SABR Digital Library: From the Braves to the Brewers: Great Games and Exciting History at Milwaukee’s County Stadium

The newest publication from the SABR Digital Library focuses on memorable moments from the heart of the Badger State:

From the Braves to the Brewers: Great Games and Exciting History at Milwaukee’s County Stadium
Edited by Gregory H. Wolf
Associate editors: James Forr, Len Levin, Bill Nowlin
ISBN (ebook): 978-1-9438-1622-4, $9.99
ISBN (paperback): 978-1-9438-1623-1, $19.95

This book rekindles memories of Milwaukee’s County Stadium through detailed summaries of 72 games played there, and insightful feature essays about the history of the ballpark. The process to select games was agonizing, yet deliberate. The book could have easily been filled with memorable games by just Hank Aaron or Warren Spahn.

About half of the games are dedicated to the Braves; the other half to the Brewers. Some of the summaries chronicle games that were memorable and historic when they occurred, such as Jim Wilson tossing the first no-hitter in County Stadium in 1954, the 1955 All-Star Game, the World Series contests of 1957, 1958, and 1982, and Robin Yount collecting his 3,000th hit in 1992. Other summaries recall great performances long forgotten, such as Bob Buhl’s 14-inning complete-game victory in 1953 and the Brewers’ two grand slams in one inning in an 18-1 rout of the Boston Red Sox in 1980.

The games highlight the accomplishments and heroics of not just readily recognizable stars, like Aaron, Spahn, Eddie Mathews, Cecil Cooper, Paul Molitor, and Yount, but also revive memories of players like Gene Conley, Del Crandall, and Wade Blasingame of the Braves and Bob Coluccio, Dale Sveum, and Steve Woodard of the Brewers. Also included are great performances by the Braves’ and Brewers’ opponents, like Willie Mays’ four homers in 1961 and Nolan Ryan’s 300th victory in 1990. Twelve feature essays round out the volume and provide context for the stadium’s history. Topics include the stadium’s construction, the Braves’ move to and departure from Milwaukee, the Chicago White Sox’ home games at County Stadium, the Seattle Pilots’ relocation to Milwaukee, and the stadium’s demolition.

Members of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) researched and wrote all of the essays in this volume. These uncompensated volunteers are united by their shared interest in baseball history and resolute commitment to preserving its history. Without their unwavering dedication this volume would not have been possible.

Contributors include: Alan Cohen, Bill Nowlin, Bob Buege, Brian P. Wood, Chip Greene, Dan Fields, Dennis D. Degenhardt, Dennis Van Langen, Doug Welch, Frederick C. Bush, Greg Erion, Gregg Hoffmann, Gregory H. Wolf, J.G. Preston, Jeff Findley, Joe Schuster, Joel Rippel, John Bauer, John Bauer, Joseph Wancho, Lee Kluck, Mark Miller, Mark Pestana, Mark S. Sternman, Mike Huber, Mike Lynch, Norm King, Phillip Bolda, Richard “Dixie” Tourangeau, Richard Riis, Rick Schabowski, Robert C. Trumpbour, Ron Briley, Saul Wisnia, Scott Ferkovich, Stephen D. Boren, Steve West, Steven Kuehl, Stew Thornley, Tom Mason, and Tom Rathkamp.

 

SABR members, get this e-book for FREE!

Buy the book

 

About the SABR Digital Library

For more than 40 years, SABR and its members have led the way in publishing the best baseball historical and statistical research. Our publications program is shifting to take advantage of new methods of publishing. Not only will we continue to publish new books like Can He Play? A Look At Baseball Scouts and Their Profession (released in December 2011); Opening Fenway Park in Style: The 1912 World Champion Red Sox (May 2012); Detroit Tigers 1984: What A Start! What A Finish! (December 2012); Sweet ’60: The 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates (April 2013); Inventing Baseball: The 100 Greatest Games of the 19th Century (July 2013); Thar’s Joy in Braveland: The 1957 Milwaukee Braves (May 2014); Detroit the Unconquerable: The 1935 Detroit Tigers (December 2014); Winning on the North Side: The 1929 Chicago Cubs (February 2015); Scandal on the South Side: The 1919 Chicago White Sox (June 2015); The Team That Time Won’t Forget: The 1951 New York Giants (December 2015); and Nuclear Powered Baseball/The Simpsons (February 2016), which showcase the best efforts of SABR’s members, chapters and committees, but new technology makes it possible for us to bring out-of-print titles like Run, Rabbit, Run: The Hilarious and Mostly True Tales of Rabbit Maranville (February 2012), Great Hitting Pitchers (March 2012), Nineteenth Century Stars (August 2012); Batting (January 2013); The Fenway Project (September 2013); and ’75: The Red Sox Team That Saved Baseball (April 2015) back again.

Books will be available in digital formats as well as paperbacks produced by “print on demand” (POD).

SABR members will get discounted rates for all Digital Library publications, including many for free. If you’re not a member, click here to join SABR.

Stay tuned throughout the year for new (and old!) titles that we’ll be adding to the SABR Digital Library. To learn more about SABR Publications, contact Publications Editor Cecilia Tan at ctan@sabr.org.

 

Having trouble downloading our e-books? To view PDF files on your computer, click here to download the free Adobe Reader software. Having trouble downloading e-books to your Kindle, Nook, Sony Reader or iPad? Click here for additional help.



Originally published: June 28, 2016. Last Updated: August 6, 2020.