Miller Park - Fulton County Stadium
Milwaukee County Stadium
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Groundbreaking: October 19, 1950
First National League game: April 14, 1953
First NFL game: September 27, 1953
Last National League game (Braves): October 3, 1965
First American League game: April 7, 1970
Last NFL game: December 18, 1994
Last National League game (Brewers): September 28, 2000
Demolished: February 21, 2001
Surface: Natural grass
Capacity: 36,011 (1953); 43,394; (1954); 47,611 (1970); 53,192 (1975)
Architect: Osborn Engineering
Builder: Hunzinger Construction
Owner: Milwaukee County
Cost: $5 million (1953)
Dimensions:
LF foul line: 320 (1953), 315 (1975)
Short alleys: 355 (1953), 362 (1962)
Middle alleys: 377
Deep alleys: 397 (1953), 392 (1955)
Center field: 404 (1953), 410 (1954), 402 (1955)
RF foul line: 320 (1953, 315.37 (1954)
Fences: Left field: 4 ft (1953), 8 ft (1955), 8.33 ft (1959), 10 (1985); center field: 4 ft (1953), 8 ft (1955), 8.33 ft (1959), 10 ft (1985); right field: 4 ft (1953), 10 ft (1955)
Hosted World Series: 1957, 1958, 1982
Hosted All-Star Game: 1955, 1975
The Braves became the first team in the modern era (since 1903) to relocate their franchise to a new city. Within the next 10 years however, the St. Louis Browns (1954), Philadelphia A's (1955), Brooklyn Dodgers (1958), New York Giants (1958) and Washington Senators (1962), would all leave their long-established homes.
The new Milwaukee stadium featured a double-decked grandstand and mezzanine that ran from first to third bases. The lower grandstand extended down the right field line and around the foul pole. Temporary bleachers occupied the space down the left field line, as well as several bleacher sections in the outfield. Throughout the years, County Stadium would be expanded piecemeal. In its second season of 1954, the upper and lower decks on the third base side were extended 100 feet. In the 1960s, permanent stands replaced the temporary bleachers and evergreen trees in the outfield. In 1973 (in preperation for the 1975 All-Star Game), more improvements took place: The right field upper deck was extended around the foul pole; permanent stands replaced the bleachers down the left field line; the press box was upgraded and a new scoreboard was installed in right field. The following season saw the upper deck on the left field side extended to its final configuration.
The marriage of the Braves and Milwaukee was a golden success from the start. On opening day, April 14, 1953, a crowd of 34,357 welcomed the team and the Braves responded with a 10-inning, 3-2 victory over the Cardinals. The manner in which the win was achieved enhanced the fairy tale drama that was about to unfold.
With one out in the first inning, Bill Bruton hit a drive to right field where Enos Slaughter attempted a leaping catch. The ball caromed off his glove and under the low wall. Initially, umpire Lon Warneke ruled it a ground rule double. After a few moments, however, he decided it was a legitimate home run. It was the rookie's only home run of the season.
At season's end the Braves had attracted a National League record 1,826,397 in to County Stadium. The previous season in Boston's Braves Field, the team had drawn only 281,278. With expanded seating installed for the following season, the Braves drew 2,131,388 in 1954.
County Stadium served as the home of the Braves for 13 seasons. They topped the 2-million attendance figure in four consecutive seasons (1954-58), in which they won one world title (1957) and a second National League pennant (1958). By 1965 however the Braves were a perennial fifth place club. Perhaps due to being so successful so early in their time in Milwaukee, attendance had dropped to below 600,000 and hadn't topped one million since 1961. The club was bound for Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium and greener pastures.
TSN: Can you go through some of your top memories at County Stadium, both as a player and as a broadcaster?
Uecker: As a player, this was the first big-league field I ever walked out on. To walk out here as a player was a big kick because I was born and raised here. I was brought up about a half a mile from the stadium. I saw this place when it was being built. I used to come down with some of my friends and watch what was going on. There were guys that I used to watch play, that I ended up becoming a teammate with. Guys like Aaron, Matthews, Spahn, Joe Adcock, Burdette, Johnny Logan and Felix Mantilla and many others.
