previously the location of Dugdale Park, a 1913 ballpark that was the home...
, the home of the city's longtime PCL franchise, the
Seattle RainiersThe Seattle Rainiers, originally named the Seattle Indians and also known as the Seattle Angels, were a minor league baseball team in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1906, and from 1919 though 1968...
.
Manager
Joe SchultzJoseph Charles Schultz, Jr. was an American catcher, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. Schultz was the first manager for the Milwaukee Brewers franchise, and the only manager during their lone season as the Seattle Pilots...
actually thought they could finish third in the newly formed, six-team
American League WestThe American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division currently has four teams, but it has had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment...
even though they had been badly outdrafted by the Royals. However, to the surprise of almost no one outside Seattle, the Pilots were terrible. They won their very first game, and then their home opener three days later, but only won five more times in the first month and never recovered. They finished last in the West with a record of 64–98, 33 games out of first.
However, the team's poor play was the least of the Pilots' problems. The team's ownership was badly undercapitalized; Soriano hadn't been able to afford the franchise fee and had to ask Daley to help pay it. In return, Daley got 47 percent of the team's stock—the biggest single share—and became chairman of the board. Also, Sick's Stadium was completely inadequate even as a temporary facility. While a condition of MLB awarding the Pilots to Seattle was that Sicks had to be expanded to 30,000 seats by the start of the
1969 seasonThe 1969 Major League Baseball season is the 69th since the initial co-existence of the American and National Leagues.It was celebrated as the 100th anniversary of professional baseball, honoring the first professional touring baseball team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings...
, only 17,000 seats were ready because of numerous delays. The scoreboard was not even ready until the night before opening day. While it was expanded to 25,000 by June, the added seats had obstructed views. Water pressure was almost nonexistent after the seventh inning, especially with crowds above 10,000. Only 677,000 fans came to see the Pilots that year; they never attracted a crowd even near capacity. Much of the story of that season is told in pitcher
Jim BoutonJames Alan Bouton is a former Major League Baseball player, and author of the controversial baseball book Ball Four, which was a combination diary of his season and memoir of his years with the New York Yankees, Seattle Pilots, and Houston Astros.-Amateur and college career:While attending high...
's classic baseball book,
Ball FourBall Four is a book written by former Major League Baseball pitcher Jim Bouton in . The book talks about Bouton's career with the New York Yankees, the Houston Astros, and primarily his season with the Seattle Pilots...
.
By the end of the 1969 season, the Pilots were almost out of money, and it was obvious they wouldn't survive long enough to move into their new stadium without new ownership. No credible offers surfaced from Seattle interests at first, however. Under these circumstances, Soriano was initially very receptive to an offer from a Milwaukee-based group headed by car salesman
Bud SeligAllan Huber "Bud" Selig is the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, having served in that capacity since 1992 as the acting commissioner, and as the official commissioner since 1998...
. Selig had been a minority owner of the
Milwaukee BravesThe Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From to the present, the Braves have played in Turner Field....
and had led unsuccessful efforts to keep them from moving to Atlanta, and had been working ever since then to bring the majors back to Milwaukee. During Game 1 of the
World SeriesThe 1969 World Series was played between the New York Mets and the Baltimore Orioles, with the Mets prevailing in five games to accomplish one of the greatest upsets in Series history, as that particular Orioles squad was considered to be one of the finest ever...
, Soriano agreed to sell the Pilots to Selig for $10 million to $13 million (depending on the source). Selig would then move the team to Milwaukee. However, under strong pressure from
WashingtonWashington is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Washington was carved out of the western part of Washington Territory which had been ceded by Britain in 1846 by the Oregon Treaty as settlement of the Oregon Boundary Dispute. It was admitted to the Union as the...
state officials, MLB asked Soriano to try to find a local buyer first. Unfortunately, one local deal collapsed when the
Bank of CaliforniaThe Bank of California was opened in San Francisco, California on July 4, 1864, by William Chapman Ralston. It was the first commercial bank in the Western United States, the second-richest bank in the nation, and considered instrumental in developing the American Old West.-History:The ancestor of...
called a loan for startup costs, and another bid was turned down out of concern it would devalue the other teams. With no other credible offers on the table, the owners approved the sale to Selig's group. Selig had already announced plans to rename the team the
Brewers, a name that had been used by past Milwaukee baseball teams dating to the 19th century (most notably by a very successful minor league team that played there from 1902 to 1952). However, legal action kept Selig from formally taking control, and dragged out through the winter.
The matter still hadn't been resolved by the end of spring training, leaving new manager
Dave BristolJames David Bristol is a former manager in Major League Baseball in the 1960s and 1970s. He managed the Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves, and San Francisco Giants during this period....
and the players unsure of where they would play. The team's equipment sat in
Provo, UtahProvo is a city located within the US state of Utah. Currently estimated at 117,592 people, it is the third largest city in Utah and is located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and...
while the drivers awaited word to drive to Seattle or Milwaukee. After the state filed an injunction to stop the sale on March 17, Soriano and the Pilots filed for bankruptcy to forestall any more legal action. After general manager
Marvin MilkesMarvin Milkes was an American front office executive in three professional sports: Major League Baseball, soccer, and hockey...
testified that the Pilots didn't have enough money to pay the players, the bankruptcy judge granted the Pilots' filing on April 1 and ruled the move to Milwaukee in order.
1970–77: Early years in Milwaukee
With less than a week to go before the start of the season, there wasn't nearly enough time to order new uniforms. As a result, the Brewers were forced to replace the Pilots logos with Brewers logos. In fact, the outline of the old Pilots logo was clearly visible on the Brewers' uniforms. They were also forced to assume the Pilots' place in the AL West (where they would stay until 1972, when they moved to the
AL EastThe American League East Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions . Four of its five teams are located in the Eastern United States and one in Eastern Canada...
), forcing them on the longest road trips in baseball.
Under the circumstances, the
Brewers'The Milwaukee Brewers' 1970 season involved the Brewers' finishing 4th in the American League West with a record of 65 wins and 97 losses, 33 games behind the Minnesota Twins in their inaugural season in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.- Relocation to Milwaukee :...
1970 seasonThe 1970 Major League Baseball season was the 70th held between the American and National Leagues. Before the season, the Seattle Pilots relocated to Milwaukee and became the Brewers, thus returning Major League Baseball to Wisconsin for the first time since the relocation of the Milwaukee Braves...
was over before it started, and they finished 65–97 (a one-game improvement over 1969). They would not have a winning season until 1978. Those years, however, were not without their highlights. For instance, in 1973 the team introduced its popular mascot,
Bernie BrewerBernie Brewer is the official mascot for the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team.In late June 1970, when the Brewers were still a new team and having difficulty drawing spectators to their games at Milwaukee County Stadium, Milt Mason, a 69-year-old fan decided to sit atop top the scoreboard until the...
. A year later, the Brewers engineered a trade that brought Hank Aaron back to Milwaukee, a move which gave the team instant credibility. Selig also began acquiring many players that would become long-standing fan favorites, including
Robin YountRobin R. Yount is a former Major League Baseball player who spent his entire career with the Milwaukee Brewers . Yount is a member of The Baseball Hall of Fame.-Baseball career:...
,
Jim GantnerJames Elmer Gantner was a Major League Baseball player who spent his entire career with the Milwaukee Brewers .-Background:...
, Stormin'
Gorman ThomasJames Gorman Thomas III is a former Major League Baseball center fielder and right-handed slugger who played in the American League with the Milwaukee Brewers , Cleveland Indians and Seattle Mariners .One of the most popular players in Brewers history, and affectionately known as "Stormin'...
,
Don MoneyDonald Wayne Money is a former major league baseball player and current minor league manager. Money spent most of his career as a third baseman. He batted and threw right-handed. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies and the Milwaukee Brewers...
, and
Cecil CooperCecil Celester Cooper , nicknamed "Coop," is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball and the former manager of the Houston Astros. From through , Cooper played for the Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers...
.
1978–83: The glory days
The
BrewersThe Milwaukee Brewers' 1978 season involved the Brewers' finishing 3rd in the American League East with a record of 93 wins and 69 losses.- Offseason :...
finally arrived in
1978The 1978 Major League Baseball season saw the New York Yankees defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers to win their second consecutive World Series, and 22nd overall, in a rematch of the prior season's Fall Classic...
