Milwaukee baseball

Milwaukee's baseball story is not the history of one team. It is the history of a city that repeatedly fought to keep its place in the major leagues.

From the early professional clubs and the championship Milwaukee Brewers of the minor leagues to the Milwaukee Bears, the wartime Milwaukee Chicks and the construction of County Stadium, baseball took root long before a permanent major-league future seemed certain. That future appeared to arrive when the Braves moved from Boston in 1953, transforming Milwaukee into one of the most enthusiastic baseball markets in America.

The city embraced Warren Spahn, Eddie Mathews, Lew Burdette and a young Henry Aaron. It celebrated the 1957 World Series championship, endured the devastating rematch of 1958 and then watched attendance decline, ownership change and the franchise prepare to leave for Atlanta.

Milwaukee refused to accept an empty stadium as the final word. Bud Selig and a determined group of local investors pursued expansion teams, attempted franchise purchases and brought regular-season Chicago White Sox games to County Stadium. Their campaign finally succeeded when the financially troubled Seattle Pilots became the Milwaukee Brewers only days before the 1970 season began.

What followed was an entirely new baseball history: Aaron's return, Robin Yount and Paul Molitor, Harvey's Wallbangers, the seven-game 1982 World Series, decades of frustration, the move to the National League, the building of a retractable-roof ballpark and the modern effort to compete against clubs with far greater financial resources.

Milwaukee Baseball is a complete, fact-based narrative of survival, loyalty, ownership, stadium politics, unforgettable players and repeated reinvention. It explains how Milwaukee lost major-league teams, brought baseball back and developed one of the sport's most enduring small-market traditions.

Disclaimer

This book is an independently written work of historical commentary and is not authorised, sponsored, endorsed or approved by Major League Baseball, the Milwaukee Brewers, the Atlanta Braves or any other team, league, organisation, player or rights holder mentioned in the text. All team names, league names, logos, trademarks and related identifiers are the property of their respective owners and are used solely for identification, historical reference and factual discussion. No trademark ownership or official affiliation is claimed or implied.