Highlights Archives
Last Chance to See World Series Wisconsin
At the height of the winter holidays, baseball isn't usually the first thing to come to mind. Between finding the right gift, family frenzies, and Festivus poles, our national pastime is relegated to hibernation. Of course, once December 25 is over, what can you do with out-of-town relatives? The World Series Wisconsin exhibit has been extended! If you or some of your holiday guests haven't seen this exhibition at the Wisconsin Historical Museum, be sure to catch it before it closes on January 12. These artifacts from the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers and 1957 Milwaukee Braves will never come together again. Game-used articles from eight Hall of Famers highlight the show, which also includes radio and video highlights from these two World Series.
If George Mitchell's report on steroid use has you down on baseball, perhaps the object of another George will cheer you up. The glittering World Series ring that belonged to George "Duffy" Lewis is on display in World Series Wisconsin. Lewis may have a unique claim to fame — he may be the only person who witnessed Babe Ruth's first and record-setting last home runs and Hank Aaron's first and last long balls.
Duffy played with the Boston Red Sox in 1914 as part of the "million dollar outfield" when a young pitcher named George Herman Ruth joined the club. Duffy became the first man ever to pinch hit for Ruth, getting a single in place of the starting pitcher, Ruth. Later, he was the last man to lead the Yankees in RBIs prior to the Yanks' signing of the slugger for the 1920 season. After his playing days, Duffy Lewis served as traveling secretary for the Boston Braves. He was present when the Babe hit is 714th and final home run in 1935. Lewis kept his post as traveling secretary when the Braves moved to Milwaukee and watched as a rising star named Henry Aaron belted his first home run. Lewis, who died in 1979, was just shy of 86 years old in 1974, when Aaron blasted #715, and 88 in 1976 when Aaron hit his final dinger on July 20, 1976, in County Stadium. Could Duffy have witnessed either of those home runs in person or on television? If so, he is likely the only man to have seen the first and last home runs of both Ruth's and Aaron's careers.
If you missed Aaron's final career homer, come to World Series Wisconsin to see his 1976 Brewers jersey and the helmet he wore when he hit home run #755.
Speaking of the Brewers, could Wisconsin baseball history be repeating itself again in 2008? In the off season the Brewers signed a top-notch relief pitcher and a well-seasoned catcher. Sound familiar? Before the 1981 season the Brewers obtained a solid catcher named Ted Simmons and handlebar-mustachioed closer named Rollie Fingers from the St. Louis Cardinals. (Future Cy Young award winner Pete Vukovich was thrown in by the Cardinals with the deal.) The trade helped the Brewers over the hump in 1982 when they finally captured the American League pennant. We'll have to wait and see if there is a diamond in the rough like Vukovich in this off season's moves. Come learn about other similarities between the current Brewers and the 1982 pennant-winning team before World Series Wisconsin closes!
For more information on hours, admission, location, parking and other details, see our visitor information section.
:: Posted December 26, 2007
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