Philadelphia, April 1916—It became a tradition for the Philadelphia Brewers Front Office to meet and discuss the immediate start of the season at the German Corner Pub. The infamous backroom where the Boeselager brothers and their general manager would spend hours drinking beer and playing cards was the starting point for every season. Only in…
Karl and Walther Boeselager walked through North Philadelphia along Jefferson Street. It was noisy as the three-story buildings surrounding the road trapped the sounds of horse-drawn carts on cobblestone and the chatter of hundreds of people who had just finished their shifts or came from school. The Boeselagers arrived at Jefferson Street Grounds and bought…
It was a wonderful April day in Philadelphia, the kind that made you believe in fresh starts. The sun bathed the cobblestone streets in a golden hue, and a light breeze carried the mingling scents of blooming flowers and freshly poured beer from the German Corner Pub’s brand-new Biergarten. The first week of warmth and…
The newspapers’ reactions were mixed when they quoted the Philadelphia Brewers staff before the season. The closer the staff was to the players, the less likely it was to reach the postseason, unlike the ownership, who announced they were eyeing for a playoff spot. Ultimately, it was a close run that the Boston Banshees deservedly…
“I’m not even sure what happened,” Leo McKenzie told the Boeselager brothers. “We were celebrating the victory, and then they were there.” “Who was there?” Karl Boeselager asked the team captain. “We need to know if we ever ask the league for investigations.” Along with Leo McKenzie, Karl, and Walther Boeselager, Martin Pitsch, the GM…
Unexpectedly, the Philadelphia Brewers have a successful season. The offense is back and among the best in the Eastern League. The team is second with just a half-game behind the Brooklyn Whales. One face of the resurgence is Leo McKenzie. The 40-year-old captain enjoys his best season since his severe injury in 1906. Philadelphia, maybe…
May 1, 1911 – by Ronald Schmidt Philadelphia is worried. Things are not going according to plan. The self-declared goal at the beginning of the season was to rebuild and strengthen efforts to lower the average age of the organization. The Philadelphia Brewers are now fighting for a qualifying spot in the postseason. Just before…
The sea was calm for once. The Atlantic Ocean was rough, the waves shaking the cruiser around like a child trying to get sounds from a rattle in the past days. But today, the sails moved gently with the wind. Passengers walked on the deck, chatted, or just enjoyed the view and fresh air. Who…
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….