On this day in 1954, the Milwaukee Braves were on a roll. After winning ten straight games they had opened a 1.5 game lead in the NL, and that success was rewarded when 40,001 fans flooded County Stadium to watch a Saturday game against the Cardinals. It was the first time in Milwaukee baseball history 40,000 fans had paid to see a game. Unfortunately, they didn't see a Braves win as the Cardinals scored runs in the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth inning and coasted to a 12-7 victory.
The Braves went on to draw 40,000 or more fans 14 more times in 1954, as they set a franchise record with 2,131,388 tickets sold. They drew over 2.2 million fans when the team went to the World Series in 1957, but wouldn't pass that mark again until 1992 in Atlanta. The Brewers didn't break 2.2 million for the first time until 1983.
With help from the B-Ref Play Index, happy birthday today to:
- 2000 Brewer Charlie Hayes, who turns 45.
- 1980 Brewer Fred Holdsworth, who turns 59.
- Seattle Pilot and 1970 Brewer John Kennedy, who turns 70.