T he most promising season in Milwaukee Brewers history was crashing The Brewers needed only one victory in a four-game series at Baltimore to clinch the 1982 American League AL East title But the Orioles won the first three games In those games the Brewers were out scored by a combined 26 7 The season came down to its final game The Brewers had never won a division title The Orioles on the other hand were Power to Spare Power to Spare Power to Spare Three Brewers hit more than 30 Three Brewers hit more than 30 Three Brewers hit more than 30 home runs in 1982 Gorman Thomas home runs in 1982 Gorman Thomas home runs in 1982 Gorman Thomas sslugged 39 Ben Oglivie added 34 slugged 39 Ben Oglivie added 34 and Cecil Cooper contributed 32 and Cecil Cooper contributed 32 As a team the Brewers hit 216 As a team the Brewers hit 216 As a team the Brewers hit 216 As a team the Brewers hit 216 homers the most in baseball since homers the most in baseball since 1964 They also led the majors in 1964 They also led the majors in runs scored with 891 runs batted runs scored with 891 runs batted runs scored with 891 runs batted in RBIs with 843 total bases wi in RBIs with 843 total bases with in RBIs with 843 total bases with 2,606 and slugging percentage at 2,606 and slugging percentage at 2,606 and slugging percentage at 2,606 and slugging percentage at 455 It was contagious said Robin 455 It was contagious said Robin 455 It was contagious said Robin Yount who led the AL in hits total Yount who led the AL in hits total bases slugging percentage and bases slugging percentage and bases slugging percentage and bases slugging percentage and doubles while batting 331 with 29 doubles while batting 331 with 29 doubles while batting 331 with 29 homers and 114 RBIs homers and 114 RBIs homers and 114 RBIs Veteran Don Sutton came through for Milwaukee in 1982 His strong Veteran Don Sutton came through for Milwaukee in 1982 His strong pitching helped the team win 10 2 at Baltimore in the season finale to pitching helped the team win 10 2 at Baltimore in the season finale to clinch the AL East title clinch the AL East title A SEASON TO REMEMBER 5
MANAGERIAL CHANGES The Brewers switched manag ers twice during the most successful period in their history The team thought George Bamberger would be in charge for many years after he led Milwaukee to 93 victories in 1978 But Bamberger whose slugging Brewers became known as Bambi's Bombers suf fered a heart attack that caused him to miss some of the 1980 season He resigned after that season Bob Buck Rodgers the team's third base coach replaced him Rodgers led the Brewers to their first post season appearance They lost to the New York Yankees The next year longtime team hitting coach Harvey Kuenn replaced Rodgers as manager The players loved Kuenn who lost his right leg to a blood circulation problem in 1980 Under Kuenn the Brewers quickly regained their winning ways as Harvey's Wallbangers 6 MILWAUKEE BREWERS used to playing in the postsea son and winning the World Series Baltimore pitched its ace Jim Palmer Milwaukee started Don Sutton a former Los Angeles Dodgers star nearing the end of his career Manager Harvey Kuenn showed his faith in his pitcher I’m going to cross my good leg over my bad leg sit in my cor ner of the dugout and watch an old pro go to work said Kuenn who had an artificial leg Sutton did his part out pitching Palmer Shortstop Robin Yount a budding super star also did his He hit two homers and a triple as Milwau kee won 10 2 The Brewers finally had a championship to celebrate But more tension fol lowed in the postseason By the time the Brewers played their first home game in the
The Brewers Pete Vuckovich lets go of a pitch in 1982 Vuckovich finished the season 18 6 with a 3 34 ERA and won the AL Cy Young Award best-of-five AL Championship Series ALCS they were on the verge of being eliminated The California Angels won the first two games in Anaheim 8 3 and 4 2 So the Brewers had to win three straight at Milwaukee County Stadium to claim their first World Series berth Sutton pitched them to a 5 3 victory in Game 3 Then the Brewers won Game 4 9 5 Game 5 was winner take all with the pennant at stake The crowd was on the Brew ers side But the Angels were a team with many postseason veterans Milwaukee entered the late innings trailing 3 2 A bloop hit A SEASON TO REMEMBER 7
