This multi-part series talks about how the Brewers got to the World Series and offers a timeline of the 1982 campaign, including player profiles, game recaps, and other events that affected the season.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
World Series Preview: Milwaukee vs. St. Louis
Milwaukee came from two games down to defeat the California Angels three games to two in the American League Championship Series, to advance to the World Series. In the National League, the St. Louis Cardinals earned a trip to the Fall Classic by sweeping the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS.
The series was billed as the Brewers’ power versus the Cardinals’ speed. Milwaukee’s ‘Harvey’s Wallbangers’ led the major leagues with 216 home runs, while the Cards were dead last with 67 jacks. (Yes, 67. For the whole team. For the whole season.) The Cardinals, who played ‘Whiteyball’ under manager Whitey Herzog, stole 200 bases (second to Oakland’s 232) while the Brew Crew stole 84, ranking 20th of the 26 teams.
The Cardinals had an edge on defense with their overall team speed, and had two Gold Glove winners in first baseman Keith Hernandez and shortstop Ozzie Smith. For the Brewers, shortstop Robin Yount won a Gold Glove.
It appeared that the Cardinals had a slight advantage on the mound. Their team ERA+ of 109 was tied for third in the majors, while Milwaukee had a team ERA+ of 96, which ranked 21st. The Cards had a FIP of 3.68 (10th) while the Brewers were further down the list with a 4.17 FIP, which ranked 22nd.
The series was dubbed the ‘Suds Series,’ as both cities had major breweries in Miller (Milwaukee) and Anheuser-Busch (St. Louis).
Let’s tap the keg for the opening game!
Game 1: Molitor, Yount combine for nine hits in Brewer blowout
Milwaukee (Mike Caldwell, 17-13) at St. Louis (Bob Forsch, 15-9)
The Brewers scored twice in the first inning, after Robin Yount singled and Cecil Cooper walked. After Ted Simmons struck out, Ben Oglivie hit a sharp grounder at Gold Glover Hernandez, who let the ball get past him, scoring Yount. Gorman Thomas had an infield single, scoring Cooper.
Caldwell cruised through three frames, allowing only a two-base hit to Darrell Porter in the second. In the top of the fourth, Charlie Moore led off with a double down the left-field line. Jim Gantner dropped down a sac bunt that moved Moore to third. Paul Molitor hit a broken-bat flare to short center, scoring Moore, but Molitor was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double. If you were scoring at home, the play would have been 6-4.
The Brewers led 3-0 when Simmons came to bat in the fifth. Simmons had received a standing ovation during pre-game introductions, but the crowd was quiet when ‘Simba’ blasted a 1-1 pitch from Forsch into the right field stands, giving Milwaukee a 4-0 lead.
An inning later, Gantner and Molitor each singled with two outs and were driven in by Yount, who hit a bloop double down the right-field line to make it 6-0 and send Forsch to the showers.
Milwaukee finished the scoring in the top of the ninth with four runs, all after two outs had been recorded—a pleasing echo of the way they’d run away from the Orioles in the clinching game at the end of the regular season. Don Money singled in Oglivie, who had walked. Moore singled to put runners at first and second before Gantner tripled to deep right-center, clearing the bases. Molitor capped the scoring with an infield single that scored Gantner.
Caldwell put the side down in order in the bottom half, and the Brewers celebrated a 10-0 whitewashing. ‘Iron Mike’ allowed three hits and one walk while inducing 14 groundball outs with his sinker.
“I don’t think he missed the target all night,” right fielder Moore told the Wisconsin State Journal. “You will never see Caldwell pitch any better.”
The Brewers were led by Molitor’s five hits, which set a World Series record and still stands today, although Albert Pujols of the Cardinals matched that feat in Game 3 of the 2011 World Series. Yount had four hits, along with two each by Simmons, Moore, and Gantner.
Game 2: Cardinals bullpen the difference in 5-4 win
Milwaukee (Don Sutton, 4-1) at St. Louis (John Stuper, 9-7)
The Brewers once again got on the board first in St. Louis. With Roy Howell at second, Moore doubled to deep left-center to score Howell in the second inning for a 1-0 lead. In the third inning, Molitor scored on a groundout by Yount. Two batters later, Simmons hit his second homer of the Series to give Milwaukee a 3-0 lead.
Sutton, who had set down six straight in the first two innings, ran into some trouble in the bottom of the third. Dane Iorg singled and was forced at second by Willie McGee, who promptly stole second. Ozzie Smith grounded out, moving McGee to third, and it looked like Sutton might weather the storm. But Tommy Herr had different ideas, as he hit a drive that bounced over the fence in right-center field for a ground-rule double, to make it 3-1. Ken Oberkfell singled to right to drive in Herr, cutting the Brewers’ lead to 3-2.
In the fifth, Yount led off with a double to left to chase Stuper in favor of Jim Kaat. ‘Kitty’ was making his second appearance of the Series, and at age 43, he was the second-oldest player to participate in the Fall Classic. Not respecting his elders, Cooper lined a single to left-center to score Yount and make it a 4-2 lead.
Sutton got back in the groove, retiring eight straight after the third, but with one out in the sixth, Oberkfell singled and George Hendrick walked with two outs. Former Brewer Porter doubled down the left-field line to tie the contest at 4-4.
After Cooper doubled with two outs in the seventh, closer Bruce Sutter entered the game, replacing Doug Bair. Sutter walked Simmons intentionally, then got Oglivie to ground out.
The score was still tied in the eighth when Hernandez walked and was forced at second by Hendrick. Porter singled to center, moving Hendrick to second. That was the end of the line for reliever Bob McClure, who was removed as Pete Ladd came on for Milwaukee. Ladd ran the count to 3-2 on Lonnie Smith and walked the hitter on a close pitch, one which players on both teams thought was a strike.
“I thought it was there on the black,” Smith said after the game.
“Was I surprised at the call?” Molitor asked. “I think everyone in this clubhouse was surprised at the call.” Ladd appeared to be rattled, throwing four straight balls to Steve Braun, scoring Hendrick for the 5-4 lead.
Molitor led off the top of the ninth with an infield single, but then was thrown out trying to steal second. Yount and Cooper were retired by Sutter, and the Cards evened the Series with a 5-4 victory.
Cooper led the Brewers with three hits, while Molitor and Moore each added two.
The Series is tied at one win apiece. Check out Part 8 for the games (Games 3-5) played at County Stadium.
Are you interested in Brewers history? Then check out the Milwaukee Brewers Players Project, a community-driven project to discover and collect great information on every player to wear a Brewers uniform!