On this day in 1970 the inaugural Milwaukee Brewers came from behind to beat the Indians 4-3 on Danny Walton's eighth inning bases loaded double and Gus Gil's pinch hit walkoff single. It was just the Crew's 46th win of the season, but it came in front of easily their largest crowd: 44,387 fans paid to see the game at County Stadium.
That attendance number had to come as a relief to 69-year-old Milt Mason, who had climbed atop the ballpark's scoreboard in June and refused to come down until 40,000 fans came out to see a game at County Stadium. The Brewers played 42 home games in June, July and August with crowds below the magic number before finally breaking it.
The 44,000+ that came out on this day were over 8,000 more than came out to see the team on their inaugural Opening Day, and nearly 15,000 more than any other crowd at a home game in 1970. For comparison purposes, the 2012 Brewers have already drawn over 40,000 fans to 15 games.
With help from Brewerfan.net and the B-Ref Play Index, happy birthday today to:
- Martin Maldonado, who turns 26.
- Huntsville Star Anderson De La Rosa, who turns 28.
- 2000 Brewer John Snyder, who turns 38.
- Black Earth, Wisconsin native, UW-Whitewater alum, Seattle Pilot and 1970 Brewer Gene Brabender, who would have turned 71.
- Seattle Pilot Bill Edgerton, who turns 71.
- 1980-82 Brewer manager Buck Rodgers, who turns 74. We covered his birthday in this space last year.