, when they won 93 games—a healthy 26-game improvement over 1977. They finished 6.5 games out of first—the first time a Milwaukee-based team had been a factor in a pennant race since the Milwaukee Braves finished second in the National League in 1960. The
next season-Champions:*World Series: Pittsburgh Pirates over Baltimore Orioles ; Willie Stargell, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: None.*National League Championship Series MVP: Willie Stargell...
,
MilwaukeeThe Milwaukee Brewers' 1979 season involved the Brewers' finishing 2nd in the American League East with a record of 95 wins and 66 losses.- Offseason :* December 21, 1978: Steve Lake was purchased from the Orioles by the Milwaukee Brewers....
finished second in the East behind the
Baltimore OriolesThe Baltimore Orioles played baseball in the United States of America. The Orioles finished 1st in the American League East division of Major League Baseball with a record of 102 wins and 57 losses.- A new owner :...
on the strength of their home run power, led by
Cecil CooperCecil Celester Cooper , nicknamed "Coop," is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball and the former manager of the Houston Astros. From through , Cooper played for the Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers...
,
Ben OglivieBenjamin Ambrosio Oglivie Palmer is a former Major League Baseball left fielder for the Boston Red Sox , Detroit Tigers , and the Milwaukee Brewers . He also played two seasons in Japan for the Kintetsu Buffaloes...
(who led the league in homers in 1980 along with
Reggie JacksonReginald Martinez "Reggie" Jackson , nicknamed "Mr. October" for his clutch hitting in the postseason, is a former American Major League Baseball right fielder who played for five different teams from to and currently serves as a special advisor to the New York Yankees...
), and
Gorman ThomasJames Gorman Thomas III is a former Major League Baseball center fielder and right-handed slugger who played in the American League with the Milwaukee Brewers , Cleveland Indians and Seattle Mariners .One of the most popular players in Brewers history, and affectionately known as "Stormin'...
(whose 45 home runs in 1979 was the Brewers' single season home run record, until
Richie SexsonRichmond Lockwood "Richie" Sexson is an American first baseman. Standing at 6 feet 8 inches tall, he is the tallest position player in the history of Major League Baseball.-High school career:...
tied the mark in both 2001 and 2003;
Prince FielderPrince Fielder is a Major League Baseball player of who plays first base for the Milwaukee Brewers...
surpassed the mark with 50 home runs in 2007). After finishing third in
1980- Major League Baseball final standings :-Postseason:The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Kansas City Royals in 6 games to win their first ever World Series Championship.*American League Championship Series: Frank White, MVP...
, the
BrewersThe Milwaukee Brewers' 1981 season involved the Brewers' finishing 1st in American League East during the second half of the split schedule with an overall record of 62 wins and 47 losses. They proceeded to lose to the New York Yankees in the ALDS...
won the second half of the
1981 season-First half:-Second half:-Overall record:-Statistical leaders:-Postseason:NOTE: Due to a strike in mid-season, the season was divided into a first half and a second half...
(divided because of a players' strike) and played the
YankeesThe New York Yankees' 1981 season was the 79th season for the Yankees. In the ALCS, the Yankees swept the Oakland Athletics. However, they lost in the World Series in 6 games to the Los Angeles Dodgers. New York was managed by Gene Michael and Bob Lemon...
in a
playoff mini-seriesThe 1981 American League Division Series , the opening round of the 1981 American League playoffs, began on Tuesday, October 6, and ended on Sunday, October 11...
they ultimately lost. It was the first playoff appearance for the franchise.
In
1982The 1982 Major League Baseball season was held between the American and National Leagues. Making up for their playoff miss of the year before, the St...
, the
BrewersThe 1982 Milwaukee Brewers season resulted in the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball winning their first and only American League Championship.- Offseason :...
won the American League pennant. The team's prolific offensive production that season (they led the league in runs and home runs) earned them the nickname Harvey's Wallbangers (a play on the drink Harvey Wallbanger and the team's manager
Harvey KuennHarvey Edward Kuenn was an American player, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. As a shortstop and outfielder, he played with the Detroit Tigers , Cleveland Indians , San Francisco Giants , Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies . He batted and threw right-handed...
). In the
1982 American League Championship SeriesThe ' American League Championship Series was played between the Milwaukee Brewers and the California Angels from October 5 to October 10, 1982. Milwaukee won the series three games to two to advance to the franchise’s first World Series, where they would lose to the St. Louis Cardinals, four games...
the Brewers defeated the
California AngelsThe California Angels 1982 season involved the Angels finishing 1st in the American League west with a record of 93 wins and 69 losses.- Offseason :* December 6, 1981: Bob Boone was purchased by the Angels from the Philadelphia Phillies....
three games to two and became the first team to win a five-game playoff series after trailing two games to zero. The Brewers then played the
St. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals 1982 season was the team's 101st season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 91st season in the National League. Making up for the previous year's near-miss, the Cardinals went 92-70 during the season and won their first-ever National League East Division title by three games over...
in the
World SeriesThe 1982 World Series matched the St. Louis Cardinals against the Milwaukee Brewers, with the Cardinals winning in seven games.The Cardinals won the National League East division by three games over the Philadelphia Phillies, then defeated the Atlanta Braves, three games to none, in the National...
where they started out strong, taking the first game of the series 10–0. Unfortunately,
Hall-of-FamerThe National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
Rollie FingersRoland Glen Fingers is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Oakland Athletics , San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers . Fingers attended Upland High School in the city of Upland, California.-Fingers and modern relief pitching:Fingers was a starter throughout his minor league...
had been injured before the postseason, and relief pitching became a problem for the Brewers. St. Louis eventually triumphed in the series, winning four games to three.
During the 1980s the Brewers produced three league
MVPsThe Most Valuable Player Award is an annual award given to one outstanding player in each league of Major League Baseball...
(Rollie Fingers in 1981 and
Robin YountRobin R. Yount is a former Major League Baseball player who spent his entire career with the Milwaukee Brewers . Yount is a member of The Baseball Hall of Fame.-Baseball career:...
in 1982 and
1989-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Oakland Athletics over San Francisco Giants ; Dave Stewart, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Rickey Henderson*National League Championship Series MVP: Will Clark...
) and two
Cy Young AwardThe Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
winners (Rollie Fingers in 1981 and
Pete VuckovichPeter Dennis Vuckovich is a retired American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who came across as an intimidating presence on the mound with his 6'4" 220 lb frame and Fu Manchu moustache. Vuckovich was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 1974...
in 1982). Yount is one of only four players in the history of the game to win the MVP award at two positions (shortstop, then center field).
1984–93: Rollercoaster, riding the highs and lows
Following their two playoff years, the club quickly retreated to the bottom of the standings, never finishing higher than fifth (out of seven) in their division from
1983-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Baltimore Orioles over Philadelphia Phillies ; Rick Dempsey, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Mike Boddicker*National League Championship Series MVP: Gary Matthews...
to
1986-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Mets over Boston Red Sox ; Ray Knight, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Marty Barrett*National League Championship Series MVP: Mike Scott...
. Hope was restored in
1987-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Minnesota Twins over St. Louis Cardinals ; Frank Viola, MVP**American League Championship Series: Gary Gaetti, MVP**National League Championship Series: Jeff Leonard, MVP...
when, guided by rookie manager
Tom TrebelhornThomas Lynn Trebelhorn is a former manager in Major League Baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs . He currently serves as the manager of the Class A Salem-Keizer Volcanoes....
, the team began the year with a 13-game winning streak. Unfortunately, they followed that hot start with a 12-game skid in May. But "Team Streak" eventually posted a strong third-place finish. Highlights of the year included
Paul Molitor'sPaul Leo Molitor , nicknamed Molly and The Ignitor, is an American former Major League Baseball player. Molitor played for 21 seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers , Toronto Blue Jays , and Minnesota Twins...
39-game hitting streak and what is still the only
no-hitterA no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
in team history, pitched by
Juan NievesJuan Manuel Nieves Cruz is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who, on April 15, 1987 against the Baltimore Orioles, became the second-youngest player in major league history to throw a no-hitter, and so far the only Milwaukee Brewer to do so. He was signed by the Brewers after graduating...
on April 15.
