Milwaukee Brewers (minors)
From BR Bullpen
- Location: Milwaukee, WI
- League: Northwestern League 1884, 1886; Western Association 1888, 1890-1891; Western League 1892, 1894-1896, 1898-1899; American League 1900; American Association 1902-1952
- Affiliation: St. Louis Browns 1932-1935; Cleveland Indians 1936-1938; Chicago Cubs 1939; Chicago White Sox 1946; Boston Braves 1947-1952
- Ballpark: Borchert Field
There was briefly a team called the Milwaukee Brewers in the major league American Association in 1891. The team completed the schedule begun by the Cincinnati Kelly's Killers and is one of three major league franchises that have relocated in mid-season. The American Association folded at the end of the season and the Milwaukee franchise disappeared. The Milwaukee Brewers were also major leaguers in 1901.
The Milwaukee Brewers competed in the 1800's as a minor league team in the Northwestern League, Western Association, and Western League, as well as the one minor league season of the American League (1900). After leaving the major league AL after the 1901 season, the Brewers joined the new American Association in 1902. They won their first title in 1913. Bill Veeck became owner in the middle of 1941 and improved the club drastically before joining the military in 1944. They finished first each year from 1943 through 1945 but never advanced in the playffs. Despite a third place finish in 1947 they won the AA pennant and the Junior World Series (which they had also won in '36). They finished first again in 1951 and 1952 and won the AA championship and Junior World Series for the third time in '51. When the Boston Braves moved to Milwaukee, WI in 1953 the Brewers ended their 51 years in Milwaukee and moved to Toledo.
Stars over the years included Stoney McGlynn, Bunny Brief, Tedd Gullic, Rudy York, Whit Wyatt, Lou Novikoff, Eddie Stanky and Bus Clarkson.
Two Brewers clubs are considered among the greatest minor league teams of all time:
[edit] Year-by-Year Record
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1884 | 42-30 | 5th | James McKee / Tom Loftus | Multiple teams disbanded, causing a second season |
| 11-4 | 1st | Tom Loftus | Minneapolis disbanded, ending the second season | |
| 1886 | 35-43 | 6th | Ted Sullivan | none |
| 1888 | 53-54 | 5th | James Hart | none |
| 1890 | 76-47 | 3rd | Charles Cushman | none |
| 1891 | 59-37 | -- | Charles Cushman | Team disbanded August 16 |
| 1892 | 32-21 | -- | Billy Barnie | Team disbanded July 15 |
| 1894 | 51-65 | 8th | Charles Cushman | none |
| 1895 | 57-67 | 6th | Larry Twitchell | none |
| 1896 | 62-78 | 6th | Larry Twitchell / Bob Glenalvin | |
| 1898 | 82-57 | 3rd | Connie Mack | none |
| 1899 | 55-68 | 6th | Connie Mack | none |
| 1900 | 79-58 | 2nd | Connie Mack | none |
| 1902 | 65-75 | 6th | Billy Clingman / Joe Cantillon | none |
| 1903 | 77-60 | 3rd | Joe Cantillon | none |
| 1904 | 89-63 | 3rd | Joe Cantillon | none |
| 1905 | 91-59 | 2nd | Joe Cantillon | none |
| 1906 | 85-67 | 2nd | Joe Cantillon | none |
| 1907 | 71-83 | 7th | Jack Doyle | none |
| 1908 | 71-83 | 6th | Barry McCormick | none |
| 1909 | 88-79 | 3rd | John McCloskey | none |
| 1910 | 76-91 | 6th | John McCloskey | none |
| 1911 | 79-87 | 5th | Jimmy Barrett | none |
| 1912 | 78-85 | 5th | Hugh Duffy / Harry Clark | none |
| 1913 | 100-67 | 1st | Harry Clark | none League Champs |
| 1914 | 98-68 | 1st | Harry Clark | none League Champs |
| 1915 | 67-81 | 6th | Harry Clark | none |
| 1916 | 54-110 | 8th | Harry Clark / Jack Martin | none |
| 1917 | 71-81 | 5th | Danny Shay / Bill Friel / Paddy Livingston | none |
| 1918 | 38-34 | 5th | Jack Egan | League suspended operations July 21 |
| 1919 | 58-93 | 8th | Clarence "Pants Rowland | none |
| 1920 | 78-88 | 6th | Jack Egan | none |
| 1921 | 84-80 | 3rd | Otto Knabe | none |
| 1922 | 85-83 | 5th | Harry Clark | none |
| 1923 | 75-91 | 5th | Harry Clark | none |
| 1924 | 83-83 | 4th | Harry Clark | none |
| 1925 | 74-94 | 7th | Harry Clark | none |
| 1926 | 93-71 | 3rd | Jack Lelivelt | none |
| 1927 | 99-69 | 3rd | Jack Lelivelt | none |
| 1928 | 90-78 | 3rd | Jack Lelivelt | none |
| 1929 | 69-98 | 7th | Jack Lelivelt (21-37) / Marty Berghammer (48-61) | none |
| 1930 | 63-91 | 7th | Marty Berghammer | none |
| 1931 | 83-85 | 5th | Marty Berghammer / Frank O'Rourke | none |
| 1932 | 88-78 | 3rd | Frank O'Rourke | none |
| 1933 | 67-87 | 7th | Frank O'Rourke | |
| 1934 | 82-70 | 3rd | Allen Sothoron | |
| 1935 | 75-79 | 6th | Allen Sothoron | none |
| 1936 | 90-64 | 1st | Allen Sothoron | League Champs |
| 1937 | 80-73 | 4th | Allen Sothoron | Lost League Finals |
| 1938 | 81-70 | 3rd | Allen Sothoron | Lost in 1st round |
| 1939 | 70-83 | 6th | Mickey Heath | |
| 1940 | 58-90 | 8th | Mickey Heath / Ray Schalk | |
| 1941 | 55-98 | 8th | Bill Killefer (21-32) / Charlie Grimm (37-56) | |
| 1942 | 81-69 | 2nd | Charlie Grimm | Lost in 1st round |
| 1943 | 90-61 | 1st | Charlie Grimm | Lost in 1st round |
| 1944 | 102-51 | 1st | Charlie Grimm (11-2) / Casey Stengel (91-49) | Lost in 1st round |
| 1945 | 93-61 | 1st | Nick Cullop | Lost in 1st round |
| 1946 | 70-78 | 5th | Nick Cullop | |
| 1947 | 79-75 | 3rd | Nick Cullop | League Champs |
| 1948 | 89-65 | 2nd | Nick Cullop | Lost in 1st round |
| 1949 | 76-76 | 3rd | Nick Cullop | Lost League Finals |
| 1950 | 68-85 | 6th | Bob Coleman | |
| 1951 | 94-57 | 1st | Charlie Grimm | League Champs |
| 1952 | 101-53 | 1st | Charlie Grimm (24-15) / Red Smith (7-0) / Bucky Walters (70-38) |
[edit] Further Reading
- Dennis Pajot: The Rise of Milwaukee Baseball: The Cream City from Midwestern Outpost to the Major Leagues, 1859-1901, McFarland, Jefferson, NC, 2009.
