(Published Wednesday, July 18, 2007 11:12:14 AM CST)
A d v e r t i s e m e n t
By Chris Schultz Gazette staff
The Milwaukee Brewers team Clarence "Ginger" Beaumont played for in 1898 is in no way related to the current Milwaukee Brewers.
In fact, it is one of three teams that have played in Milwaukee under that name.
Originally founded as a minor league franchise in 1884, the first Brewers team became charter members of the new American League in 1901. Unfortunately, the newly minted major league team played just one season in Milwaukee, finishing last.
In 1902, the owners moved the team to St. Louis, where it was renamed the Browns. That team was later sold to a Baltimore group in 1954 and is now the American League's Baltimore Orioles.
A second Brewers team was founded in 1902 as a minor league club. That team played in Milwaukee until 1952, when the Boston Braves became the Milwaukee Braves.
With a major league team in town, the minor league Brewers were forced out. The team moved to Toledo, where it still plays minor league ball as the Mudhens.
The Braves left Milwaukee for Atlanta in 1965.
Then, a local group headed by Allan Huber "Bud" Selig Jr. and Edmund Fitzgerald acquired ownership of an American League franchise called the Seattle Pilots in 1970. That team became the current Milwaukee Brewers.
The Brewers switched over to the National League in 1998.
As for the first Brewers team, which became the Browns: the Browns were sold to a Baltimore group in 1954. That team is now the Baltimore Orioles of the American League.
-Information from the Official Milwaukee Brewers Web site, the Official Minor League Baseball Web site and the on-line book "The Minor League Milwaukee Brewers" by Brian A. Podoll.