On that day, Nieves became the first (and so far, only) Brewer and first
Puerto Rican-bornPuerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is a self-governing unincorporated territory of the United States located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of the Virgin Islands...
Major Leaguer to pitch a no-hitter, defeating the
Baltimore OriolesThe Baltimore Orioles season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Orioles finishing 6th in the American League East with a record of 67 wins and 95 losses.-Offseason:* January 30, 1987: Jack O'Connor was signed as a free agent by the Orioles....
7–0 at
Memorial StadiumMemorial Stadium was a sports stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, that formerly stood on 33rd Street. It stood on an oversized block also bounded by Ellerslie Avenue , 36th Street , and Ednor Road...
. The final out came on a climactic diving catch in right-center field by Robin Yount of a line drive hit by
Eddie MurrayEddie Clarence Murray is a former Major League Baseball first baseman who was known as one of the most reliable and productive hitters of his era, earning the nickname "Steady Eddie". Murray is regarded as one of the best switch hitters ever to play the game...
. The game also was the first time the Orioles were no-hit at Memorial Stadium. Yount later recalled at a Brewers banquet that he didn't have to dive to catch the line drive hit by Murray but figured ending the game with a diving catch would be the icing on the cake for Nieves' no-hitter.
In
1988In , the Major League Baseball season ended with the underdog Los Angeles Dodgers shocking the Oakland Athletics, who had won 104 games during the regular season, in the World Series. The most memorable moment of the series came in Game 1, when injured Dodger Kirk Gibson hit a dramatic pinch-hit...
the team had another strong season, finishing only two games out of first (albeit with a lesser record than the previous year) in a close playoff race with four other clubs. Following this year, the team slipped, posting mediocre records from 1989 through
1991-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Minnesota Twins over Atlanta Braves ; Jack Morris, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Kirby Puckett*National League Championship Series MVP: Steve Avery...
, after which Trebelhorn was fired. In
1992-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Toronto Blue Jays over Atlanta Braves ; Pat Borders, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Roberto Alomar*National League Championship Series MVP: John Smoltz...
, reminiscent of the resurgence which greeted Trebelhorn's arrival in 1987, the Brewers rallied behind the leadership of rookie manager
Phil GarnerPhilip Mason Garner is a former infielder in Major League Baseball for the Oakland Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Francisco Giants from 1973 to 1988. He was manager of the Astros from July 14 to August 27 , leading Houston to a World Series appearance...
and posted their best record since their World Series year in 1982, finishing the season 92–70 and in second place, four games behind that year's eventual World Champion
Toronto Blue JaysThe Toronto Blue Jays season was a season in Major League Baseball. It involved the Blue Jays finishing first in the American League East with a record of 96 wins and 66 losses, closing the season with an attendance record of 4,028,318....
.
Hope of additional pennant races was quickly dashed, however, as the club plummeted to the bottom of the standings the following year, finishing an abysmal 26 games out of first. Since 1992, highlights were few and far between as the franchise failed to produce a winning season, having not fielded a competitive team because of a combination of bad management and financial constraints that limit the team relative to the resources available to other, larger-market clubs. With new management, structural changes in the economics of baseball, and the advent of revenue sharing, the Brewers were able to become competitive once again.
1994–98: Realignment / "We're taking this thing National"
In
1994-Headline events of the year:As a result of a players' strike, the MLB season ends prematurely on August 11, 1994. No postseason is played...
, Major League Baseball adopted a new, expanded playoff system. This change would necessitate a restructuring of each league from two divisions into three. The Brewers were transferred from the old AL East division to the newly created AL Central.
Before the
1998-Headline events of the year:*Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Ken Griffey, Jr., and Greg Vaughn all hit 30 home runs before the All-Star break and engage in a historic chase for Roger Maris's single-season record of 61 home runs...
regular season began, two new teams—the
Arizona DiamondbacksThe Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
and
Tampa Bay Devil RaysThe Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball franchise based in St. Petersburg, Florida, and are the defending American League champions. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League...
—were added by Major League Baseball. This resulted in the American League and National League each having fifteen teams. Because of the odd number of teams, only seven games could possibly be scheduled in each league on any given day. Thus, one team in each league would have to be idle on any given day. This would have made it difficult for scheduling, in terms of travel days and the need to end the season before October. In order for MLB officials to continue primarily intraleague play, both leagues would need to carry an even number of teams, so the decision was made to move one club from the AL Central to the NL Central.
This realignment was widely considered to have great financial benefit to the club moving. However, to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, Commissioner (then club owner) Bud Selig decided another team should have the first chance to switch leagues. The choice was offered to the Kansas City Royals, who ultimately decided to stay in the American League. The choice then fell to the Brewers, who, on November 6, 1997, elected to move to the National League. Had the Brewers elected not to move to the National League, the Minnesota Twins would have been offered the opportunity to switch leagues.
Also, Milwaukee was not totally unfamiliar with the National League, having been the home of the NL
BravesThe Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From to the present, the Braves have played in Turner Field....
for 13 seasons (1953–65).
1999–2003: Building Miller Park
Miller Park was opened in 2001, built to replace
Milwaukee County StadiumMilwaukee County Stadium was a ballpark in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1953 to 2000. It was primarily used as a baseball stadium for the Milwaukee Braves and Brewers, but was also used for football games, ice skating, religious services, concerts and other large events...
. The stadium was built with $310 million of public funds, drawing some controversy, and is the only sporting facility to have a fan-shaped retractable roof. Miller Park has a
seating capacitySeating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, either in terms of the physical space available, or in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that...
of seating 41,900 and with standing room 43,000, which is 10,000 fewer seats than County Stadium.
The park was to have opened a year earlier, but an accident during its construction, which resulted in the deaths of three workers, forced a year's delay and $50 million to $75 million in damage. On July 14, 1999, the three men lost their lives when the Lampson "
Big Blue-Big Blue Profile:* Started at Miller Park: October 2, 1998* Height: 467 feet* Weight: 3,100 tons* Lifting Capacity: 1,500 tons* Counterweights: 2,150 tons* Cables: 40,000 feet* Operators: Four* Cost to Build: $10 million* Assembly Time: Six weeks...
" crane, one of the largest in the world, collapsed while trying to lift a 400 ton right field roof panel. A statue commemorating the men now stands between the home plate entrance to Miller Park and
Helfaer FieldHelfaer Field, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a Little League baseball field that is located directly next to Miller Park, home of the Milwaukee Brewers. Home plate at Helfaer Field lies where the former Milwaukee County Stadium home plate was. Helfaer Field has dimensions of 200' to left, center,...
.
The Brewers made renovations to Miller Park before the 2006 campaign, adding both
LEDLEd is a TeX/LaTeX editing software working under Microsoft Windows. It is a freeware product....
scoreboards in left field and on the second-tier of the stadium, as well as a picnic area in right field, shortening the distance of the right-field fence. The picnic area was an immediate hit and sold out for the season before the year began.
2004
On January 16, 2004, Selig announced that his ownership group was putting the team up for sale, to the great relief of many fans who were unhappy with the team's lackluster performance and poor management by his daughter,
Wendy Selig-PriebWendy Selig-Prieb is the former CEO of the Milwaukee Brewers team in Major League Baseball, having served in that position from 1998 to 2004, during which time she was Major League Baseball's only female CEO...
, over the previous decade. In September 2004, the Brewers announced they had reached a verbal agreement with
Los AngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the municipality of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123.445 inhabitants...
investment banker
Mark AttanasioMark L. Attanasio is a Los Angeles investment banker who, in September 2004, reached a deal to purchase the Milwaukee Brewers from the family of Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig for US$180 million...
to purchase the team for
$The United States dollar is the unit of currency of the United States. The U.S. dollar is normally abbreviated as the dollar sign, $, or as USD or US$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies and from others that use the $ symbol. It is divided into 100 cents .The U.S...
