Baseball History in Wisconsin: The Story of the Milwaukee Brewers

by Max Moreno, age 12

The Milwaukee Brewers were not always called the Brewers, and the story of the team's origin stretches back more than 100 years. The history of the Brewers name is a fascinating chapter in American sports history.

Baseball appeared in Milwaukee around the 1840s, and the first team was known as The Cream City Club. They obtained this name from the light-colored bricks used in many of Milwaukee's city structures. Milwaukee's first professional team, the Grays, started in 1878 in the National League. The name had been thrown around before but it wasn't until around the 1900s that the name Milwaukee Brewers was associated with Major League Baseball (MLB) with the name stemming from the rich brewing history of Milwaukee. In the year 1900, they were one of the eight charter members of the American League.

The Grays franchise moved to St. Louis, where they played as the Browns for 53 years before moving again to Baltimore to become the Orioles. After the Grays moved locations another team with the name the Milwaukee Brewers took their place. This team would prove to be more enduring. The club began to play in 1902 and was a Minor League team that found a home in Borchert Field along Chambers Street. The team attracted lots of young fans including the future owner of the Brewers and MLB Commissioner, Bud Selig.

When the Milwaukee Brewers club entered the big leagues they were given the name the Milwaukee Braves and the minor league moved away. Bud’s love for baseball grew stronger with the Braves so the day when the Braves moved to Atlanta, Selig was devastated and decided to form a group to bring Major League Baseball back to Milwaukee. He named the group the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club. It wasn't until April 1, 1970, that the Brewers, as they are now known, became a reality when a federal bankruptcy judge ruled the Seattle Pilots could be sold to Selig and his group. They played their first game on April 7, 1970, and just like that the Brewers were back.

Today, the Brewers are one of the most well-known teams in the Major League Baseball. More than two million fans come to the ballpark every year to see the team play. And they inspire many people every day to play baseball.

[Sources: Major League Baseball; Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel; Wisconsin Historical Society]