History of The Milwaukee Brewers - Overview and Legacy

Overview and Legacy

Milwaukee was an early prospect for professional baseball, with several brief experiments at the major league level but mostly in the minor leagues.

The longest-lasting minor league club was the Milwaukee Brewers, who played in the American Association from 1902 through 1952.

The nicknames of these teams were initially assigned by the media rather than the teams themselves. Some were known as the "Creams" or "Cream Citys" after the distinctive brick which gave Milwaukee its nickname, others were known as the "Brewers", in reference to one of the city's chief industries.

This chart is a brief overview of the various Milwaukee professional baseball clubs:

• 1876-77 Milwaukee West Ends or West End Club independent (1876), League Alliance (1877), home games at West End Grounds on "Wells Avenue, near the city limits." (Benson, p. 231).

• 1878 Milwaukee Grays a.k.a. Brewers of the National League, home games at Eclipse Park a.k.a. Milwaukee Base-Ball Grounds.

• 1879–1883 no team

• 1884 Milwaukee Brewers a.ka. Cream Citys a.k.a. Grays of the Northwestern League; joined Union Association as late-season entry, after NWL disbanded; played at Wright Street Grounds.

• 1885-87 Milwaukee Cream Citys Western League (1885), Northwestern League (1886–87), played at Wright Street Grounds and, according to some sources, also at Athletic Park in 1887.

• 1888–1891 Milwaukee Brewers (1888), Milwaukee Creams (1889-1891) of the Western Association; joined American Association for end of season, replacing Cincinnati Porkers; back to Western League (1892) which disbanded and re-formed in 1894. Played at Athletic Park, later named Borchert Field and, according to some sources, also at Wright Street Grounds in 1888.

• 1894–1901 Milwaukee Brewers (1894–95), Creams (1896–97), Brewers (1898-1901) of the Western League (1894-1899), renamed American League 1900, became major league 1901; transferred to St. Louis Browns in 1902. Played at Athletic Park in 1894, then Lloyd Street Grounds through 1901.

• 1902–1903 Milwaukee Creams of the revived Western League, played at Lloyd Street Grounds.

• 1902–1952 Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association, played at Borchert Field.

• 1913 Milwaukee Creams of the Wisconsin-Illinois League.

• 1923 Milwaukee Bears of the Negro National League, played at Borchert Field.

• 1944 Milwaukee Chicks of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.