180 million. The sale to Attanasio was completed on January 13, 2005, at Major League Baseball's quarterly owners meeting. Other members of Attanasio's ownership group include
private equityIn finance, private equity is an asset class consisting of equity securities in operating companies that are not publicly traded on a stock exchange. Investments in private equity most often involve either an investment of capital into an operating company or the acquisition of an operating company...
investor John Canning Jr., David Uihlein, Harris Turer and Stephen Marcus, all of whom were involved with the previous ownership group led by Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig. Since taking over the franchise, Attanasio has worked hard to build bridges with Milwaukee baseball fans, including giving away every seat to the final home game of 2005 free of charge and bringing back the classic "ball and glove" logo of the club's glory days on "Retro Friday" home games, during which they also wear versions of the team's old pinstriped uniforms.
2005
In 2005, under Attanasio's ownership, the team finished 81–81 to secure its first non-losing record since 1992. With a solid base of young talent assembled over the past five years, including
Prince FielderPrince Fielder is a Major League Baseball player of who plays first base for the Milwaukee Brewers...
,
Rickie WeeksRickie Darnell Weeks is a Major League Baseball second baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers....
, J. J. Hardy and
Corey HartJon Corey Hart is an American baseball outfielder for the Milwaukee Brewers.- High School career :...
, the Brewers showed renewed competitiveness. Further encouraging this sentiment, the Brewers have hired former stars Yount (bench coach; resigned in November 2006) and
Dale SveumDale Curtis Sveum is the hitting coach for the Milwaukee Brewers. He is also a retired Major League Baseball player, and former Major League Baseball Manager for the Brewers in 2008....
(third base coach), both very popular players for the Brewers in the '80s.
2006
In 2006, the Brewers' play disappointed fans, players, and management. They began the season 5–1 and had a 14–11 record at the end of April. On
Mother's DayThe modern Mother's Day holiday was created by Anna Jarvis in Grafton, West Virginia, as a day to honor mothers and motherhood; especially within the context of families, and family relationships. It is now celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, some of which have a much older...
Bill Hall hit a walk off home run with his mother in the stands, a play that was shown on
ESPNESPN is an American cable television network dedicated to broadcasting and producing sports-related programming 24 hours a day....
throughout the summer. However, soon
startersIn baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
JJ Hardy, Rickie Weeks, and Corey Koskie were lost to injuries, and the Brewers were forced to trade for veteran
infielderBaseball teams take turns, one "out" in the field and one "in" at bat. The nine fielding positions are commonly grouped as three outfielders, four infielders, and "the battery"...
s
David BellDavid Michael Bell is a former Major League Baseball third baseman who is currently the manager of the Double-A Carolina Mudcats...
and
Tony GraffaninoAnthony Joseph Graffanino is an infielder in Major League Baseball for the Cleveland Indians.-Career:...
. They also suffered setbacks when losing starting pitchers
Ben SheetsBen M. Sheets is an American baseball player who is currently a free agent. He was a starting pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball from 2001-2008. He is a four time All-Star, but has been hampered with injury problems throughout his career.-Prep and college:Sheets graduated...
and
Tomo Ohkais a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Cleveland Indians. Previously, Ohka played with the Boston Red Sox , Montreal Expos , Washington Nationals , Milwaukee Brewers , and Toronto Blue Jays...
for a substantial amount of time, forcing
Triple ATriple-A refers to the highest level of play in minor league baseball. Teams at this level are divided into three leagues: the International League, the Pacific Coast League, and the MLB-independent Mexican League. Each of the 30 Major League Baseball teams has an affiliation with one...
starters
Ben HendricksonBenjamin John Hendrickson is a free-agent baseball pitcher.Hendrickson originally signed with the Milwaukee Brewers in the tenth round of the 1999 First-Year Player Draft...
,
Dana EvelandDana James Eveland is a left-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Oakland Athletics organization....
, Carlos Villanueva, and
Zach JacksonZachary Thomas Jackson, is is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Cleveland Indians organization.-The Blue Jays days:...
into starting roles at different points in the year. Shortly before the
All StarThe Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also popularly known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
break the Brewers climbed to one game above .500, but then lost their next three to the
Chicago CubsThe Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago , the Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the...
and would never return to .500. After the All Star break closer Derrick Turnbow blew four straight save opportunities. This led to the Brewers being far enough down in the standings that management decided to trade free agent-to-be
Carlos LeeCarlos Noriel Lee is a left fielder in Major League Baseball who plays for the Houston Astros. He bats and throws right-handed....
to the
Texas RangersThe Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in Texas, representing the Dallas-Ft.Worth metropolitan area. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Rangers have played in Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, located in...
for
closerIn baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game...
Francisco CorderoFrancisco Javier Cordero is a Major League Baseball closer for the Cincinnati Reds. Cordero is frequently referred to by his nickname, CoCo, which is an alliteration of the last two letters of his first name and the first two letters of his last name.Cordero throws a hard fastball—capable of...
,
outfielderOutfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Kevin MenchKevin Ford Mench is a professional baseball outfielder currently playing for the Hanshin Tigers of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.-High school and college career:...
, and two minor league prospects. Cordero replaced Turnbow as the Brewers closer and had immediate success, successfully converting his first 13 save opportunities. On August 24 the Brewers completed a sweep of the
Colorado RockiesThe Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993, the Rockies play in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains, which pass through Colorado, just west of Denver...
to climb to less than five games out in both the NL Central Division and NL
Wild CardThe term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.-International sports:...
races, but then Milwaukee went on a 10-game losing streak that ended any postseason hope. The Brewers did rebound and play well in September including a four-game sweep of San Francisco, but it was too little too late. The Brewers ended the season with a 75–87 record.
At the end of the season, Attanasio stated that he and General Manager Doug Melvin would have to make some decisions about returning players for the 2007 season. With young players waiting in the minor leagues, during the off-season the key additions were starting pitcher and 2006 NLCS MVP
Jeff SuppanJeffrey Scot Suppan , is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers.-Baseball career:...
, starter
Claudio VargasClaudio Vargas Almonte is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers...
,
relieverA relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, ejection from the game, or fatigue...
Greg AquinoGregori Emilio Aquino Valera is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Cleveland Indians.Aquino was originally signed as a 16-year-old infielder in , by the Arizona Diamondbacks....
,
catcherCatcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order...
Johnny EstradaJohnny Pulado Estrada III is a Major League Baseball catcher.Estrada was selected in the 17th round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. His major league career started in with the Phillies after an injury to the regular starting catcher, Mike Lieberthal. In , he...
, and returning Brewer
Craig CounsellCraig John Counsell is a Major League Baseball infielder for the Milwaukee Brewers. He has played for the Brewers , Arizona Diamondbacks , Colorado Rockies, Florida Marlins, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Counsell grew up in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, and went to Whitefish Bay High School, where he...
. The Brewers parted ways with 2006 starters Doug Davis and Tomo Ohka, as well as fan favorite
Jeff CirilloJeffrey Howard Cirillo is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball. In a 14-season career, Cirillo was a .296 hitter with 112 home runs and 727 RBI in 1617 games. He was named an All-Star in and . He is the Brewers all-time career leader in batting average at .306...
, who wanted more playing time with another team.
2007: The return to relevance
Before the 2007 season, the buzz surrounding the Brewers greatly increased. They were dubbed a "sleeper team" and "contenders in the NL" by numerous sports analysts and magazines. ESPN's Peter Gammons and Dan Patrick both picked The Brewers to beat out the defending champion Cardinals and re-vamped
Chicago CubsThe Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago , the Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the...
to win the NL Central. To celebrate the successful 1982 Milwaukee Brewers team, the franchise decided to have the 2007 season be named as the "25th Anniversary of '82", with more fan giveaways than any other Major League Baseball team except the
Pittsburgh PiratesThe Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions, in addition to the distinction of playing in the first modern World Series. The Pirates are also often...
, and more discounts and deals than any other time in Brewers' history.
ESPN.com's lead story on August 29 stated: ".... Then there are the Brewers. The strange, impossible-to-figure-out Brewers. They once had the best record in the majors, were 14 games over .500 twice, and led the division by as many as 8½ games on June 23. Since then, and there's no nice way of saying it; they've reeked.". The Brewers cast this negativity to the side, and rebounded in September. Despite poor performances from the usually steady
Chris CapuanoChristopher Frank Capuano is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers.-Early life:...
and more nagging injuries to
Ben SheetsBen M. Sheets is an American baseball player who is currently a free agent. He was a starting pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball from 2001-2008. He is a four time All-Star, but has been hampered with injury problems throughout his career.-Prep and college:Sheets graduated...
