Sega's World Series Baseball and 1994 Topps

  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 wi...

 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. ...

  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...

  The first year of Brewers baseball in 1970 was interesting to say the least. Leaving Spring Training and not knowing whether or not they would be playing a sophomore season in Seattle or head east to Milwaukee or they would all become free agents. On April 1, the moving trucks spent the night in Las Vegas and awaited word on which way they would be going. Later in the week the trucks spent two days in Provo Utah, still waiting word. Finally Milwaukee car salesman Bud Selig and a team of investors came through to bring the Pilots east. They spent the season in the AL west, and finished 65-97 and 1. The Brewers finished 33 games behind the first place Twins. But 5 years after the Braves left for Atlanta, MLB had come back to Milwaukee. Selig was a major factor in that move. Bud had been a minority owner in the Braves, and had, unsuccessfully, lobbied to keep the team in brew town. Selig was like many young men and had fallen in love with the game early on. Heartbroken and devastate...