There have been several special sports events that family members have been fortunate to witness. I’ve mentioned the Ron Dayne Badger Football game in November of 1999. The game was attended by John Hollander, Paul and myself. Dayne set the NCAA record for career rushing yardage and the Badgers beat Iowa to win the Big 10 Championship 41-7 on their way to a second straight Rose Bowl victory.
The baseball moment that sticks out in my mind is attending a Milwaukee Brewers playoff game in 1982. The Brewers were playing the California Angels and needed to win 3 games to move on in the playoffs. The first two games had been in California and the Angels had won both games. The series moved to Milwaukee County Stadium and things didn’t look too good for the Brewers.
I was working at Vollrath at the time and our lawyer at Foley and Lardner in Milwaukee offered me 4 tickets to the first playoff game in Milwaukee. The tickets were in the first row boxes of the Mezzanine right behind home plate. The Mezzanine had it’s own refreshment stand and private restrooms. How good does it get? Your mom and I attended along with my brother Jerry Lee and son Paul. Paul again? He seems to pop up at all the memorable events.
It was an afternoon game, I think played on a Thursday. The Brewer pitcher was ageng Don Sutton, a L.A. Dodger cast-off. It was late September and the temperature was low 70’s.
Off course there were hot dogs and soda and beer. If we ran short, we would just mosey down a short hallway and replenish.
If the Brewers lost, their season ended. This was definitely a “do or die” game. As it played out, the game was very close most of the way. I remember Cecil Cooper getting a few hits and the supporting cast was Robin Yount (a hall of famer), Paul Molitor (another hall of famer), and Gorman Thomas (a “bubba” home run hitter) playing key roles. I don’t remember the ebb and flow of the game but the Brewers prevailed 5-3. They were still alive.
I remember it was a joyous ride home. We knew we had seen something special.
The Brewers went on to win the next two games against California and moved on in the playoffs.
The Brewers made it to the world series and they played the St.Louis Cardinals in the World Series. The cardinals prevailed in a 7 game series so the Brewers fell just short of the ultimate goal.
In reflecting back, we got to witness the Brewers first play-off game ever and it was the prelude to the only time the Brewers were ever in a World Series.
You never know when those special moments are going to come along. Even better is getting to share the time with family and friends.
Love,
Dad