» December 31, 1949: The 1940s is the only decade in ML baseball history in which no new stadiums are built. After Cleveland opened Municipal Stadium in 1932, no new ballpark will be opened until County Stadium in Milwaukee is unveiled in 1953. » March 17, 1953:
The Braves club gets the use of Milwaukee County Stadium at a low rental.
» April 14, 1953:
In a 3-2 victory, Braves OF Billy Bruton hits
the first ML HR in Milwaukee's County Stadium,
in the 10th inning off Gerry Staley of the Cards.
This is the first game for the home crowd since
1901 when the Milwaukee Brewers were charter members
of the AL.
» August 12, 1953:
The Braves and Cards draw 36,241, a record crowd for a twi-night doubleheader in Milwaukee's County Stadium.
» August 29, 1954:
A disappointed crowd of 45,922 at Milwaukee's County Stadium sees the Dodgers take two from the Braves, 12-4 and 114. In game one, the Dodgers
break a tie with a record eight runs in the 11th. The Braves establish a new NL attendance mark of 1,841,666 on their way to a season total of 2,131,388.
» April 30, 1961:
Using Joey Amalfitano's bat, Willie Mays becomes the 9th player in ML history to enjoy a 4-HR game, and his eight RBI pace the Giants to a 14–4 win at Milwaukee's County Stadium. Led by Willie's 4, the Giants total a record tying eight homers (and 13 in two games) as Orlando Cepeda (2), Felipe Alou, and Jose Pagan also homer. Willie's 6th inning homer clears the LF bleachers at County Stadium. Hank Aaron collects a pair for the Braves for all the scoring. Billy Loes is the winning pitcher, and it marks the 4th time he has been in uniform at a game where a player has hit four homers: Loes was with the Dodgers in '50 and '54 when Gil Hodges and the Braves Joe Adcock connected, and with the Orioles in '59 when Rocky Colavito collected four.
» August 17, 1961: It takes the Phils 11 innings at County Stadium, but they finally lose to the Braves, 7–6 when Al Spangler singles home the winner. For Philadelphia, it is their 20th loss in a row, a modern ML record. The Phils lose a 6–4 lead in the 8th when Joe Adcock slams a 2-run homer off Art Mahaffey to tie.
» April 24, 1966:
Atlanta's 5–2 win at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in the first game of a doubleheader is an National League-record 18th straight home win against the Mets. "Home" for 17 of those wins was Milwaukee.
» April 8, 1969:
In the Padres victory over Houston, the leadoff batter at Jack Murphy Stadium is Astro outfielder Jesus Alou. Brother Matty Alou, with the Pirates, was the first batter up at the opening of Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium on April 12, 1966, and Brother Felipe, playing for Atlanta, was the first batter up when Busch Stadium opened in St. Louis a month later.
» June 14, 1975: Milwaukee defeats the Angels and Nolan Ryan, 6–4 at County Stadium. Aaron has two hits, including his 7th homer of the year.
» July 2, 1975:
Jim Rice, installed today as the Red Sox regular LF, belts two homers in the first game, including one that is the longest ever hit at County Stadium. In game 2, Fred Lynn is kept off the bases, ending his streak of 38 straight games. Boston's Rick Wise wins the opener, 6–3, not giving up a hit until two are out in the 9th. George Scott then clouts a 2-run homer, and Danny Darwin follows with another dinger.
» April 8, 1976: At County Stadium, the Brewers open against the Yankees with Hank Aaron driving in three runs to back Jim Slaton's 4-hit 5–0 win. Five days later, Slaton will shut out the Tigers. Catfish Hunter is the loser, allowing five runs in seven innings. Later, both he and reliever Sparky Lyle, complain about the flatness of the mound.
» April 10, 1976:
The Brewers trail 9–6 with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th inning at a full County Stadium. Because of crowd noise, Yankee relief P Dave Pagan does not hear the time-out called by 1B Chris Chambliss. Pagan pitches to Don Money, who hits a grand slam. Because of the time-out the home run is nullified. Money bats again, and hits a sacrifice ?y. The final score is 9–7 and the Brewers protest the game.
» September 17, 1976: At Milwaukee's County Stadium, 40,383 fans are on hand to celebrate "Hank Aaron Day." Among those gathered are commissioner Bowie Kuhn and Jack Ford, representing his father Gerald. Hank goes hitless in five at-bats, and the first-place Yankees spoil the night by winning, 5–3, in 11 innings. Graig Nettles hits a solo homer in the 11th for the game winner, and an insurance run scores on a suicide bunt. Ed Figueroa tallies his 19th win, and the Yanks pad their lead to 11 games.
» September 24, 1980: The Braves, with 24,897 watching, beat the Astros 4–2 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, pushing the Braves over the one million attendance mark for the season. The 11 other National League teams have already reached that milestone, making this the first season ever in which all the teams in one league have done so.
» July 3, 1982: A County Stadium-record crowd of 55,716 watches the Brewers shut out the Red Sox 7–0 to move into a first-place tie with Boston in the AL East.
» June 24, 1983: Milwaukee's Don Sutton strikes out Alan Bannister in the 8th inning of a 3–2 win over Cleveland to become the 8th pitcher in ML history with 3,000 career strikeouts. County Stadium is packed with 46,037 fans for the game, mostly to welcome back popular OF Gorman Thomas, who was traded to Cleveland earlier this month.
» August 17, 1983: At County Stadium, the Brewers Tom Candiotti makes his first ML start and complete game beating the Red Sox, 5–1. Candiotti, who will not throw a knuckler until 1985, will go 4–0 in his first four decisions, compiling an .0.84 ERA. He'll shut out the Angels on August 25.
» July 17, 1991: Two naked Braves fans run onto the field at Fulton County Stadium then slide into home plate. The duo are apprehended by security guards. Not distracted, the Braves defeat the Cubs, 12-2.
» September 14, 1991:
In the Tigers' 6-4 win over the Brewers, Detroit's Cecil Fielder hits a 502-foot home run, which is believed to be the 1st ball ever hit out of Milwaukee's County Stadium, off Dan Plesac. The ball lands in the back of a truck driven by Gary Schumacher, who doesn't stop until he is near Madison.
» June 11, 1993:
The Yankees-Brewers game at County Stadium is interrupted by some 100 sea gulls who swoop down onto the field, apparently in search of moths hatching in the infield and outfield grass. The Yankees eventually win the game by a score of 5–4.
» June 21, 1997:
Six inches of rain fall in a few hours in Milwaukee, flooding Milwaukee County Stadium to the third row. The dugouts are filled with water to the roof.
» November 23, 1998:
Bob Betts, the p.a. announcer whose distinctive baritone made him synonymous with Brewers baseball at Milwaukee County Stadium, dies at the age of 70. Betts announced the home games for 23 seasons.
» June 26, 1999: Shortstop Pat Meares of the Pittsburgh Pirates, on the disabled list recovering from surgery on his left hand, participates in a sausage race at Milwaukee's County Stadium. Meares, dressed as a 10-foot bratwurst, wins the race defeating a giant hot dog and a polish sausage. Two days ago, Meares was caught on videotape sunbathing in the upper deck of Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium for the first six innings of game.
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