How long have the Milwaukee Brewers been around in their current, major-league form? That seems like a simple question, but as graphics shown during broadcasts of the National League Championship Series reminded us, there are two ways to look at it.
The franchise has been around since 1969, but the Brewers since 1970 after an abrupt move from Seattle.
Since-retired Milwaukee Journal Sentinel sportswriter Tom Haudricourt wrote about the topic extensively in 2020 for a book on the team’s 50th anniversary. Here’s a synopsis of the Braves-to-Pilots-to-Brewers history of Major League Baseball in Milwaukee.
When did the Milwaukee Brewers become a major-league team?
On April 1, 1970, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Sidney Volinn gave final approval in Seattle for the sale of the struggling expansion franchise, the Seattle Pilots, to Milwaukee Brewers Inc., a group led by Bud Selig.
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When and why did the Braves leave Milwaukee?
The Braves came to Milwaukee from Boston in 1953, at which time the team’s minor-league affiliate Class AAA Milwaukee Brewers were moved to Toledo.
The Braves won the World Series in 1957, but an ownership change in ’62 set the stage for their departure after the 1965 season as Chicago-based William Bartholomay sought a better business climate and was promised a new stadium.
A criminal complaint was filed in Milwaukee County Circuit Court to try to stop the move, alleging antitrust violations, and an initial ruling required the National League to place a new team in Milwaukee in 1967, but that was later overturned.
Who were other key players in bringing baseball back to Milwaukee?
Selig’s group included local businessmen Edmund Fitzgerald (Northwestern Mutual Life), Ben Barkin (Barkin, Herman, Solochek and Paulsen public relations), Robert Uihlein Jr. (Schlitz Brewing) and Irwin Maier (The Journal Company).
Bud Selig lobbied for National League expansion teams
The National League awarded two expansion franchises in 1968. When NL President Warren Giles announced the additions at a May 1968 owners’ meeting, Selig saw an “M” forming in Giles’ mouth and thought Milwaukee was getting a team. Instead it was Montreal that would be added, giving MLB its first Canadian team, along with San Diego.
At the same time, the American League added the Kansas City Royals, a replacement in the city after the A’s moved to Oakland, and the Seattle Pilots.
Bud Selig tried to move the Chicago White Sox
Among Selig’s ideas to bring MLB back to Milwaukee was a deal to buy the Chicago White Sox from co-owner Art Allyn, but the American League vetoed that sale. Allyn instead sold his half of the team to his brother, co-owner John, in 1969.
Who were the Seattle Pilots?
The Seattle Pilots, one of two American League expansion teams and four in MLB that season, joined Major League Baseball in 1969. The original plan was to have until 1971 to prepare, but Kansas City’s launch was pushed up and the AL required both to join at the same time.
The city had been home to the Seattle Rainiers of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. Former Rainiers pitcher and general manager and PCL president Dewey Soriano led the group behind the Pilots, Pacific Northwest Sports Inc.
How did the Pilots become the Brewers?
The Pilots struggled on the field (64–98) and at the turnstile (678,000 fans), and Pacific Northwest Sports was underfunded. Soriano asked William R. Daley, owner of the Cleveland franchise, to take on much of the purchase price in exchange for which he became the largest shareholder.
PNSI filed for bankruptcy, and on April 1, 1970, the sale of the team to Milwaukee Brewers Inc. for $10.8 million was given final approval.
The Pilots became the Brewers in just six days
Spring training was coming to an end as the courtroom drama played out, and as the team broke camp in Tempe, Arizona, the driver of the equipment truck stopped in Las Vegas to await directions on which direction to head.
The season opener was set for April 7 at County Stadium.
With no time to order new uniforms, the Pilots’ name and logo were removed from each jersey and “Brewers” was stitched over that space and an “M” replaced the “S” on the caps.
The team arrived late April 5 to an impromptu pep rally at Mitchell Field and two days later lost their opener 12-0 to the California Angels at County Stadium in front of 37,237.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: How the Seattle Pilots became the Milwaukee Brewers ... in six days