, the Brewers found themselves in a heated pennant race with Chicago's North Siders. The team's playoff drive took a hit late in the year, however, losing three of four games in a crucial series in Atlanta, dropping the Brewers to a season-high 3.5 games out of first. The Brewers won the first two games of their final homestand of the season to pull within two games of the Cubs, but faced a near impossible task with the club's elimination number down to only three and the wild card leading Padres coming to town. The club played well, but the Cubs clinched on the final Friday of the season. On September 29 the Brewers beat Padres 4–3 in extra innings to secure a winning season. The game was tied in the ninth inning by a triple by
Tony Gwynn, Jr.Anthony Keith Gwynn, Jr. is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the San Diego Padres. He is the son of baseball Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, nephew of former Dodger outfielder Chris Gwynn, and brother of musician Anisha Nicole.- Milwaukee Brewers:Gwynn made his major league debut on July 15, ; his...
in a highlight reel play that was repeated often during the 2007 post season. That win, and the win the next day, by the Brewers kept the Padres from advancing to the playoffs. The irony, of course, being that Gwynn's
fatherAnthony Keith Gwynn is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball, statistically one of the best and most consistent hitters in baseball history. He played his entire 20-year career for the San Diego Padres. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on January 9, 2007 and was inducted on...
was easily the most popular Padre of all-time, and Tony Gwynn Jr. would later be traded to the Padres in 2009. Milwaukee finished at a respectable 83–79, only two games behind Chicago, the club's best finish since 1992.
First baseman
Prince FielderPrince Fielder is a Major League Baseball player of who plays first base for the Milwaukee Brewers...
made history in 2007, becoming the first Brewer and the youngest player ever to reach the 50 home run mark in a single season. For his effort, he finished third in the 2007 National League Most Valuable Player voting, garnering 284 total points including 5 first place votes. Fielder was also awarded the
Hank Aaron AwardThe Hank Aaron Award is given annually to the Major League Baseball players selected as the top hitter in each league, as voted on by baseball fans and members of the media. It was introduced in 1999 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Hank Aaron's surpassing of Babe Ruth's career home run mark...
for reaching the amazing single year record. Third baseman
Ryan BraunRyan Joseph Braun , nicknamed The Hebrew Hammer, is an American right-handed All-Star left fielder who broke into Major League Baseball with the Milwaukee Brewers in ....
was also rewarded for his historic season by being named 2007 NL Rookie of the Year.
2008: The return to the postseason
The Brewers came into 2008 with hopes of ending the team's 26 year playoff drought, adding several veterans to the team in outfielder
Mike CameronMichael Terrance Cameron is an outfielder in Major League Baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers.-High school:Cameron attended LaGrange High School in LaGrange, Georgia, and was a letterman in baseball....
and catcher
Jason KendallJason Daniel Kendall is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Milwaukee Brewers. He is the son of former catcher Fred Kendall, who played in the majors from 1969–1980.-High school:...
, as well as relief pitchers Eric Gagne and
Salomon TorresSalomón Torres Ramirez is a former Major League Baseball player. He began his career in with the San Francisco Giants, and also played for the Seattle Mariners, Montreal Expos, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Milwaukee Brewers.-San Francisco Giants:Torres is best-known for starting the last game of the...
. The Brewers started April on a solid winning note, but suffered two big blows in their pitching rotation when Dave Bush was demoted to AAA Nashville, and
Yovani GallardoYovani Gallardo is a right-handed starting pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers...
suffered a potential season ending knee injury. The team dropped below .500 by the middle of May, capped off by a sweep from the
Boston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a member of the Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Since , the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park. The "Red Sox" name originates from the iconic uniform feature....
.
The Brewers rebounded in June as Salomon Torres took over as closer, becoming a big success, and soon climbed back into contention. As June came to a close, the Brewers made their biggest move for playoff contention as they traded 4 prospects, most notably Matt LaPorta, to the
Cleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field . The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
for CC Sabathia. General Manager Doug Melvin summed up the trade by saying, "We are going for it." The Brewers came into the All-Star break with a 52-43 record, still third behind the Cubs and Cardinals. Ben Sheets was named starting pitcher for the National League in the All-Star game, and Ryan Braun also started at left field. Corey Hart was named to the team in the Final Vote.
The Brewers came out of the All-Star break with a bang as they won their first 7 games back, all of them on the road, sweeping first the Giants and then the Cardinals, taking over first place in the Wild Card standings. The Brewers came into the end of July still in the hunt for the division, but the front running Cubs swept the Brewers in a 4-game set at Miller Park. While the Brewers were still holding on to the Wild Card lead, the division was never seriously challenged for the remainder of the year.
The Brewers came off the sweep from the Cubs with an amazing August, winning 20 of 28 games in the month. Sabathia made history by becoming the first pitcher in over 90 years to win his first 9 games after being traded mid-season. With a steady 5 game lead for the Wild Card, the hope of a playoff spot seemed secured, but the Brewers struggled in September, first getting swept by the
New York MetsThe New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. The Mets are a member of the East Division of Major League Baseball's National League....
, and then just over a week later, getting swept in 4 games by the
Philadelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and are the defending World Series champions. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern...
, losing their lead in the Wild Card. Feeling a change was needed, the Brewers fired manager Ned Yost with just 12 games left in the season, replacing him with Brewers third base coach
Dale SveumDale Curtis Sveum is the hitting coach for the Milwaukee Brewers. He is also a retired Major League Baseball player, and former Major League Baseball Manager for the Brewers in 2008....
. Sveum named Garth Iorg as his replacement as third base coach, and made
Robin YountRobin R. Yount is a former Major League Baseball player who spent his entire career with the Milwaukee Brewers . Yount is a member of The Baseball Hall of Fame.-Baseball career:...
the new bench coach, replacing
Ted SimmonsTed Lyle Simmons is a retired American catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals , Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves . Simmons was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed...
. With the final 6 games at home, the Brewers were stil in the hunt for the Wild Card behind the New York Mets. They first swept the Pittsburgh Pirates, thanks to walk-off home runs by
Prince FielderPrince Fielder is a Major League Baseball player of who plays first base for the Milwaukee Brewers...
and
Ryan BraunRyan Joseph Braun , nicknamed The Hebrew Hammer, is an American right-handed All-Star left fielder who broke into Major League Baseball with the Milwaukee Brewers in ....
, tying the New York Mets for the Wild Card lead with 3 games to go against the NL Central division champion Chicago Cubs.
The Brewers took the first game thanks to a pinch-hit home run by
Rickie WeeksRickie Darnell Weeks is a Major League Baseball second baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers....
and stellar relief pitching by
Seth McClungMichael Seth McClung , nicknamed Big Red, is a pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers. In his career, he has pitched as a starting pitcher and as a relief pitcher....
. The Cubs took the second game, with the Wild Card race still in a dead tie. CC Sabathia was called to pitch his third game in a week, and was stellar, pitching a complete game, while Ryan Braun hit possibly the biggest home run in club history with a 2-run shot in the 8th inning to break a 1-1 tie. The Brewers won 3-1 while the New York Mets lost to the
Florida MarlinsThe Florida Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami Gardens, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
4-2, sealing the Brewers the Wild Card spot.
The Brewers finished the 2008 season one game ahead of the
New York MetsThe New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. The Mets are a member of the East Division of Major League Baseball's National League....
with a final record of 90-72, and faced the
Philadelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and are the defending World Series champions. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern...
in the NLDS. This was the first time the Brewers reached the playoffs since 1982.
The Brewers played their first postseason game in 26 years on October 1. Pitcher
Yovani GallardoYovani Gallardo is a right-handed starting pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers...
made his first postseason start and only his second start since coming off the disabled list in late September. The Brewers lost the first game of the
NLDSThe 2008 National League Division Series , the opening round of the 2008 National League playoffs, began on Wednesday, October 1 and ended on Sunday, October 5, with the champions of the three NL divisions and one wild card team participating in two best-of-five series. They were:* Chicago Cubs vs...
3–1 on a dominant performance by Phillies pitcher
Cole HamelsColbert Michael Hamels is a left-handed starting pitcher who plays for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. Hamels throws a standard four-seam fastball, changeup, and a curveball...
