1982 Milwaukee Brewers: Wisconsin Power

1982 Milwaukee Brewers: Wisconsin Power

[paypal_donation_button]1982 Milwaukee Brewers: Wisconsin Power

The Milwaukee Brewers went 95-67 in 1982, finishing just 1 game ahead of the Baltimore Orioles to win the American League East division. The Brewers didn’t fare so well against the Orioles, however, as they went 4-9-1 against Baltimore in head-to-head play. The Brewers went 48-34 at home and 47-33 on the road.

Shortstop Robin Yount batted .331 with 29 home runs and 114 RBI’s off 210 hits, 46 doubles, 12 triples and 14 stolen bases. First baseman Cecil Cooper batted .313 with 31 home runs and 121 RBI’s off 205 hits and 38 doubles. Third baseman Paul Molitor batted .302 with 19 home runs and 71 RBI’s off 201 hits, 26 doubles, 8 triples and 41 stolen bases. Second baseman Jim Gantner batted .295 with 132 hits and 17 doubles. Designated Hitter Don Money batted .284 with 16 home runs, 78 hits and 14 doubles in 96 games.

Catcher Ted Simmons ad 23 home runs and 97 RBI’s off 145 hits and 29 doubles. Right fielder Charlie Moore had 116 hits, 22 doubles and 10 stolen bases. Designated Hitter Roy Howell had 78 hits and 11 doubles in 98 games. Center fielder Gorman Thomas had 39 home runs and 112 RBI’s off 139 hits and 29 doubles. Left fielder Ben Oglivie had 34 home runs and 102 RBI’s off 147 hits and 22 doubles.

Starting pitcher Mike Caldwell went 17-13 with a 3.91 ERA, recording 12 complete games and 3 shutouts. Pete Vuckovich went 18-6 with 105 strikeouts and a 3.34 ERA, recording 9 complete games and 1 shutout. Bryan “Moose” Haas went 11-8 with 104 strikeouts, recording 3 complete games. Bob McClure went 12-7 with 99 strikeouts, recording 5 complete games. Randy Lerch went 8-7 with 1 complete game and 1 shutout. Closer Rollie Fingers had 29 saves and a 2.60 ERA. Relief pitcher Jim Slaton went 10-6 with 6 saves and a 3.29 ERA. Dwight Bernard went 3-1 with 6 saves and a 3.76 ERA. Jamie Easterly had 2 saves in 28 games.

In the American League Championship Series the Brewers faced the California Angels, and in Game 1 on October 5 at Anaheim Stadium, the Angels beat the Brewers 8-3. In the bottom of the 1st inning designated hitter Don Baylor had a sacrifice fly. In the top of the 2nd Gorman Thomas clubbed a 2-run home run. In the top of the 3rd Cecil Cooper grounded into a force-out at second base to score Paul Molitor. In the bottom of the 3rd second baseman Bobby Grich had an RBI single, Baylor had a 2-run triple, and right fielder Reggie Jackson had an RBI ground-out. In the bottom of the 4th Baylor had a 2-run single. In the bottom of the 5th center fielder Fred Lynn hit a solo home run.

In Game 2 on October 6 the Angels won 4-2. California’s Bruce Kison pitched a complete game, giving up 5 hits and 2 runs, but recorded 8 strikeouts. In the bottom of the 2nd inning shortstop Tim Foli had an RBI single and catcher Bob Boone had an RBI off a sacrifice bunt. In the bottom of the 3rd Jackson hit a solo home run, and in the bottom of the 4th Boone had a sacrifice fly. In the top of the 5th Molitor had an inside-the-park 2-run home run, but it wouldn’t spark a Milwaukee rally.

In Game 3 on October 8 at County Stadium, the Brewers won 5-3. In the bottom of the 4th inning Cooper had an RBI double, and both Thomas and Don Money had sacrifice flies. In the bottom of the 7th Molitor smacked a 2-run home run. In the top of the 8th Boone hit a solo home run, and then Lynn and Baylor both had RBI doubles.

In Game 4 on October 9 the Brewers won 9-5. In the bottom of the 2nd inning left fielder Mark Brouhard had an RBI single, and then a throwing error scored both Money and Brouhard. In the bottom of the 4th a wild pitch scored Money, Gantner had an RBI single, and then Molitor had an RBI ground-out. In the top of the 6th Lynn had an RBI double, and in the bottom of the 6th Gantner had an RBI single. In the top of the 8th Baylor launched a grand slam home run, but in the bottom of the 8th Brouhard responded by belting a 2-run home run.

In the deciding Game 5 on October 10 the Brewers won 4-3. In the top of the 1st inning Lynn had an RBI single, and in the bottom of the 1st Simmons had a sacrifice fly. In the top of the 3rd Lynn had an RBI single, and in the to of the 4th Boone had an RBI single. In the bottom of the 4th Ben Oglivie hit a solo home run, and in the bottom of the 7th Cooper had a 2-run single.

Though they won the American League pennant, the Milwaukee Brewers were unable to overcome the well-rounded firepower of the National League Champion St. Louis Cardinals as they fell to the Cardinals 4 games to 3. However, the Brewers had plenty of accomplishments to look back on. Robin Yount would be named American League Most Valuable Player. Cecil Cooper would win the Silver Slugger Award. Pete Vuckovich would win the American League Cy Young Award. Milwaukee manager Harvey Kuenn would be named the Associated Press Manager of the Year. Yount and Cooper would be starters for the All-Star Game while Oglivie and Fingers would make the All-Star Game as reserves.