Two big anniversaries in Milwaukee baseball history will be celebrated in 2007. Plans already are under way for the celebrations.
The 50th anniversary of the Braves’ 1957 World Championship and the 25th anniversary of the Brewers’ 1982 American League pennant will be recognized in several ways.
Members of the Ken Keltner chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research and the Milwaukee Braves Historical Society are developing a CD for the Braves’ anniversary and planning other events.
“The year 2007 will mark the 50th anniversary of the Milwaukee Braves World Series victory over the New York Yankees,” said Rick Schabowski, president of the local SABR chapter.
“There never was, and based on the current attitude of the pro athlete, never will be an example of a community embracing a team as the Milwaukee did with the Braves fans. The Milwaukee Braves NEVER had a losing season while playing in Milwaukee!”
The CD will feature the artwork of Al Rainovic, the late Milwaukee newspaper artist and publisher of the Midwest Diamond Report print publication.
A collection of Rainovic’s work can be found at the UWM library. Members of SABR and the Braves group plan to use some of the sketches from the 1957 season to tell the story of the only baseball World Championship in Milwaukee history.
“The use of sports caricatures in publications is, unfortunately, a loss that many fans and readers are unaware of,” said Schabowski. “The Milwaukee Journal was blessed to have the late Albert Rainovic contribute his excellent work for almost 20 years.
“The CD will incorporate drawings from the Rainovic collection. Plans are for drawings of events from the season, and players from the team to be used on the CD. The tentative plans are for the CD to be released, free of charge to MBHA members, SABR members, and the Public Library system.”
The CD also will include some writing by Bob Buege, author of “The Milwaukee Braves: A Baseball Eulogy,” and other writers and researchers.
Excerpts from the CD will be run on the Web version of Midwest Diamond Report at www.midwestdiamondreport.com.
Preliminary plans by SABR and the Braves historical group also call for a possible parade to commemorate the anniversary and perhaps a dinner. The latter group has regularly put on dinners and brought back former Braves such as the late Warren Spahn, Henry Aaron, Johnny Logan, Andy Pafko and others.
SABR plans another special event in February. “The commemoration year will begin will a showing of a rare kinescope during the Feb. 3, 2007 meeting of the Ken Keltner Badger State Chapter of SABR (Society of American Baseball Research) meeting at Long Wong's Sports Bar on Bluemound Road in Milwaukee,” Schabowski said.
“This kinescope has the entire Game 7 of the 1957 World Series, and is being shown by Doak Ewing of Rare Sportsfilms, Inc.”
The Braves beat the Yankees in the 1957 World Series and also played them in the 1958 Series, but lost.
Two new suites, honoring the Braves and ’82 Brewers, already have been opened at Miller Park.
The suites, designed for group outings, are located on the Club Level down the first base line at Miller Park The suites hold up to 48 guests each and were designed by Uihlein Wilson Architects, who began construction in March.
Each suite contains photos, posters and color schemes representing the teams, offering fans a nostalgic look back. There are also massive murals featuring team photos painted on each of the walls outside of the two suites on the Club Level concourse. The suites contain hardwood floors and high-end furnishings, including three 50-inch high-definition televisions.
In addition, each fan who attends a game in the suite this year receives a replica pennant from the 1957 Braves or 1982 Brewers to commemorate their visit.
“With the new Mercedes Field Haus selling out in less than two weeks after it was put on sale, we have seen evidence of the very strong demand for all-inclusive, first-class group entertaining areas” said Rick Schlesinger, the Brewers’ executive vice president for business operations. “These two suites were built to accommodate this increased demand and to pay tribute to these two great teams.”
Reservations are available by calling (414) 902-4100 on weekdays during business hours.
Pricing for the suites is $4,200 per game ($5,500 for games against the Cubs). The cost includes 30 game tickets -- additional seats may be purchased for $35 each -- four Preferred Parking Passes and a buffet dinner.
The Brewers have been holding Retro Sundays, when the Brewers wear uniforms of the ’82 Brewers. Former Brewers such as Gorman Thomas, Larry Hisle, Moose Haas and others have been part of those Sundays.
More plans will be unveiled later for celebrations of the anniversaries.
The 50th anniversary of the Braves’ 1957 World Championship and the 25th anniversary of the Brewers’ 1982 American League pennant will be recognized in several ways.