. Hamels allowed only 2 hits and struck out 9 Brewers batters in 8 shutout innings. The Brewers mounted a comeback in the 9th inning as closer
Brad LidgeBradley Thomas Lidge is a closer for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. Nicknamed "Lights Out", he is the all-time leader in strikeouts per nine innings among pitchers with at least 200 appearances in their career...
allowed 2 hits, a walk, and a run to score. However, Brewers right fielder Corey Hart struck out with runners on second and third to end the game.
The Brewers lost game 2 of the NLDS due to ace CC Sabathia giving up a grand slam early in the game, leaving after 3 and 2/3 innings (his shortest and last outing as a Brewer). The Brewers hosted their first playoff game in 26 years on Saturday, October 4, and won 4–1. However, the Brewers season would come to an end on Sunday as Jeff Suppan allowed three home runs to lose 6–2, eliminating them from the postseason in four games.
The 2009 Brewers will be without CC Sabathia,
Ben SheetsBen M. Sheets is an American baseball player who is currently a free agent. He was a starting pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball from 2001-2008. He is a four time All-Star, but has been hampered with injury problems throughout his career.-Prep and college:Sheets graduated...
,
Guillermo MotaGuillermo Reynoso Mota is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers.-Minor league career:...
,
Gabe KaplerGabriel "Gabe" Stefan Kapler is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Tampa Bay Rays. He has also played portions of nine seasons in Major League Baseball with the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Colorado Rockies, Boston Red Sox, and Milwaukee Brewers...
,
Ray DurhamRay Durham , nicknamed The Sugarman, is a Major League Baseball second baseman.A two-time All-Star, Durham in his prime was one of the premier offensive catalysts in all of baseball, providing prototypical lead-off hitting with power...
,
Russell BranyanRussell Oles Branyan is a Major League Baseball player for the Seattle Mariners. He throws right-handed, bats left-handed, and primarily plays first base, but is capable of playing third base and the outfield....
,
Salomon TorresSalomón Torres Ramirez is a former Major League Baseball player. He began his career in with the San Francisco Giants, and also played for the Seattle Mariners, Montreal Expos, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Milwaukee Brewers.-San Francisco Giants:Torres is best-known for starting the last game of the...
, and
Brian ShouseBrian Douglas Shouse is a left-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. Since 2001, Shouse has pitched with a distinctive sidearm delivery, which replaced his earlier, more traditional, overhand delivery....
. However, the team will have all of its regular 2008 lineup return and added pitchers
Jorge JulioJorge Dandys Julio Tapia is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently in the Pittsburgh Pirates system. He previously played for the Baltimore Orioles from –, New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks in , and the Florida Marlins in before being traded to the Rockies for Byung-Hyun Kim...
,
Braden LooperBraden LaVerne Looper is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers.-High school:Looper was a scholar athlete while a student at Mangum High School in Mangum, Oklahoma...
, and all-time saves leader
Trevor HoffmanTrevor William Hoffman is a right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers. A long-time closer, he is currently the Major Leagues' all-time leader in saves with 591, having broken the previous record held by Lee Smith on September 24, 2006...
.
Casey McGeheeCasey Michael McGehee is a Major League baseball infielder for the Milwaukee Brewers.-Baseball career:...
and
Chris DuffyChristopher Ellis Duffy is a Major League Baseball outfielder with the Milwaukee Brewers organization.-Amateur career:...
were also added.
Logos
|
|
|
|
1970–77
1978–93 |
1994–99 |
2000–present |
2006–present
(Retro alternate) |
1970–1977
The original Brewers uniforms were "hand-me-downs" from the Seattle Pilots. There was no time before the 1970 season to order new uniforms, so the team simply removed the Seattle markings and sewed "BREWERS" on the front. The uniforms had unique striping on the sleeves left over from the Pilots days. The cap was an updated version of the Milwaukee Braves cap in blue and gold.
The Brewers finally got their own flannel design in 1972. These were essentially the same as the 1970 uniforms but with blue and gold piping on the sleeves and collar.
In 1973, the Brewers entered the doubleknit era with uniforms based upon their flannels—all white with "BREWERS" on the front, blue and gold trim on the sleeves, neck, waistband and down the side of the pants. This is the uniform that Hank Aaron would wear with the club in his final seasons, and that Robin Yount would wear in his first.
During this period, the logo of the club was the
Beer Barrel ManThe Beer Barrel Man is a mascot logo first used in the 1940s by the Milwaukee Brewers, a Minor League Baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin...
, which had been used by the American Association Milwaukee Brewers since at least the 1940s.
1978–1993
The Brewers unveiled new uniforms for the 1978 season—pinstripes with solid blue collar and waistband. The road uniforms continued to be powder blue, but for the first time the city name "MILWAUKEE" graced the chest in an upward slant. In addition, this season saw the introduction of the logo that was to define the club—"M" and "B" in the shape of a baseball glove. The logo was designed by Tom Meindel, an Art History student at the University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire. The home cap was solid blue, and the road cap was blue with a gold front panel. The club would wear these uniforms in their pennant-winning season of 1982.
The road uniform underwent minor changes in 1986: the road cap was eliminated, and gray replaced powder blue as the uniform color.
Further modifications were made in 1990—button-up jerseys replaced the pullovers, and a script "Brewers" replaced the block letters.
1994–1999
On January 15, 1994, the Brewers unveiled their first new logo and team colors since the 1978 season in a ceremony at BrewersFest (what was then the winter fan festival). Navy, green and metallic gold replaced the old royal blue and athletic gold, and Germanic lettering replaced the standard block. The caps were navy (home) and navy with green bill (road), and bore an interlocking "MB" logo. This logo was never very popular with the fans, and was frequently derided as "Motre Bame" for its resemblance to the "ND" made famous by
Notre DameThe University of Notre Dame du Lac is a private Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, Indiana, USA....
in a similar color scheme.
The addition of green was most prominent in the road uniforms, which featured green piping, belt and stockings on a greenish-gray uniform.
In addition, the 1994 re-design included the first alternate jersey in the club's history: a solid navy jersey with the nickname across the chest above the club's primary logo.
1996 saw a minor alteration to the uniform letters and caps. Green was de-emphasized on the road uniform, replaced by blue trim, belt and stockings. On the cap, a single "M" (white on the home caps, gold on the road caps) replaced the "MB". The uniform trim was thickened and made more pronounced, and the lettering across the chest was made uniform in size.
For the 1997 and 1998 season, insignia commemorating the sesquicentennial of Wisconsin's statehood appeared on the sleeve.
2000–present
In anticipation of the move to Miller Park, the Brewers unveiled completely new uniforms for the 2000 season—solid white with gold and navy trim on sleeves and side of pants, and script "Brewers" across the chest. The all-navy caps bear a script "M" underscored with a sprig of barley.
The city name was taken off the chest of the road uniforms, replaced by the same script "Brewers" as found on the home uniforms. The city name "Milwaukee" appears on a patch on the left sleeve.
Starting in 2008, the Brewers modified their logo on the left sleeve on their uniforms, showing a gold outline of the state of Wisconsin and the cap logo on top of it, showing the Brewers statewide appeal.
For the 2006 season, as part of a "Retro Sundays" promotion, the Brewers unveiled a new alternate uniform for Sunday home games, with the return of the "ball and glove" logo, pinstripes, block letters and classic colors (however, the current jerseys are button-front, not pullover as they were in 1982). In 2007 "Retro Sundays" became "Retro Fridays" and a sleeve patch was added to the alternate uniforms honoring the Silver Anniversary of the 1982 pennant-winning season. It has been speculated on some fansites that the Retro Sundays and Retro Fridays promotions are the Brewers management's way of "testing the market" in anticipation to a full time switch back to the classic uniforms. During the 2009 season, the retro uniforms have been used only three times, even though the team has had several home games on Friday.
One game of the 2006 season, July 29, was dubbed "Hispanic Appreciation Night". For this game the Brewers' uniforms replaced the "Brewers" script with a script bearing the word "Cerveceros" Spanish for makers of beer. The uniforms appeared again on September 6, 2008, to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Since 2006, the Brewers have also participated in games honoring the Negro Leagues, wearing throwback uniforms styled after the one-year
Milwaukee BearsThe Milwaukee Bears were a Negro National League team that operated during the 1923 season, its only season in the league, representing Milwaukee, Wisconsin....
