Sega's World Series Baseball and 1994 Topps

  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 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...

  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...

 Twins avoid their first losing steak of the season but pounding the Seattle Mariners 11 to 5. Kirby Puckett adds two more home runs to increase his league leading total to 14.  George Kenneth Griffey Jr. The Kid, Junior. #24. The man who scored the run that saved baseball in Seattle. What more can you say about Griffey that hasn't already been said. He was the star of the Mariners from the moment he put on the uniform. Expectations were big, and he didn't disappoint.  His dad, Ken Griffey Sr, was a solid player for the Reds, and Yankees among others for more than 15 years. Junior was at the ballpark hanging with guys like Pete Rose, Dave Concepcion, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, Johnny Bench. He learned to play the game, and play it well. He was never included in the shadow of the steroid scandals that troubled the sport for more than a decade. Griffey played his heart out for the Mariners. Without Griffey, Buhner, Martinez, Johnson and the rest of the comers and goers in the ...