The Milwaukee Brewers are the toast of the town after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays for their first World Series title in franchise history. The Brew Crew's triumph in the Fall Classic means that there are now only four teams that have never won it all: Colorado, San Diego, Seattle, and Tampa Bay.
Spokane is currently partnered with one of those squads (Colorado), but did you know that the Indians spent time as the Triple-A affiliate for the Brewers?
Following a long affiliation with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1958–1972) and a three-year stint with the Texas Rangers (1973–1975), the Spokane Indians teamed up with Milwaukee starting in 1976.
The first manager of the new affiliation was Frank Howard, who played in Spokane in 1959 and 1960 before embarking on a storied MLB career that included two American League home run titles.
The team finished 65-78 in its first season, 11 games behind the Hawaii Islanders in the West Division of the Pacific Coast League. Spokane improved to 75-69 in 1977, thanks to a monster season from Gorman Thomas (.322/.436/.640, 41 2B, 36 HR, 114 RBI, 105 BB, 20 SB), and finished just three games out of a playoff spot. That would prove to be the high point of the affiliation, as the team stumbled to a 64-75 record in 1978— though the Brewers did post their first winning record that season at 93-69.
Following that season, Spokane would start a new three-year affiliation with the Seattle Mariners while the Milwaukee moved their Triple-A affiliate north to Vancouver.
Though the Indians posted a combined 204-222 record during their affiliation with the Brewers, Spokane still helped to develop the core that would guide Milwaukee to its first World Series appearance in 1982. Key contributors to the Brew Crew’s pennant run who spent time in Spokane included Jim “Gumby” Gantner, Moose Haas, Gorman Thomas (who led the American League in home runs in ’82) and Ned Yost.
ABOUT THE SPOKANE INDIANS
The Spokane Indians are the High-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies located in Spokane Valley, Wash. The Indians have played at Avista Stadium, home to the MultiCare Kids Bench Seat, since 1958 and have been a proud member of the Spokane community since 1903. Parking at all Spokane Indians games is FREE. The Spokane Indians Office and Team Store are open 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on Fridays.