1953 Milwaukee Braves season

Move of Braves from Boston to Milwaukee

Construction began on Milwaukee County Stadium in 1950 in hopes of both luring a Major League baseball team, as well as the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. The minor league Milwaukee Brewers were scheduled to begin play at the start of the 1953 season.

However, in the first move of a Major League team in half a century, on March 18, 1953, the National League approved owner Lou Perini's move of the Braves to Milwaukee 8–0 because of his "fine standing" with the other owners and also because there was an open city for his minor league team then in Milwaukee. The minor league Brewers moved to Toledo, Ohio, and changed their name to the Mudhens. The full AP quote about fine standing: "Warren Giles, National League president, repeated again and again that 'Perini's fine standing with the other club owners was the most important reason for their approval.'"

Braves manager Charlie Grimm had won two minor league pennants while in Milwaukee (one with the Cubs farm team and the second with the Braves farm team in 1951). In addition, the Braves organization promoted him from their Milwaukee farm team to the MLB Boston Braves the summer of 1952. Furthermore, 21 of 40 players on the Braves' starting roster had played at least some of their minor league careers in Milwaukee.

Milwaukee County gave the Braves a favorable stadium deal. For the first two years, the team would pay only $1,000 a year for the use of Milwaukee County Stadium. For the next three years, the team would pay 5% of ticket prices and concessions. After that, the rent would be negotiated afresh, with the Braves being required to open their books.

At the time of the move, the Braves owner Lou Perini said, "A third major league is the only answer for the future." This did not come to pass. In spite of the Mexican League attracting some MLB players in the 1940s, , professional baseball in the United States comprises only two major leagues: the National League and the American League.

Regular season

Season standings

Opening game

The Braves moved from Boston to Milwaukee on March 18, 1953, less than four weeks before the start of the regular season, causing the National League to quickly realign its schedule. Before 1953, the NL was divided into four Eastern teams (Boston, Brooklyn, New York, Philadelphia) and four "Western" ones (Chicago, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, St. Louis). With the Milwaukee Braves now a Western club, they exchanged 1953 schedules with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and opened their season on the road against the Cincinnati Redlegs in the traditional NL opener at Crosley Field on Monday, April 13. Braves' starting pitcher Max Surkont threw a three-hit shutout, however, and Sid Gordon and Jack Dittmer drove in the only runs of the day, as Milwaukee triumphed, 2–0. The following day, April 14, they opened at home before 34,357 fans, and in ten innings they defeated the St. Louis Cardinals at Milwaukee County Stadium, 3–2. Warren Spahn earned the complete game victory.

Starting lineup, April 13, 1953

Record vs. opponents

Roster

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

• Tied with Robin Roberts (PHI) for league lead

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Awards and honors

• Sporting News NL Pitcher of the Year - Warren Spahn
• Sporting News Executive of the Year - Lou Perini

All-Star Game

• Warren Spahn, Pitcher, Reserve

Farm system

and Billy Jurges Lucius Morgan and Julian Morgan LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Wichita Falls, Quebec

References

• 1953 Milwaukee Braves season at Baseball Reference

References

1. Hand, Jack. (March 19, 1953). "Transfer of Braves to Milwaukee viewed as first in series of future changes". Youngstown Vindicator.
2. (March 18, 1953). "Boston Braves go to Milwaukee". Pittsburgh Press.
3. Thisted, Red. (March 19, 1953). "We're home of the Braves!". Milwaukee Sentinel.
4. (March 18, 1958). "Approve Boston Braves' move". Ellensburg Daily Record.
5. Chapman, Lou. (September 21, 1953). "Braves fans set NL mark".
6. Wolf, Bob. (September 21, 1953). "Braves split final with reds as crowd smashes record". Milwaukee Journal.
7. [https://www.milwaukeemag.com/story-behind-this-1953-brewers-ticket/ The Story Behind This 1953 Brewers Ticket], ''Milwaukee Magazine'', Matthew Prigge, Nov. 1, 2017. This article includes a picture of a never-used 1953 Milwaukee Brewers ticket, the minor league team which would have opened at the new stadium.
8. [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1953/B04130CIN1953.htm Retrosheet box score: 1953-04-13]
9. [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1953/B04140MLN1953.htm Retrosheet box score: 1953-04-14]