July 1, 1909 – by Ronald Schmidt The 1909 draft is over, and the Brewers faithful look at the results with mixed feelings. Last season’s draft left a bitter taste after two first-round picks left unsatisfying results. Philadelphia always stared at the draft with suspicion. Successful seasons meant lower positions in the draft order. But…
When the OSA published their annual preseason predictions, most Brewers fans raised their eyebrows: Bottom last of the division with a 49-71 record. But it was strange that they were almost correct in their assumption. The Preseason October 1907 had two significant events for the Brewers. Outfielder Arnold Hill signed a contract worth nearly $67,000….
As the train chugged along the tracks, Rusty Hall gazed out of the window, lost in his thoughts. The invitation from his former baseball club, the Philadelphia Brewers, had stirred up a mix of emotions within him. It had been only a few months since he retired at the end of the 1907 season. Since…
The night before Opening Day. As usual, the Boeselager brothers, their general manager Martin Pitsch, and manager Troy Bujak sat in the Boeselager’s office in their own ballpark. They talked about the upcoming season and the work that still needs to be done but also chatted over some beers. All were excited to finally play…
It was a cold and windy Sunday in October 1907. Clouds hovered over the Philadelphian roofs, and the rain kicked in just as the mass ended. People left the church and immediately sinned by mumbling curses about the weather. Pitsch didn’t care. The walk to the German Corner Pub would be brief. Once a month, he tried…
It was 1907, and the Philadelphia Brewers were reeling from yet another loss to their archrivals, the Richmond Rifles. The game had been close, but the Brewers fell short in the end, losing 4-3. The last bit of hope vaporated into the Philadelphia sky. It was the week to catch up to Richmond, but the…
July 22, 1907 – by Ronald Schmidt 1906 gave Philadelphia a taste of what was coming. An aging team that spectacularly won two championships suddenly struggled to the postseason. The disadvantage was too significant without Leo McKenzie and Alfred Gilling, and the Brewers finally lost to the Empire. In a recent meeting with the club…
Troy Bujak and Martin Pitsch reviewed their opening day options in the manager’s office. Unfortunately, the offseason wasn’t as pleasant as the Brewers’ leadership hoped, but the roster would still be strong enough to compete for the division title. A knock on the door interrupted the deep conversation. Pitsch and Bujak looked up, and the…
It was the late afternoon of September 8, 1906. The Philadelphia Brewers lost the eighth game of the Legacy Cup to the Twin City Empire, who finally won it all in their fifth attempt within six years. Although the game was long over and the stands were empty, some players sat down near the first…
On August 24, 1906, after the fourth inning in game three of the League Cup series against the Brooklyn Whales, Alfred Gilling complained about back problems and didn’t return to the field. Gilling missed the remaining games, and the medical staff worked hard to cure him so he could step on the field again. Four…