Finding Important Artifacts From Milwaukee County Stadium
ALSO: FORT MYERS STILL HAS THREE BALLPARKS WHERE TEAMS TRAINED
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Reader Reacts to World Baseball Classic column
“The World Baseball Classic is a great way to promote baseball internationally, and players absolutely love it.
You say it "interrupts the exhibition game schedule." So what? MLB players play about half these games, the rest is finished by minor-leaguers. No one cares about the result.
On the other hand, players play passionately for their countries and some of the championship games have been memorable, such as Japan's win over the USA in 2023, with Shohei Ohtani striking out Mike Trout to win it. Fantastic drama, and it beats every spring training game hands down.
Regarding moving it to November, no, it would not take any interest away from football. That ship sailed a long time ago. Plus, players are not going to want to play a high-stakes international tournament after a 162-game season (and possible postseason play). March is the best time for the WBC.
The WBC is a fantastic addition to baseball, creates international interest in the game and helps promote it in countries that have nascent baseball programs. Every baseball fan should love it.”
— Al Yellon, Chicago
Editor’s Note: I detest it, as I would hate anything that interfered with spring training and added new ways for players to suffer serious injuries. The players may love it, since they make double salaries if they’re in the WBC, but the owners hate it — for multiple reasons.
— Dan Schlossberg, HtP weekend editor
Pregame Pepper
Did you know…
Entering this weekend, Atlanta outfielders had a combined batting average of .176 . . .
The first game of the season-opening Cubs-Dodgers series in Tokyo drew 25 million viewers, a record for any game televised in Japan . . .
Even though he grew up in Boston, the young Ben Rice was a fan of the Yankees, the team he is now helping — both as a hitter and as a bi-lingual clubhouse presence . . .
According to Jon Heyman of The New York Post, the Dodgers payroll has climbed to a record $399 million . . .
With Zac Gallen headed for free agency this fall and Corbin Burnes able to exercise an opt-out after next season, the D’backs probably won’t be able to keep both pitchers — especially if they demand long-term deals topping $200 million . . .
Speaking of money, the Athletics have the highest average price for a 2025 game ticket at $180 — with fans also having to fork over at least $25 for parking . . .
Sudden slugger Tyler Soderstrom, whom few fans know, is leading the majors in home runs, surprising both opponents and his teammates on the Athletics.
Leading Off
Where the Original Bernie Brewer Beer Mug and Chalet Reside Today
By Paul Banks
When the Brewers made the move from Milwaukee County Stadium to Miller Park, it was a massive upgrade to say the least. County Stadium had an illustrious half-century of service, hosting a World Series in 1982 and subbing for Cleveland Municipal Stadium in the immortal baseball film Major League.
However, multi-purpose, cookie-cutter stadiums were then going the way of the dodo, and the time was right for a giant, modern retractable-domed facility. But what would become of all the very distinguishable and extremely unique elements of old County Stadium?
Specifically the club's mascot, Bernie the Brewer, and his famous chalet and giant beer mug.
Bernie, a costumed mascot who is thought to be German, used to descend from a chalet that looks like it is supposed to be Swiss, down into a giant beer mug. Bernie performed that act after every Brewers home run and victory, against a backdrop of a giant beer barrel reading "Go Brewers."
While a new version of Bernie was rebranded for Miller Park when it opened in 2000, the beer mug and chalet did not come with him. And in the new park, Bernie's act was to simply go down a slide. Why the baseball club of Brew Town, or "Cream City," killed off the beer bit is unconfirmed, but there was talk that the custom might have been deemed insensitive because it could be interpreted as promoting alcoholism.
Of course, if there is one thing that discourages excessive drinking at baseball stadiums, it's actually the exorbitant prices of the booze itself. But with "Bernie's Dugout" now in place, the chalet and beer mug found a new home, and that was determined by public auction.
The winner? Russ and Jim Klisch, the brothers who founded Lakefront Brewery, and paid $18,000 for the two very large, extremely unique artifacts. You can see the giant beer mug, with a replica of the "Go Brewers" barrel directly behind it. There is a small doorway right next to it, and once you pass through it, you'll immediately see the chalet.
Enter the chalet and you'll see wall-to-wall graffiti, where you're encouraged to grab a marker and add your words to the edifice. There is also a small table, beneath a fancy- looking chandelier, because this is where you can have "date night." Yes, Lakefront Brewery offers you an option to reserve the chalet all to yourself and your plus-one.
However, the best way to see the chalet is from the floor of the brewery's production center. Yes, if you visit that craft brewery, be sure to take a tour, learn a few things, enjoy your beer-tasting and see the Bernie Brewer chalet in all its glory from a short distance.
