Milwaukee Brewers Play First Game in Milwaukee

After spending a season as the Seattle Pilots, the Milwaukee Brewers had their first game in their new home on this date in 1970.

Milwaukee had been the home of two different teams in major league history. In 1901, the Milwaukee Brewers came into existence, spending a season playing in the Lloyd Street Grounds where they finished last in the American League before moving to St. Louis and being renamed the Browns. Then the Braves moved from Boston, spending 13 years in Milwaukee before moving to Atlanta.

In 1970, Milwaukee finally received a permanent franchise. After spending a season in Seattle as the Pilots, the Milwaukee Brewers, Inc, a group fronted by Bud Selig and Edmund Fitzgerald, purchased the Pilots. Then, on the 7th, the Brewers played their first game in their new home, losing 12-0 at County Stadium.

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Lew Krausse had the honor of getting the first start in Milwaukee, which did not go quite as planned. He lasted three innings, allowing four runs on three hits and a walk in taking the loss. Still, he performed better than John Gelnar, who came on to start the fourth. Gelnar did not record an out, allowing all four batters he faced to reach, all of which came around to score.

On the other side, Angels starter Andy Messersmith dominated the Brewers, shutting them out on four hits and four walks, striking out eleven. Mike Hegan was victimized three times, going 0-3 with a walk. Essentially the entire Brewers offense came off the bat of Steve Hovley, who was 3-3 with a double and a walk. Hovley’s base hit in the second was the new Brewers first base hit in Milwaukee.

Next: Sparky Anderson wins first game

The Milwaukee Brewers were a season removed from being an expansion franchise, and looked every bit of it in their first game at home. However, and perhaps more importantly to the city, baseball had come back to town, and was there to stay.