. Also, the Brewers, in a series against the Atlanta Braves, will wear the uniforms and caps of the Milwaukee Braves.
Season-by-season record
| Milwaukee Brewers 5-Year History |
| Year | |Post-season |
|---|
| Record | Win % | Finish | GB | Record | Win % | Result |
|---|
| 2004 The Milwaukee Brewers' 2004 season involved the Brewers' finishing 6th in the National League Central with a record of 67 wins and 94 losses.-Offseason:* November 13, 2003: Chris Coste signed as a Free Agent with the Milwaukee Brewers...
|
67–94 |
.416 |
6th |
37½ |
— |
— |
— |
| 2005 The Milwaukee Brewers' 2005 season involved the Brewers' finishing 3rd in the National League Central with a record of 81 wins and 81 losses.-Offseason:...
|
81–81 |
.500 |
3rd |
19 |
— |
— |
— |
| 2006 The Milwaukee Brewers' 2006 season involved the Brewers' finishing 4th in the National League Central with a record of 75 wins and 87 losses.-Offseason:...
|
75–87 |
.463 |
4th |
8½ |
— |
— |
— |
2007The 2007 Milwaukee Brewers season marked the 25th anniversary of the Milwaukee Brewers winning the American League Championship and the 50th anniversary of the Milwaukee Braves winning the World Series. During the offseason, the Brewers re-signed free agents Bill Hall and Chris Capuano...
|
83–79 |
.525 |
2nd |
2 |
— |
— |
— |
| 2008 The 2008 Milwaukee Brewers season opened with optimism as the team attempted to build on the success of the 2007 season - their first winning season since 1992....
|
90–72 |
.556 |
2nd |
7½ |
1–3 |
.250 |
Clinched National League Wild Card
Lost NLDSThe 2008 National League Division Series , the opening round of the 2008 National League playoffs, began on Wednesday, October 1 and ended on Sunday, October 5, with the champions of the three NL divisions and one wild card team participating in two best-of-five series. They were:* Chicago Cubs vs...
vs Philadelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and are the defending World Series champions. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern...
, 3–1 |
| 5-Year Totals | 396–413 | .489 | — | — | 1–3 | .250 | — |
|---|
Radio and television
The Brewers'
flagshipA flagship is the lead ship in a fleet of vessels, a designation given on account of being either the largest, fastest, newest, most heavily armed or, for publicity purposes, the best known. In military terms, it is a ship used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships...
radio stationRadio broadcasting is an audio broadcasting service, broadcast through the air as radio waves from a transmitter to an antenna and a thus to a receiving device. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast common programming, either in syndication or simulcast or both...
is
WTMJWTMJ is an AM radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin broadcasting at 620 AM. It is a 50,000-watt station airing a format of news, talk and sports. WTMJ is owned by Journal Broadcast Group, which also owns the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and sister station WLWK-FM.Because of the station's power and...
(620
AMAM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation.-History:AM was the dominant method of broadcasting during the first eighty years of the 20th century and remains widely used into the 21st....
).
Bob UeckerRobert George "Bob" Uecker is an American former Major League Baseball player, later a sportscaster, comedian and actor. Uecker was given the title of "Mr...
, a winner of the
Ford C. Frick AwardThe Ford C. Frick Award is an award bestowed annually by the National Baseball Hall of Fame in the United States to a broadcaster for "major contributions to baseball." It is named for Ford Christopher Frick, former Commissioner of Major League Baseball...
from the Baseball Hall of Fame, joined the Brewers in
1970-Major Leagues:*World Series MVP: Brooks Robinson*All-Star Game, July 14 at Riverfront Stadium: National League, 5-4 ; Carl Yastrzemski, MVP-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Navegantes del Magallanes *College World Series: USC...
, when the team moved from Seattle, and has been there ever since. Alongside Uecker is Cory Provus, who joined the team's radio broadcast in 2009. Provus, formerly of
WGN radioWGN is a radio station in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is owned by the Tribune Company, which also owns the flagship television station WGN-TV, the Chicago Tribune newspaper and Chicago magazine locally. WGN's transmitter is located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois...
in Chicago, replaced Jim Powell, who left Milwaukee for the
Atlanta BravesThe Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From to the present, the Braves have played in Turner Field....
radio network.
Most of the team's television broadcasts are aired on Fox Sports Wisconsin (FSBREWERS).
Brian AndersonBrian Anderson was named Brewers play-by-play announcer on January 10, 2007 and just completed his fourth season as a Major League broadcaster. For the past two years, Anderson has been tabbed by TBS to do play-by-play for the network's coverage of the National League Division Series, calling the...
, who has worked on
The Golf ChannelGolf Channel, formerly known as The Golf Channel before the July 2008 dropping of The, is an American cable television network with coverage focused on the game of golf. Founded in Birmingham, Alabama, the American headquarters and studio are currently located in Orlando, Florida...
, took over as the
Brewers' play-by-play announcer for the 2007 season. He replaced
Daron SuttonDaron Sutton is the television play-by-play voice of Major League Baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks and Arizona State Sun Devils men's basketball. Sutton is also the son of former pitching great and Hall of Famer Don Sutton...
, who joined the
Arizona DiamondbacksThe Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
in place of
Thom BrennamanThomas Wade "Thom" Brennaman is an American sportscaster, and the son of current Cincinnati Reds radio sportscaster Marty Brennaman.-Broadcasting career:...
, now of the
Cincinnati RedsThe Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. They are members of the Central Division of the National League....
. The color commentator is Bill Schroeder, a former major league catcher who played six of his eight seasons for the Brewers. After the 2008 season, Schroeder will have completed his fourteenth season as the Brewers' color commentator.
In February 2007, the Brewers, FSN Wisconsin, and
Weigel BroadcastingWeigel Broadcasting is an American locally-based television broadcasting company. The company is based in downtown Chicago, Illinois, alongside its flagship station WCIU-TV , at the apt address of 26 North Halsted Street in the Greektown neighborhood.The company founded by Chicago broadcasting...
came to an agreement to air 15 games and one spring training game over-the-air on
WMLWWMLW-CA, channel 41 , is a LPTV independent television station located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its transmitter is located in Milwaukee's Lincoln Park...
(Channel 41/digital 58.2) in Milwaukee each season with FSN Wisconsin producing the telecasts and Weigel selling air time for each of those games ; games are added to the schedule depending on weather postponements and pennant race standings. Weigel also airs a few broadcasts per year with
Spanish languageSpanish or Castilian is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that originated in northern Spain and gradually spread in the Kingdom of Castile, evolving into the principal language of government and trade in the Iberian peninsula...
play-by-play on its
TelemundoTelemundo is a Spanish-language American television network. Angel Ramos launched the brand with a TV station in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1954 -- and it evolved into the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world...
affiliate,
WYTUWYTU-LP is a television station located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin branded as Telemundo Wisconsin. WYTU is Milwaukee's affiliate for the Spanish-language Telemundo network. It is owned by Weigel Broadcasting, which also owns WDJT and WMLW in Milwaukee...
(Channel 63). Before this, the last
over-the-airTerrestrial television is a mode of television broadcasting which do not involve satellite transmission or via underground cables—typically through the atmosphere from a transmitting antenna....
non-Fox broadcast of a Brewers game was on WCGV in the
2004 season-Headline events of the year:*The Boston Red Sox win their first World Series since , ending the Curse of the Bambino.*With 262 hits, Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners breaks George Sisler's record of 257. Suzuki also sets the record for most singles in a season, with 225.*2004 also marked the final...
. Games also aired on
WVTVWVTV is a television station located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA and serves as Southeast Wisconsin's CW affiliate. The station broadcasts from the Milwaukee Public Television tower on Milwaukee's northeast side with WMVS/WMVT, along with WCGV , WVTV's sister station...
