"The last opening day at Milwaukee's Borchert Field", 1952

Fans are right up on the action during opening day at Borchert Field on April 16, 1952. Attendance was 11,190 for the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Minneapolis Millers, in what was the final home opener played at the Milwaukee ballpark. (Milwaukee Journal)

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel just published an amazing retrospective of the last home opener at Borchert Field.

Our Back Pages: The last opening day at Milwaukee's Borchert Field

Chris Foran
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Published 8:24 a.m. CT March 28, 2017 | Updated 4:25 p.m. CT March 28, 2017

It was the end of an era, but at least it was warm and sunny.

On April 16, 1952, the minor-league Milwaukee Brewers played in what everyone knew was going to be the last opening day ever at Borchert Field against the Minneapolis Millers.

"Borchert's Orchard" had been the home of Milwaukee baseball for half a century. But the wood-framed stadium — rickety, worn out, its roof ripped off by a windstorm eight years earlier — was making way for a new baseball palace. Workers were in the home stretch on County Stadium, the Menomonee Valley ballpark being built ostensibly to house the 1953 Brewers but really to lure Major League Baseball back to Milwaukee.

But on this spring day, with sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 60s, Borchert Field, at the corner of N. 8th and W. Chambers streets, was where the national pastime returned for one final opener.

The Brewers came into the 1952 season with high expectations. The team had won the American Association pennant in 1951, and beaten the Montreal Royals in the "Junior World Series."

"A holiday atmosphere pervaded the old field," The Milwaukee Journal's Bob Wolf reported in his game story on April 17, 1952.

"The park was spruced up for its last opening-day fling. Bunting billowed in the fresh breeze, and the many shirt-sleeved fans provided an unusual sight for such an early opening," Wolf wrote. "Even the grass was surprisingly green."

After a color guard ceremony came the speeches. Wolf reported that Frank Zeidler – who was sworn in to start his second term as Milwaukee's mayor the day before – "drew a laugh when he suggested the shortest speech on record: 'Milwaukee, hurrah; Minneapolis, hah-hah; umpires, bah.' "

Once the game started, the Millers struck first. Brewers shortstop Johnny Logan, who had set a league record the year before with 46 straight games without an error, fumbled a grounder hit by future Hall of Famer Ray Dandridge, and before it was over, the Millers had scored three runs.

The Brewers responded with four runs in the bottom of the first, powered by a three-run homer by Hank Ertman. But that was the only lead the Brewers would have in the game, as the Millers pounded four pitchers for 14 hits and won, 11-5.

"It emphasized again that we must have some experienced pitchers to get along in this league," Manager Charlie Grimm told the Milwaukee Sentinel in its April 17, 1952, game report. "And the sooner the better."

Attendance for the game was 11,190, 40 more than were at the 1951 opener, which the Sentinel reported had more "rugged" weather. But, the Sentinel added, "most of the fans took the shellacking in good spirits."

Concessionaire Jack Schwid told the Journal that he had his best opening-day business in years. The Journal dutifully ran the numbers: "The fans consumed 7,425 hot dogs, 12,780 bottles of beer, 8,700 bottles of soft drinks, 3,800 bags of peanuts, and 2,040 ice cream bars. Sales averaged 55 cents a head."

The Brewers regrouped from that opening-day defeat to top the American Association standings again in 1952, only to lose in the playoffs to the Kansas City Blues, 4 games to 3.

Demolition of the old ballpark began in December of 1952. County Stadium opened for business, with the major-league Milwaukee Braves, in April 1953. Two months later, Borchert was gone, replaced by a city tot lot and, later, by I-43.

There's also an amazing photo gallery.

Give the Journal Sentinel a click, so we can get more articles covering the Orchard's history.

Video From the Orchard

Milwaukee historian Bob Buege was on WTMJ's "The Morning Blend" promoting his new book "Borchert Field: Stories from Milwaukee's Legendary Ballpark", and shares not only some stories but some rare video.



Check out the video on YouTube, it's amazing.

"Borchert Field: Stories from Milwaukee's Legendary Ballpark"

Milwaukee baseball historian has a new book out, published by the Wisconsin Historical Society Press. And brother, is it a doozy.

Borchert Field: Stories from Milwaukee’s Legendary Ballpark is three hundred and ninety-two pages of pure history gold. I can't say enough about it, but if you're here you certainly don't need me to.

Buy a copy from your local bookshop or directly from the Wisconsin Historical Society itself and support this grand work.

Bob Thorpe Wire Photo, 1951

This gorgeous photo shows outfielder Bob Thorpe in his Brewer uniform standing on the grass of Borchert Field.

He looks like he's waiting for a popup to come down, although the men in the background betray the staging.

Thorpe was a right-handed outfielder who had worked his way up through the Braves' organization. He was in his sixth year of organized baseball, starting with the Florida State League's Gainesville G-Men and ending with the Atlanta Crackers of the Southern Association in the year before this photo was taken. Milwaukee was the last stop on the way to the majors, which is exactly where he was headed.