By the way, the tour ends with a sing-along to the theme from Laverne & Shirley, complete with props evoking the show, and most specifically, the brewery scenes in the opening credits. Order some cheese curds and/or a bratwurst, and you then get all of your Milwaukee cliches completed in just one stop!
All joking aside, yes, the Brewers ballclub felt society was in a place, a quarter-century ago, that meant they should move on from Bernie's chalet and beer mug.
But a craft brewery with an overall great sense of humor has proven to be the perfect new home for these unique oddities of major league baseball lore in Milwaukee.
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
Cleaning Up
Fort Myers Has Enough Fields To Host 3 Spring Teams
By Dan Schlossberg
Fort Myers may be the only place on the planet that could host three teams for spring training.
City of Palms Park, winter home of the Boston Red Sox from 1993 to 2011, still stands, though is unused by any professional team.
The Sox switched to the new jetBlue Park — dubbed “little Fenway” — in 2012, leaving Lee County and the City of Fort Myers to decide whether to demolish City of Palms Park or find a new tenant.
Florida SouthWestern State College was using it until 2023, when it opened a new ballpark on campus.
There’s been talk of converting the stadium from baseball to soccer but that’s still undecided.
The city has a rich spring training history, with Connie Mack’s Philadelphia Athletics the first team to train there, followed by the Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Kansas City Royals in addition to the Minnesota Twins, who utilize Hammond Stadium, and the Red Sox.
An exhibit at the museum in the Ford Edison Estates reveals that Edison, a huge baseball fan, once worked out with Ty Cobb when the future Hall of Famer was completing his playing career with the A’s. There’s even a picture to prove it.
Redevelopment of the City of Palms ballpark site would include a 25-acre mix of retail, residential, restaurant, office, and hotel property — an investment of some $300 million, according to the United Soccer League, which won the bidding. But negotiations on all the details are ongoing.
USL, for example, seeks $40 million in bonds, backed by the city but to be paid back eventually by USL.
City fathers are believed to be unhappy that a skating rink is part of the proposal.
Former AP sportswriter Dan Schlossberg of Fair Lawn, NJ is a national baseball writer for forbes.com and author of 42 baseball books. Book him for a talk and power point by emailing ballauthor@gmail.com.
Timeless Trivia: Dale Murphy’s SABR Zoom
“I think the baseballs were juiced that year [1987].”
— Two-time MVP Dale Murphy during a SABR Zoom talk Wednesday night
Five-time All-Star Dale Murphy hit 398 home runs before aching knees ended his career, spent mostly with the Atlanta Braves . . .
He noted that teammate Bob Horner was the only man to win College Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards in the same season . . .
Murphy’s only home run against Doc Gooden came as a pinch-hitter . . .
He admitted it was hard to see the Braves going from worst-to-first in 1991 after they had traded him to the Phillies the year before . . .
When Murphy’s Braves went 13-0 under Joe Torre to start the 1982 season, he said the feeling was the closest to thing to a World Series he ever experienced . . .
He believes Braves broadcasters Pete Van Wieren, Skip Caray, and Ernie Johnson should have a niche in the Hall of Fame because “they brought you a hometown broadcast” . . .
Junkballer Jamie Moyer gave him fits, as he said, “I could not get comfortable against him” . . .
The former center fielder said Cooperstown contender Andruw Jones “was the best example of a guy who could impact the game from the outfield” . . .
Murphy said he loved hitting in Atlanta Fulton County Stadium, which was nicknamed ‘The Launching Pad’ . . .
Signed as a catcher, Murphy won five Gold Gloves as an outfielder . . .
He once played for Hall of Fame reliever Hoyt Wilhelm, who was then managing in Kingsport, TN.
Know Your Editors
HERE’S THE PITCH is published daily except Sundays and holidays. Benjamin Chase [gopherben@gmail.com] handles the Monday issue with Dan Freedman [dfreedman@lionsgate.com] editing Tuesday and Jeff Kallman [easyace1955@outlook.com] at the helm Wednesday and Thursday. Original editor Dan Schlossberg [ballauthor@gmail.com], does the weekend editions on Friday and Saturday. Former editor Elizabeth Muratore [nymfan97@gmail.com] is now co-director [with Benjamin Chase and Jonathan Becker] of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America, which publishes this newsletter and the annual ACTA book of the same name. Readers are encouraged to contribute comments, articles, and letters to the editor. HtP reserves the right to edit for brevity, clarity, and good taste.