To have played here and then to get to come back as a broadcaster and work here is the ultimate kick for any guy. Anybody would want that kind of a life. To work in your hometown and be able to come back and broadcast big-league baseball, with all the other stuff I’ve done, this is still No. 1. County Stadium has been my home for a long time.
The 1982 season here when the Brewers played the Cardinals in the World Series was probably the highlight of anything that has happened in the Brewers organization. I still think the Brewers were the better team but they didn’t win it. They didn’t have their full complement of players.
TSN:Is their any truth to the myth that County Stadium isn’t a good hitter’s park?
Uecker:I’ve always liked this park. A lot of players today say it’s not a good hitter's park. I find that totally unbelievable. There have been some amazing hitters who have played in this park. There were a lot of guys on visiting clubs who loved to hit in this ballpark. Look at all of the guys who have hit well here. Henry Aaron played here twice. Robin Yount and Paul Moilitor are Hall of Fame players. I don’t buy it when people tell me it’s tough to hit here.
TSN: On April 19, 1987, Rod Deer and Dale Sveum hit home runs in the ninth inning to extend the Brewers' winning streak to 12 games. Is that one of your biggest memories?
Uecker: It was a day that no Brewers fan would ever forget. It was chaotic and it was fun. When Sveum hit the homer in the bullpen to win it, the place just went nuts. Nobody could ever touch the 1982 club, but the 1987 club had a lot of talent and they were a lot of fun.
There are a lot of other games I remember: Sixto Lezcano’s grand slam on an opening day against the Red Sox. Don Money hit a home run to win the game and New York Yankees manager Billy Martin complained to the umpires that time had been called.
Paul Molitor’s 39-game hitting streak was great. Robin Yount’s 3,000th hit, Henry Aaron’s last home run, Henry Aaron’s last base hit and RBI -- those things stay with you all the time.
TSN:What about Yount’s 3000th hit? You and Yount have always been close so calling that must have been an honor for you?
Uecker: That was a big thrill. Anytime you can call something that’s a part of history; it’s something special. I’ve seen Robin from the beginning, and he was a fantastic player.
TSN: You must have seen a lot of unusual happenings here both as a player and as a broadcaster.
Uecker: We used to do a lot of wacky stuff here in the 1970s to help boost attendance. We did a pregame show from a hot air balloon here once. I fell out of it and the pilot fell out of it. (He’s just kidding.)
I used to milk cows but I stopped because the cows kept following me up to the booth.
Where else in baseball do you have a sausage race? It’s become a part of any game that’s played here. There was a rock concert here once, and about a week after the band was here, there were marijuana plants growing in center field. I couldn’t figure out why all the outfielders were standing in one spot.
TSN: Will you be pleased to move to Miller Park?
Uecker: I’m not sad that we’re leaving. It’s time to move on. I don’t know how they keep this place going. I don’t know how they keep the scoreboard plugged in everyday. So many things go wrong with this stadium every day. It’s time to go.
What makes any stadium a part of your life is not only calling the action, but also hanging out with and working with the people who are not involved in the front lines, the people who are backstage. This has been a great place. It’s been a big part of my life. I’ve seen a lot come through here and a lot leave here.
1. Haddix's near perfect game (May 26, 1959)
Pittsburgh's Harvey Haddix turned in one of the greatest performances in baseball history against the Braves - but it still wasn't enough to get the victory.
Haddix, 33, was 3-2 and feeling ill when he took the mound against a powerful Braves team that was coming off consecutive National League pennants. Haddix proceeded to pitch a perfect game for nine innings. However, the Pirates squandered plenty of scoring opportunities against Milwaukee starter Lew Burdette and the game went into extra innings. Haddix pitched three more perfect innings to run his total to 12.
In the bottom of the 13th, Felix Mantilla reached first on a throwing error by Pirates third baseman Don Hoak. The perfect game was over but Haddix still had a no-hitter. Eddie Mathews sacrificed to move Mantilla to second. Haddix intentionally walked Hank Aaron to set up a double play with Joe Adcock coming to the plate. Adcock spoiled Haddix's masterpiece by hitting a home run over the right-center field fence.