1951 was a good year for Thorpe. He led the Brews in runs and stolen bases, and was in the top four in hits, doubles, triples, home runs and RBI. His batting average was just a point below .300. All of which earned him a spot on the Braves' roster in 1952, and when he next returned to Milwaukee it was with the rest of the Braves team in the spring of 1953.

The photo doesn't have any copyright, newspaper stamps or wire service information. It is simply stamped "FILED MAY 2, 1951".

It is particularly interesting for its look at the outfield ads, most notably WEMP radio up top (proudly boasting of its Brewer baseball broadcasts with Earl Gillespie) and Miller High Life down below.

I'm not familiar with the John Schroeder Lumber & Supply Company, but a quick Google search tells me that it was a Milwaukee-based lumber company, at one point among the largest lumber retailers in the United States. They owned logging forests upstate as well as Minnesota and Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

That's a gorgeous uniform Thorpe is wearing. It illustrates the Brewers' move from fully-independent club to minor-league affiliate, as the uniforms became more and more like the parent club's. The rich, cream-colored flannel stands out in this photo.

1922 Oorang Indians vs. Milwaukee Badgers Government Postcard

This postcard is currently up for auction as part of Heritage Auctions' February 25 - 26 Platinum Night Sports Collectibles Catalog Auction.

It commemorates the Oorang Indians' visit to Borchert Field to take on the Cream City's resident NFL club, the Milwaukee Badgers on November 19, 1922.

1922 Oorang Indians (Jim Thorpe) vs. Milwaukee Badgers Government Postcard

1922 Oorang Indians (Jim Thorpe) vs. Milwaukee Badgers Government Postcard. Led by all-world sports legend Jim Thorpe, the Oorang Indians of the National Football League were put together by Walter Lingo to market his Oorang dog kennels in 1922. With a population of well under 1,000 people, the town of LaRue, Ohio remains the smallest city in NFL history.

Presented here is an original Government Postcard/ticket from the Indians' 1922 meeting with Milwaukee. Measuring at 3.25x5.5", it is part of an amazing find of Jim Thorpe memorabilia that originated in Indiana. Exhibiting moderate wear with one small tear, it is unused and not postmarked. Encapsulated SGC Authentic.

Athletic Park is, of course, the original name of Borchert Field. It wouldn't be renamed for Brewers owner Otto Borchert for another five years.

I like that terrier logo. The implied tenacity is perfect for any sports team, much less one named after a kennel company.

The card's reverse bears the name of the Oorang coach:

Jim Thorpe was a legend in American history. He was also known to Milwaukee sports fans, having played for the Brewers in 1916.

The hometown Badgers were victorious that day, as the men in orange defeated Thorpe's men 13-0. Both Milwaukee touchdowns were scored by Paul Robeson, who would soon become a world-famous singer, actor, and icon of the Civil Rights Movement.

1919 Schedule Card

This 1919 schedule card sold a couple years ago on eBay. A simple wallet-sized card, it lists the team's schedule, both "At Home" and "Abroad".

On the back, a 1919 calendar.

Notice that there's no team nickname. There's a very good reason for that, but it's a story for another time.

Happy Holidays from Jolly Cholly and All of Us!

We've published this holiday card before, but hey. Classics are classics.

Have a Jolly Cholly Christmas, and Happy Holidays from everyone at Borchert Field!


The story behind our seasonal photo is here.

PFC Veeck Reports, 1943

In honor of Veterans' Day, here's a photo of our very own Private First Class Bill Veeck reporting for duty.

Marine Private William L. Veeck, 29, who started out selling pop in baseball parks and now owns the profitable Milwaukee Brewers ball club, starts a new career -that of a leatherneck. Veeck is reporting to his recruit tent at San Diego, following his initial equipment issue on Dec. 24, 1943. — Marine Corps photo from Acme

Mini Pennant c. 1950s

I just picked up this cute little pennant on eBay. It's smaller than the 1936-37 Red Ball Gum pennant we looked at a couple years ago. And unlike that other pennant, it eschews graphics altogether in favor of steeply-angled text trailing down to a point: "MILWAUKEE BREWERS" in gold piant on dark brown felt.

At 2⅞ by 1⅞, this is a very tiny souvenir of a bygone age.

We can date this to the American Association Brewers (as opposed to the later American League incarnation) by other exemplars from American Association clubs. I have photos of similar pennants for the Louisville Colonels (in burgandy), the Minneapolis Millers (navy) and St. Paul Saints (green).

Beyond that, I don't have any information on this pennant. I'm presuming that it was a premium, but for what? Baseball cards? Cigarettes? Anybody know?

Gone Fishing

I'm going to take a little break from this site. Well, maybe not a break so much as a slowdown.

The Journal Sentinel's decision to pull their archives off the web has hit me pretty hard. Even though we have reports that decision may be temporary, I'm going to run on a reduced schedule for a little while. I hope you'll bear with me.