Posts

1974 Brewers Hitting

Image
  The 1974 season was pivotal for the franchise. Mainly for an 18 year old kid from Phoenix, AZ. Robin Yount made his big league debut in a Milwaukee uniform and would continue to do so for the next 20 years. Unfortunately Yount's first year was not his best. All around it was Don Money who would be at the top of the list. You can see, the core of the Brewers early 80's teams come together even this early. Money, Yount, Charlie Moore and Gorman Thomas were already on the team. On the Pitching side, longtime starter Jim Slaton was there soon to be joined by others later in the 70's.  Don Money lead the Crew in Games, AB's Runs, Hits, SB's and Average. His hit and ab totals in 74 were career highs, and he made his first All Star Game that year. Money was inducted into the Brewers Walk of Fame in 2005.  On a personal note, Don Money was the first player I saw in my very first pack of baseball cards in 1980. I was able to get him to sign, that card, about 30 years later

1973 Brewers Pitching

Image
   Once again Jim Colborn was the top hurler for the Crew. He lead the team in numerous categories. Games, Complete Games, Shutouts, Innings, Hits, Batters Faced, Strikeouts, Wins and WHIP.  Among those season highs, Franchise records were set with Games, Complete Games, Innings, Strikeouts, Hits, Batters Faced and Wins. He became the first Brewer Pitcher to break the 20 win barrier. This was impressive as the team only won 74 games on the season, finishing 3 games ahead of the Indians but a distant 23 games behind East Champion Baltimore.  In 1973 Colborn had 3 cards listed in Beckett. Pictured is his 1973 Topps card. The most expensive of the 3 items is his Linnett Portraits Card #99. Booking for 5.00 dollars.  Colborn pitched a total of 5 more seasons including 2 more with the Brewers and retired after the 1978 season. He made the ALL Star team in 73, but did not appear in the game. He was added to the Milwaukee Brewers Wall of Honor in 2014, He also appeared as a 3rd base coach in

1972 Brewers Pitching

Image
  The top hurler for the Crew in 72 was Jim Lonborg. Acquired in the trade with the Red Sox that also brought 72's top hitter in George Scott. Lonborg stayed in brew town only one year. He led the team in Shutouts, Innings, Hits, batters faced, walks, strikeouts, Sac Hits and wins. Ironically 1972 was the 3rd straight year where no Brewers hurler won more than 14 games. Tough times indeed, but considering the poor records it's still impressive that the starters were able to win that many games. After completing his 15 year major league career, Lonborg returned to school at Tufts University and became a dentist. A nice trivia nugget is that in the Boston based sitcom Cheers, Former Red Sox pitcher and bar owner Sam Malone, the picture that hangs in the bar is that of Lonborg. Malone, played by Ted Danson, wore the same number for the Sox as Lonborg. After the 72 season he was traded to the Phillies. The Brewers recieved in return Don Money. Apparently the Phils had some kid name

1972 Brewers Hitting

Image
 1972 brought the Brewers, perhaps their first true superstar. Tommy Harper was a solid player in 70 and 71, and his trade to the Red Sox in the off season brought George C. Scott among others to Milwaukee. In his first season in Milwaukee Scott led the team in several offensive categories including AB, R, H, 2B, 3B, RBI, K, GIDP, SLG% and OPS. Scott was a colorful player, one of his most famous quotes was to mention that his necklace he wore was made of the teeth of second basemen. He had a name for his glove as well. "Black Beauty helped him win 8 gold glove awards at first base. Ironically when the Brewers traded him back to the Red Sox in the late 70's it brought to them another first basemen who is synonymous with Brewers baseball. Cecil Cooper, and one who would hold down the position until the late 80's. According to an account from former Brewers Owner and Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, Scott was the first Brewers player to earn $100,000, which he achieved in 197

1971 Brewers Pitching

Image
  Once again, Marty Pattin lead the sub par Brewers pitching staff. Once again leading the team in Wins, Innings Pitched, Games Started, Shutouts, Hits, Batters Faced, Intentional Walks, Strikeouts, Runs, Earned Runs. Jim Slaton made his first appearance this year, and with other than a brief stint in Detroit in 1978 was a mainstay in the Crew's rotation into the 80's. Unlike the previous season, Pattin won on Opening Day against the Twins besting Jim Perry in front of 18000 plus at the old Met Stadium. In 50 years those two teams have only faced each other on Opening Day 3 times. In 1971 Pattin had a complete game on Opening Day, a 10 strike out performance, and a game where he walked 4 but two received intentional passes. In his two years with the Crew,  Pattin pitched in 73 games, starting 65. 20 Complete games, 5 shutouts, 498 innings pitched giving up 429 hits. He faced 2014 batters, 191 Runs with 180 earned. 144 walks and 330 strike outs. He finished 2 games over .500 wit

1971 Brewers Hitters

Image
 The second year of Brewers baseball wasn't much better that the first. In 1971 the Crew ran 28 position players out trying to find the right combo again to try and be more competitive in the American League West. They would move to their familiar home in  AL East in 1972. Among those making their crew debut in 1971 were Darrell Porter, Jose Cardenal, and Dick Schofield, who ended up retiring at the end of the season. The star, though, turned out to be Dave May. May became a consistent performer for the Brewers after coming over in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles. He led the team in RBI, Reached on Error 12, grounded into 18 double plays, and hit a team leading .277. He later became the player that brought Hank Aaron back to Milwaukee. He would return to the Crew as they pushed for a division title in 1978.  May spent a total of 12 years in the majors and after retiring in 1978 spent a couple years in the Braves system as a roving hitting instructor in 81 and 82.  He passed away

1970 Brewers Pitcher Leader

Image
  The Brewers pitching staff was not very good, but several of the players still are talked about today by die hard fans. Ken Sanders is the one that comes immediately to my mind, but the highest rated hurler in the Brewers inagural season turned out to be Marty Pattin.  Pattin was part of the blockbuster trade that sent one of Milwaukee's first stars to the team. George Scott. I am sure that we will spill plenty of ink on Scott later in the decade. I remember Pattin from his 1980 Topps card, which was my first year of collecting. Pattin was selected by the Seattle Pilots and came to Milwaukee in 1970. He led the team in Complete Games, Innings, Batters Faced, Strike Outs, Doubles Allowed, Double Plays and Wins. Pattin had a 12 year career, And while leading the team in victories that first year he did earn his first victory until May 10th in the first game of a double header with the Washington Senators. He pitched 1 inning, striking out 1 and facing 3 batters. After retiring Patt