Most people left thinking the Braves had won 3-0. However, Aaron hadn't realized Adcock's drive had left the bases and when Aaron saw Mantilla had scored, he turned toward the dugout. Adcock continued to circle the bases and was called out for passing Aaron. The umpire ruled that Adcock's hit would count as a double, and Aaron's run would count. That made the final score 2-0.
The next day, NL president Warren Giles ruled that since Adcock's hit was ruled a double, Aaron could not have advanced past third and therefore the final score was 1-0. Burdette, who allowed 12 hits and no walks in 13 innings, got the win.
2. Game 5 of the 1957 World Series
The Braves and Yankees were tied two games apiece in the 1957 World Series. Lew Burdette, who had beaten the Yankees in Game 2, 5-2, was opposed by Whitey Ford, who beat the Braves 3-1 in Game 1.
In the sixth inning, the Braves broke through with a run on consecutive singles from Eddie Mathews, Hank Aaron and Joe Adcock. The single tally was all the support Burdette needed. He shut out the Yankees 1-0 on seven hits, walking none and striking out five.
The Series shifted back to New York. The Braves lost Game 6, 3-2, but Burdette threw a 5-0 shutout against New York in Game 7 to give the Braves their only World Series title in Milwaukee.
3. Aaron clinches the NL pennant (September 23, 1957)
According to Hank Aaron, the biggest home run he hit wasn't No. 715 to break Babe Ruth's record, but rather the one that won the NL pennant for the Milwaukee Braves. The Braves were trying to clinch their first pennant since moving to Milwaukee with a victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. With the score tied 2-2 in the 10th, the Braves had the bases loaded with one out in the 10th but Frank Torre grounded into a double play.
After the Cardinals failed to score in their half of the 11th, Aaron came to bat with Johnny Logan at first and two out. Aaron blasted the first pitch from Billy Muffett over the center-field wall past the glove of Wally Moon.
Aaron's homer gave the Braves a 4-2 win and secured the their first trip to the World Series since 1948 when the franchise was in Boston. Aaron was met at home plate by his teammates and carried off the field. In his autobiography, I Had a Hammer, Aaron recalled one of the most magical moments of his career. "I always dreamed about a moment like Bobby Thomson had in 1951 and this was it. I told the writers that for the first time in my life, I was excited. What I meant was that for the first time in my life, I felt like I could let down my guard and really act excited. I've never had another feeling like that."
4. Brewers go to World Series (October 10, 1982)
The 1982 season was an amazing one for the Milwaukee Brewers. As late as June 2, the team was tied for fifth place in the AL East, but the Brewers got hot and won the division by one game over the Orioles with a 4-3 over Baltimore on the final day of the season.
However, it appeared Milwaukee's dream season would come to an end as they lost the first two games on the road to the California Angels in the best-of-five ALCS. The Brewers came home knowing they would have to win all three games at County Stadium. History wasn't on the Brewers' side -- since LCS began in 1969, no team had rallied from a two-games-to-none deficit. However, the Brewers won Games 3 and 4.
In Game 5, the Angels had a 3-2 lead when the Brewers came to bat in the seventh inning. Charlie Moore hit a little blooper behind second that Angels second baseman Bobby Grich dived for and then held up his glove for the umpires to see. The first and second base umpires ruled it a fair catch but the home plate umpire, Don Denkinger, and the third base umpire, Bill Kunkel, saw the ball was trapped and overruled their colleagues. Jim Gatner then singled, Paul Molitor popped out and Robin Yount walked to load the bases for Cecil Cooper.
Copper, who was 2-for-19 and earlier in the game had a committed an error, hit a two-run single to put the Brewers ahead. The lead held up as Rod Carew grounded out with a runner on second in the top half of the ninth and the Brewers were going to their first World Series.
5. Willie Mays' four homers (April 30, 1961)
Milwaukee fans going to County Stadium for a Sunday afternoon game between the Braves and Giants on April 30, 1961 had no idea they were about to see Giants center fielder Willie Mays accomplish one of baseball's rarest feats -- four homers in one game.