,
WISNWISN-TV is a television station located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its signal covers most of southeastern Wisconsin and parts of northeastern Illinois, including Racine, Kenosha, Sheboygan and Waukesha. WISN is an affiliate of the ABC television network. Its transmitter is located within Lincoln Park...
and
WTMJWTMJ-TV is a television station located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the flagship station of the Journal Broadcast Group. When WTMJ-TV began broadcasting on December 3, 1947, it was the first television station in Wisconsin, and the fifteenth commercial station to go on the air in the United States...
in past years; WTMJ was the original TV broadcaster in
1970-Major Leagues:*World Series MVP: Brooks Robinson*All-Star Game, July 14 at Riverfront Stadium: National League, 5-4 ; Carl Yastrzemski, MVP-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Navegantes del Magallanes *College World Series: USC...
.
Retired numbers
(1999)
Paul MolitorPaul Leo Molitor , nicknamed Molly and The Ignitor, is an American former Major League Baseball player. Molitor played for 21 seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers , Toronto Blue Jays , and Minnesota Twins...
3B-DH: 1978–1992 |
(1994)
Robin YountRobin R. Yount is a former Major League Baseball player who spent his entire career with the Milwaukee Brewers . Yount is a member of The Baseball Hall of Fame.-Baseball career:...
SS-OF: 1973–1993
Coach: 2006, 2008 |
(1992)
Rollie FingersRoland Glen Fingers is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Oakland Athletics , San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers . Fingers attended Upland High School in the city of Upland, California.-Fingers and modern relief pitching:Fingers was a starter throughout his minor league...
P: 1981–1985 |
(1997)
Jackie RobinsonJack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first African-American Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
Retired by
Major League Baseball |
(1976)
Hank Aaron
DH: 1975–1976 |
The number #50, although it has not been retired, has been placed in the Brewers' Ring of Honor for
Bob UeckerRobert George "Bob" Uecker is an American former Major League Baseball player, later a sportscaster, comedian and actor. Uecker was given the title of "Mr...
and his half-century in baseball.
Baseball Hall of Famers
Two players have enshrined in the
Baseball Hall of FameThe National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
based primarily on service with the Brewers:
- Paul Molitor
Paul Leo Molitor , nicknamed Molly and The Ignitor, is an American former Major League Baseball player. Molitor played for 21 seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers , Toronto Blue Jays , and Minnesota Twins...
, 3BA third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
/DHIn baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
, 1978–1992
- Robin Yount
Robin R. Yount is a former Major League Baseball player who spent his entire career with the Milwaukee Brewers . Yount is a member of The Baseball Hall of Fame.-Baseball career:...
, SSShortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
/OFOutfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
, 1973–1993
Three other Hall of Famers were Brewers at some point in their careers:
- Hank Aaron, OF/DH, 1975–1976
- Rollie Fingers
Roland Glen Fingers is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Oakland Athletics , San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers . Fingers attended Upland High School in the city of Upland, California.-Fingers and modern relief pitching:Fingers was a starter throughout his minor league...
, PIn baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter who attempts to either make contact with it or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the pitcher is...
, 1981–1985
- Don Sutton
Donald Howard Sutton is a former Major League Baseball player and current television sportscaster. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998.-Biography:...
, P, 1982–1984
Championships
| colspan = 3 align = center |
American League ChampionsThe American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, that eventually aspired to major league...
|-
| width = 30% align = center | Preceded by:
New York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division...
(1981The American League Championship Series was a best-of-five series between the New York Yankees and the Oakland Athletics.-Background:Due to a strike-shortened season, each team had to win two playoff series to reach the World Series...
)
| width = 40% align = center | 1982The ' American League Championship Series was played between the Milwaukee Brewers and the California Angels from October 5 to October 10, 1982. Milwaukee won the series three games to two to advance to the franchise’s first World Series, where they would lose to the St. Louis Cardinals, four games...
| width = 30% align = center | Succeeded by :
Baltimore OriolesThe Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The "Orioles" name refers to the official state...
(1983The American League Championship Series was played between the Chicago White Sox and the Baltimore Orioles from October 5 to October 8.The Orioles won the series three games to one. Although the White Sox took Game 1 won by a score of 2–1, the Orioles came back to win the last three games of the...
)
|-
| colspan = 3 align = center | American League Eastern Division ChampionsThe American League East Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions . Four of its five teams are located in the Eastern United States and one in Eastern Canada...
|-
| width = 30% align = center | Preceded by:
New York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division...
(1981-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers over New York Yankees ; Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero, and Steve Yeager, co-MVPsNOTE: Due to a strike in mid-season, the season was divided into a first half and a second half...
)
| width = 40% align = center | 1982The ' American League Championship Series was played between the Milwaukee Brewers and the California Angels from October 5 to October 10, 1982. Milwaukee won the series three games to two to advance to the franchise’s first World Series, where they would lose to the St. Louis Cardinals, four games...
| width = 30% align = center | Succeeded by :
Baltimore OriolesThe Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The "Orioles" name refers to the official state...
(1983-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Baltimore Orioles over Philadelphia Phillies ; Rick Dempsey, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Mike Boddicker*National League Championship Series MVP: Gary Matthews...
)
|-
| colspan = 3 align = center | National League Wild Card Winners
|-
| width = 30% align = center | Preceded by:
Colorado RockiesThe Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993, the Rockies play in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains, which pass through Colorado, just west of Denver...
(2007-Major League Baseball:*Regular Season Champions*World Series Champion - Boston Red Sox*Postseason - October 2 to October 28Click on any series score to link to that series' page.
...
)
| width = 40% align = center | 2008The 2008 National League Division Series , the opening round of the 2008 National League playoffs, began on Wednesday, October 1 and ended on Sunday, October 5, with the champions of the three NL divisions and one wild card team participating in two best-of-five series. They were:* Chicago Cubs vs...
| width = 30% align = center | Succeeded by:
Colorado RockiesThe Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993, the Rockies play in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains, which pass through Colorado, just west of Denver...
(2009-Major League Baseball:*October 28: 2009 World Series begins, city of American League champion*October TBA: Hank Aaron Award winners announcedNovember...
)
Minor league affiliations
- For a complete list of all-time affiliates, see List of Milwaukee Brewers minor league affiliates.
As of the 2009 seasson, the Brewers have the following minor leagueMinor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in North America that compete at levels below that of Major League Baseball. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses, and many are members of Minor League Baseball, an umbrella organization for leagues...
affiliates:
Triple-A:
Nashville SoundsThe Nashville Sounds are a minor league baseball team of the Pacific Coast League , and the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the city's association with the music industry...
, Pacific Coast LeagueThe Pacific Coast League is a minor league baseball league operating in the West, Midwest, and Southeast of the United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League...
Double-A:
Huntsville StarsThe Huntsville Stars are a minor league baseball team of the Southern League and are the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in in Huntsville, Alabama and are named for the space industry . The team plays their home games at Joe W...
, Southern LeagueThe Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , but it had to shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
Class A-Advanced:
Brevard County ManateesThe Brevard County Manatees are a minor league baseball team of the Florida State League, and are the A-Advanced affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers...
, Florida State LeagueThe Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced Minor League Baseball league operating in the state of Florida. Class A is the middle of five classifications of minor leagues that are affiliated with Major League Baseball teams...
Class A:
Wisconsin Timber RattlersThe Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are a minor league baseball team of the Midwest League, and is the low Class A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in , and are named for timber rattlesnakes. The team plays their home games at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium...
, Midwest LeagueThe Midwest League is a Class A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort Cardinals – began operating...
Advanced Rookie:
Helena BrewersThe Helena Brewers are a minor league baseball team in the Pioneer League and are the Advanced Rookie League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in...
, Pioneer League
Rookie:
Arizona League Brewers, Arizona LeagueThe Arizona League is a minor league baseball league that operates in and around Phoenix, Arizona. It is a rookie-level professional baseball league run by Major League Baseball since 1989. Games are played at the spring training complexes of the team's parent organizations from mid-June until the...
Rookie:
Dominican Summer Orioles/BrewersThe Dominican Summer Orioles/Brewers are a minor league baseball team of the Dominican Summer League that began play in 2009 as the Rookie-level co-affiliates of the Baltimore Orioles and Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Boca Chica, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and play their home games...
,
Dominican Summer LeagueThe Dominican Summer League is a branch of affiliated minor league baseball which is played in the Dominican Republic. The league was founded in 1985. Games run from the beginning of June until the end of August. The 2009 72-game season began May 30 and ends August 21. The playoffs begin on August...
External links