The Milwaukee Brewers came from Seattle, and were formerly named The Pilots. It was the year 1970, and Bud Selig was not sure that the team would be allowed to move to Milwaukee until the end of spring training. Once he got the green light, the team played their first home game in front of 37,000 fans. They ended that first season 32 games under .500. The team languished at the bottom of the standings for the first seven years.
George Bamburger brought about the change, and the Milwaukee Brewers had their first winning season in 1978. Young players like Gorman Thomas, and Robin Yount were coming into their own. By 1980, the team had set records for home runs, and slugging percentages.
The 1981 strike put a damper on the fun for Brewers fans. What came from that strike gave Milwaukee an edge, as they posted a win-loss record of 31-22 once the team got back to playing baseball.
Most notable, was the acquisition of Rollie Fingers in that same season. The Brewers played the New York Yankees in their first playoff series. New York won the series in five games.
Harvey Kuehn stepped in for Buck Rodgers 48 games into the 1982 season. Buck Rodger's management style was not working, and a change was needed, even if it was mid-season. Kuehn managed to get the Brewers back on track. They finished the season winning 72 games and losing 43. The Brewers hit over 200 hundred home runs that year.
Milwaukee Brewers fans were thrilled to see their team in the World Series. They faced the St. Louis Cardinals. The series went to game seven, but Milwaukee lost to the Cardinals.
Other notable seasons would include 1992. Robin Yount had his 3000th hit, and Pat Listach won Rookie of the Year. Bud Selig became commissioner of baseball, and never looked back. It would take another fifteen years before the Brewers would have a winning season.
In 2008, the Brewers found themselves in the playoff hunt. Milwaukee was ten games above .500 in July, and looking like a team that would win their division. That would disappear in September, as the Brewers lost 11 of 14 games. Ned Yost was fired, and Dale Sveum took over with just a few games left in the regular season. With a little help from the Florida Marlins who defeated the New York Mets, Milwaukee made the Wild Card playoff series.
Milwaukee faced Philadelphia and lost the series four games to one. Brewers fans are optimistic for 2009, as ticket sales reflect that fact. Milwaukee Brewers tickets have sold at a blistering pace, in hopes that they will once again find themselves in the post season this fall.