Mays almost didn't play in the game. He had been up most of the night with an acute stomach ache but he talked Giants manager Alvin Dark into letting him play.
Mays hit his four home runs in style -- each one traveled more than 400 feet. He started off with a solo shot off Braves starter Lew Burdette that went 420 feet. In the third, Mays hit a two-run homer off Burdette that went a little more than 400 feet. Mays flew out in the fifth against reliever Moe Drabowsky -- it would would be the only ball he hit into fair play that didn't leave the park. In the sixth with two on, Mays hit a 450-footer off Seth Morehead into left field that almost went into the parking lot. With a runner on in the eighth, Mays hit a 430-footer off Don McMahon.
No player has ever hit five homers in game, but Mays almost had the chance. He was on deck when Jin Davenport grounded to end the top half of the ninth. Mays had to settle for becoming the seventh player in history to homer four times in a game.
Mays' outburst concluded a historic three-game series. In the series opener on Friday, Warren Spahn threw the second no-hitter of his career. With five homers in Saturday's game and eight more on Sunday, the Giants set an NL record that still stands -- 13 homers on consecutive days.
Notes, Facts & Features
The cover of the very first issue of Sports Illustrated (1953) showed a batter at County Stadium.
Home of the best bratwurst and tailgate parties in the majors - A distinction now held by Miller Park.
From 1953-94 the NFL's Green Bay Packers played two home games each season at County Stadium. It was the only NFL stadium where each team's benches were on the same side of the field.
Milwaukee County Stadium was the first major league ballpark built with lights.
In 1968-69, the Chicago White Sox played 20 home games each season at County Stadium.
Patients of the National Soldiers Home Veterans Hospital used to sit atop a hill beyond the right-field fence on Mockingbird Hill and watched the games for free until their view was blocked by the 1973-74 stadium expanson.
All of the "home game" scenes in the popular movie MAJOR LEAGUE were filmed in Milwaukee County Stadium, even though the movie was about the Cleveland Indians.
Fans visiting County Stadium in its last years saw Miller Park rise beyond the outfield bleachers.
Surveyor’s mark on right-field foul pole read: "315.37."
Perini’s Woods, a grove of spruce and fir trees behind the center-field fence, were planted in 1954 and replaced by bleachers in 1961.
Detroit's Cecil Fielder was the only player ever to hit a homer completely out of the park during a game.
In only their 13th home game, the Braves passed their 1952 season attendance of 281,278 in Boston.
Brewers first game: Angels 12, Brewers 0 (April 7, 1970) The return of baseball to Milwaukee didn't start smoothly as California's Andy Messersmith pitched a four-hit shutout in front of a crowd of 36,107. Steve Hovely had three of Milwaukee's four hits.
July 20, 1976, Hank Aaron hits home run No. 755.
August 27, 1982, Oakland's Rickey Henderson stole his 120th base of the season to break Lou Brock's major league record.
Warren Spahn beat the Cubs 2-1 on August 11, 1961 for his 300th win.
June 24, 1983, Don Sutton gets his 3,000th strikeout.
Oakland's Jose Canseco becomes the first "40-40" man in baseball when he stole his 40th base - September 23, 1988.
Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa each hit home run No. 65 at County Stadium in 1998. McGwire's 65th on September 20 and Sosa's 65th on September 23.
Robin Yount singled off Jose Mesa for his 3,000th hit - September 9, 1992.
The Rangers' Nolan Ryan won his 300th game - July 31, 1990.
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The ballpark, which occupied just one city block, was built in 1888 at a fraction of today's costs -- $40,000. It was located in a residential district between W. Chambers St. and Burleigh St. and N. 7th and 8th Streets; the site is now covered by Interstate 43.
The most unique feature of Borchert Field was its rectangular shape. The right and left field fences were just 266 ft. from home plate, while straight-away center was 395. This meant the power alleys in right and left were deeper than straight away centerfield. Many of the current Brewers' sluggers, who look forward to the transition to shorter alleys at Miller Park, would have balked at these dimensions.
