Highlights Archives
You're Out! World Series History in Wisconsin
A venerable American tradition will be reenacted this Saturday, October 22, when the Chicago White Sox meet the Houston Astros in the 101st baseball World Series. (The series began in 1903, but was not held in 1904 or 1994.)
The White Sox have not won a World Series since 1917. The team lost in its last appearance, 1959, to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Some attribute the Chisox's long drought of Series victories to their 1919 appearance, when gamblers induced several underpaid White Sox players to throw the series. As a result of the ensuing "Black Sox" scandal, eight players, including star third baseman George "Buck" Weaver, were banned from organized baseball for life. Weaver spent the rest of his career playing semipro ball in the Midwest and hoping for reinstatement. He spent several years as a celebrity ringer in Wisconsin, including a stint with Eagle River in 1922.
With some of the 2005 games occurring just to our south, this is an opportune time to reflect upon Wisconsin's World Series history. Wisconsin teams have made the series three times: the Milwaukee Braves in 1957 and 1958, and the Milwaukee Brewers in 1982.
The Braves' sudden relocation to Milwaukee in 1953 delighted Wisconsin fans, and the team's departure for Atlanta in 1966 broke the fans' hearts. The Braves' 12-year stay in Milwaukee was commemorated in a small museum display. Several of the Braves' 1950s yearbooks
are also available online.
Of the three Wisconsin contenders, only the 1957 Braves won the World Series. The team was led by outfielder Henry Aaron, pitcher Warren Spahn, and third baseman Eddie Matthews, but it was the addition of second baseman Red Schoendienst that put them over the top. The Wisconsin Historical Museum recently acquired Red's bat from the 1957 series.
The first-ever World Series game in Milwaukee, on October 5, 1957, caused a major traffic jam around County Stadium. The Braves beat the Yankees that year, four games to three. The Braves and Yankees met again in the 1958 Series, but the Yankees prevailed in the seven-game rematch.
In the euphoria over the Brewers' first non-losing season since 1992, Milwaukee fans can fondly recall the 1982 season, when "Harvey's Wallbangers" came within one game of becoming world champions, losing to the St. Louis Cardinals. Paul Molitor, Cecil Cooper, Rollie Fingers, Jim Gantner and Gorman Thomas played crucial roles for the Brew Crew in 1982, but the real star was Hall of Famer Robin Yount. Yount, the most popular Brewer player of all time, was even the inspiration for a folk art sculpture in the museum's collection.
:: Posted October 21, 2005
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