When we talk about some of the more successful teams in franchise history we don't often mention the 1981 squad, but perhaps we should. A midseason work stoppage forced the 1981 major league season to be divided into two halves, and by going 31-22 in the second half the Brewers won the AL East and advanced to the Division Series. It was the first playoff appearance in franchise history.
Things got off to an ugly start in the best-of-five series, as the Yankees took the first two games at County Stadium and left the Brewers with their backs against the wall headed to New York. The Brewers didn't give up, however, and won the third and fourth games to force a winner-take-all Game 5 on this day.
The game got off to a good start, as the Crew took a 2-0 lead on a solo home run by Gorman Thomas and a Cecil Cooper sac fly. The Yankees scored four in the fourth and never looked back, though, winning 7-3 to take the series.
Fortunately, Brewer fans wouldn't have to wait long for another glimpse of the playoffs: The Crew won the AL East in 1982 and advanced to the World Series.
With help from Brewerfan.net, happy birthday today to Helena Brewer David Goforth. He turns 23.