Many fans never knew or have likely forgotten that when the American League opened its inaugural major league season in 1901, the Milwaukee Brewers were one of its original teams. They played 69 games that year at the Lloyd Street Grounds and future Hall of Famer Hugh Duffy was part of the squad as a player/manager.

Unfortunately, the franchise's major league debut was a forgettable one. They took a 13-4 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning at Bennett Park in Detroit, and allowed ten runs in the inning as the Tigers walked off with a 14-13 victory. Frank Dillon had a walkoff double for the Tigers, his fourth two-bagger of the day.

The Brewers finished their eight game opening road trip at 2-6, and went 16-52 on the road that season. Following the year they moved to St. Louis to become the Browns. Decades later the franchise moved again, becoming the Baltimore Orioles.

With help from the B-Ref Play Index, happy birthday today to 2004-05 Brewer Chris Magruder. He turns 35.

Today also would have been Seattle Pilots pitching coach Sal Maglie's 95th birthday. We covered that event in this space last year.