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Today In Brewer History: Tommy Harper's Heists

On this day in 1969, the Seattle Pilots and White Sox resumed a series in Chicago that had started in Milwaukee, playing a doubleheader at White Sox Park. The White Sox took the first game, 7-3, but the interesting part of the day came in the nightcap. 

Tommy Harper, leading off and starting in center field for the Pilots, didn't reach base for the first time until the fourth, when he hit into a fielder's choice. Harper then stole second and third before being stranded when Steve Whitaker flew out to end the inning. He reached again on a single in the seventh, and again he stole second. The game was tied heading into the eleventh, where Harper drew a walk and again stole second before being doubled home by Tommy Davis to score the winning run in a 6-5 victory.

The Pilots moved to Milwaukee and became the Brewers before the 1970 season, but had to wait over 22 years before getting to see another player steal four bases in a game:

Player Date Opponent SB
Tommy Harper 6/18/1969 White Sox 4
John Jaha 9/12/1992 Orioles 4
Scott Podsednik 9/18/2004 Astros 4

Happy birthday today to Waterford, Wisconsin native Charlie Ganzel, who would have turned 149. Ganzel played 14 major league seasons between 1884-97 with the Boston Beaneaters and three other teams.