Brewers Franchise Timeline

arrow-expand-79261arrow-contract-79262
Members of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrate after defeating the Chicago White Sox 5-4 at Comiskey Park, Monday, April 21, 1987, Chicago, Ill. The Brewers won 13 straight games to start the season, tying the Major League record. (AP Photo/John Swart)
1980

• On March 6, manager George Bamberger suffers a heart attack, later requiring bypass surgery.....Bob "Buck" Rodgers assumes the role as acting manager until Bamberger returns on June 6.

• Charlie Moore becomes the second Brewer ever to hit for the cycle on October 1 at California.

• Harry Dalton wheels and deals at the annual Winter Meetings, trading with the St. Louis Cardinals for catcher Ted Simmons, starting pitcher Pete Vuckovich and closer Rollie Fingers on December 12.

1981

• In an interrupted season, the Brewers clinch their first postseason spot in franchise history as they defeat Detroit, 2-1, on October 3 at County Stadium.

• The Brewers, winners of the American League East in the second half of the season, fall to the Yankees, winners of the first half, in the first-ever Division Series, three games to two.

• Rollie Fingers becomes the first relief pitcher in Major League history to win both the Cy Young Award and Most Valuable Player in the same season.

1982

• The Brewers rebound from a slow start to become American League champions under new manager Harvey Kuenn.....Milwaukee becomes known as "Harvey's Wallbangers" as they go 72-43 after June 2 to finish with the best record in baseball (95-67).

• Robin Yount is named American League Most Valuable Player.

• Pete Vuckovich wins the American League Cy Young Award.

• With the Brewers sweeping both major awards, coupled with the Rollie Fingers sweep in 1981, Milwaukee becomes the first American League team ever to sweep both awards for two straight seasons.

• Don Sutton is acquired in late August from Houston and posts a 4-1 mark.....he wins the season finale on October 3 in Baltimore to clinch the American League East championship.

• The Brewers become the first team ever to win a League Championship Series after trailing two games to none as they rally to defeat California in the best-of-five series, earning a spot in their first World Series.

• In an exciting World Series labeled the "Suds Series," the Brewers fall to the Cardinals in seven games.

• Brewers fans show their loyalty by turning out in the thousands to greet their heroes at home in a special ticker-tape parade downtown and at County Stadium.

1983

• The Brewers set an all-time Milwaukee baseball attendance record at County Stadium as 2,397,131 fans go through the turnstiles.

• Cecil Cooper's 126 RBI set a new franchise record, which would stand until 2009 (Prince Fielder, 141).....he ties Boston's Jim Rice for the Major League lead.

• Don Sutton fans Alan Bannister in the eighth inning for his 3,000th career strikeout on June 24 vs. Cleveland.....he becomes the eighth pitcher in Major League history to reach that milestone.

1984

• Don Sutton becomes the first pitcher in Major League history to record at least 100 strikeouts in 19 consecutive seasons.

1985

• Don Sutton becomes the first pitcher in Major League history to record at least 100 strikeouts in 19 consecutive seasons.

1986

• Despite an 8-18 record, Danny Darwin becomes the first Brewer to toss a one-hitter, two-hitter and three-hitter in the same season.

1987

• The Brewers jump out to a 13-0 start, tying a Major League record.....they also tie the American League record by posting a 17-1 mark through their first 18 games, the furthest into a season with just one loss.

• Juan Nieves records the first no-hitter in franchise history in a 7-0 win on April 15 at Baltimore, making him the first Puerto Rican-born pitcher to accomplish this feat.

• Following a quick start, the team falters as they drop 12 straight games and fall out of first place on May 13.

• Paul Molitor hits safely in 39 straight games following the All-Star break, setting a franchise record and putting together the fifth-best streak in modern day baseball.....the streak marked the longest in the American League since Joe DiMaggio set the Major League record with 56 straight games in 1941.

1988

• Robin Yount becomes the third player in Brewers history to hit for the cycle on June 12 at Chicago-AL in a 16-2 win.

1989

• Robin Yount is named American League Most Valuable Player, this time as a center fielder.....Yount becomes just the third player in Major League history to win MVP awards at two different positions (1982 at shortstop), joining Stan Musial and Hank Greenberg.

• The Brewers name their 20th anniversary team as voted on by the fans.....team members include Cecil Cooper, Jim Gantner, Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, Sixto Lezcano, Gorman Thomas, Ben Oglivie, Hank Aaron, Charlie Moore, Pete Vuckovich, Mike Caldwell and Rollie Fingers.