In 1901, Milwaukee was first introduced to the Brewers when the American League granted the city a major league franchise. But the Brewers lasted only one season here and the team moved during the off-season to become the St. Louis Browns.
The following season, Milwaukee received a AA franchise and named it after its departed major league team. The AA Brewers began their tenure at Borchert Field in 1902 and for a half a century the ballpark was home to several of baseball's pioneer executives, managers and players.
In 1919, Milwaukee native Otto Borchert bought the Brewers franchise and owned it until his death in 1927. The ballpark was officially re-named Borchert Field in his honor. Although Borchert never won a pennant, he's credited with sending several of his players to the big leagues.
Two of Milwaukee's greatest baseball players, Joe "Unser Choe" Hauser and Aloysius Semanski (Al Simmons) played at the park during Borchert's reign. Both received attention from Philadelphia Athletics manager Connie Mack. Mack knew Borchert from his days as the manager of the Milwaukee Creams. (The Creams played at Borchert Field prior to the Brewers.)
At Borchert's recommendation, Mack fortuitously signed both players to major league contracts. In 1924, Hauser was runner-up to Babe Ruth in home runs, while also setting a then-AL record of 14 total bases in one game. When Hauser's major league career was cut short by a knee injury, he went on to a successful career in the minors and became the first professional baseball player to hit 60 or more homers in consecutive seasons.
Simmons was known throughout Milwaukee's south side as the "Duke of Mitchell Street." He led the Athletics to two consecutive World Championships in 1929-'30. Regarded as one of the greatest players ever, Simmons hit over .380 four times. He was inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame in 1953.
Bill Veeck, son of a former Chicago Cubs owner, bought the rights to the Brewers during the 1941 season. Veeck began his executive career as the "PT Barnum of Baseball" at Borchert Field, where his first objectives were to improve the sagging structure of the ballpark and increase attendance. He accomplished both, building the Brewers into champions.
Veeck introduced Milwaukee and baseball to his innovative marketing schemes and promotions, which included morning games for third-shift workers and giveaways of items like butter, step ladders, vegetables and livestock.
The crafty Veeck always had something up his sleeve to help his team. On one occasion when the game was on the line Veeck turned out the lights and waited for the approaching storm to cancel the game. Another time he installed a retractable fence that stopped the opposing team's homers from clearing the right field fence. The fence was banned the following day.
The AA Brewers had two distinguished managers. First was former Cubs' player and manager Charlie Grimm, who led the Cubs to three World Series appearances, but lost them all. He later managed the Milwaukee Braves. Casey Stengel, who won nine World Series championships managing the New York Yankees, shared duties with Grimm in 1945.
The Brewers won seven Little World Series titles in 50 years: 1913, 1914, 1936, 1944, 1945, 1947 and 1951. The 1936 team is considered by many to be the best minor league team ever.
Borchert Field was also the home of the Milwaukee Chicks of the All-American Girls Professional Ball League in 1944. The Milwaukee Bears of the Negro National League played there in 1923. Even Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig stormed in for an appearance in 1928 as part of a tour promoting professional baseball.
Besides baseball, Borchert Field was home to many other events. The Green Bay Packers played there, along with Milwaukee's only National Football League team, the Badgers, between 1922-26. Collegiate and high school sporting events were held there, as were rodeos, political assemblies and wrestling matches.
Towards the late '40s the city implemented a plan to build a much larger ballpark with the intention of attracting a major league franchise. Although plans were for the Brewers to move in to the new ballpark, major league owners were excited over its potential.
Lou Perini, owner of the Boston Braves, a Brewers' minor league affiliate, received permission to move the Braves to Milwaukee in 1953. The Brewers never made it into County Stadium. However, several of the team's players did, including Johnny Logan and Eddie Mathews.
The final game at Borchert Field was played September 21, 1952 as the Brewers lost the seventh and deciding game of the American Association championship playoff series. Later that year, the ballpark and land was sold to the City of Milwaukee for $123,000.
Scraps of Borchert Field can still be found at the Milwaukee County Historical Society and the Milwaukee Public Museum.
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