Members of the Ken Keltner chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research and the Milwaukee Braves Historical Society are developing a CD for the Braves’ anniversary and planning other events.
“The year 2007 will mark the 50th anniversary of the Milwaukee Braves World Series victory over the New York Yankees,” said Rick Schabowski, president of the local SABR chapter.
“There never was, and based on the current attitude of the pro athlete, never will be an example of a community embracing a team as the Milwaukee did with the Braves fans. The Milwaukee Braves NEVER had a losing season while playing in Milwaukee!”
The CD will feature the artwork of Al Rainovic, the late Milwaukee newspaper artist and publisher of the Midwest Diamond Report print publication.
A collection of Rainovic’s work can be found at the UWM library. Members of SABR and the Braves group plan to use some of the sketches from the 1957 season to tell the story of the only baseball World Championship in Milwaukee history.
“The use of sports caricatures in publications is, unfortunately, a loss that many fans and readers are unaware of,” said Schabowski. “The Milwaukee Journal was blessed to have the late Albert Rainovic contribute his excellent work for almost 20 years.
“The CD will incorporate drawings from the Rainovic collection. Plans are for drawings of events from the season, and players from the team to be used on the CD. The tentative plans are for the CD to be released, free of charge to MBHA members, SABR members, and the Public Library system.”
The CD also will include some writing by Bob Buege, author of “The Milwaukee Braves: A Baseball Eulogy,” and other writers and researchers.
Excerpts from the CD will be run on the Web version of Midwest Diamond Report at www.midwestdiamondreport.com.
Preliminary plans by SABR and the Braves historical group also call for a possible parade to commemorate the anniversary and perhaps a dinner. The latter group has regularly put on dinners and brought back former Braves such as the late Warren Spahn, Henry Aaron, Johnny Logan, Andy Pafko and others.
SABR plans another special event in February. “The commemoration year will begin will a showing of a rare kinescope during the Feb. 3, 2007 meeting of the Ken Keltner Badger State Chapter of SABR (Society of American Baseball Research) meeting at Long Wong's Sports Bar on Bluemound Road in Milwaukee,” Schabowski said.
“This kinescope has the entire Game 7 of the 1957 World Series, and is being shown by Doak Ewing of Rare Sportsfilms, Inc.”
The Braves beat the Yankees in the 1957 World Series and also played them in the 1958 Series, but lost.
Two new suites, honoring the Braves and ’82 Brewers, already have been opened at Miller Park.
The suites, designed for group outings, are located on the Club Level down the first base line at Miller Park The suites hold up to 48 guests each and were designed by Uihlein Wilson Architects, who began construction in March.
Each suite contains photos, posters and color schemes representing the teams, offering fans a nostalgic look back. There are also massive murals featuring team photos painted on each of the walls outside of the two suites on the Club Level concourse. The suites contain hardwood floors and high-end furnishings, including three 50-inch high-definition televisions.
In addition, each fan who attends a game in the suite this year receives a replica pennant from the 1957 Braves or 1982 Brewers to commemorate their visit.
“With the new Mercedes Field Haus selling out in less than two weeks after it was put on sale, we have seen evidence of the very strong demand for all-inclusive, first-class group entertaining areas” said Rick Schlesinger, the Brewers’ executive vice president for business operations. “These two suites were built to accommodate this increased demand and to pay tribute to these two great teams.”
Reservations are available by calling (414) 902-4100 on weekdays during business hours.
Pricing for the suites is $4,200 per game ($5,500 for games against the Cubs). The cost includes 30 game tickets -- additional seats may be purchased for $35 each -- four Preferred Parking Passes and a buffet dinner.
The Brewers have been holding Retro Sundays, when the Brewers wear uniforms of the ’82 Brewers. Former Brewers such as Gorman Thomas, Larry Hisle, Moose Haas and others have been part of those Sundays.
More plans will be unveiled later for celebrations of the anniversaries.
Gregg Hoffmann is a veteran journalist, author and publisher of Midwest Diamond Report and Old School Collectibles Web sites. Hoffmann, a retired senior lecturer in journalism at UWM, writes The State Sports Buzz and Beyond Milwaukee on a monthly basis for OMC.
