Milwaukee Schlitz

Milwaukee began play in the inaugural 1977 American Professional Slo-Pitch League (APSPL) season as the Milwaukee Copper Hearth.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64705618/valley-news/|title=Clipped From Valley News|date=May 25, 1977|pages=42|via=newspapers.com}} The Copper Hearth was initially an amateur softball club that, in 1969, had won the Amateur Softball Association national championship.{{Cite web|url=https://www.softballhistoryusa.com/1969-asa-mens-open-slow-pitch-nationals/|title=1969 ASA Men’s Open Slow Pitch Nationals – Softball History USA|website=www.softballhistoryusa.com}} Milwaukee joined the fledgling APSPL, formed by former World Football League executive Bill Byrne, who would go on to launch the Women's Professional Basketball League.{{Cite web|date=2013-08-23|title=196?-1977 Milwaukee Copper Hearth • Fun While It Lasted|url=https://funwhileitlasted.net/2013/08/23/1977-milwaukee-copper-hearth-softball/|access-date=2020-11-19|website=Fun While It Lasted|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64767329/the-journal-times/|title=Clipped From The Journal Times|date=April 3, 1977|pages=47|via=newspapers.com}} Former New York Yankees player Whitey Ford was brought on to serve as league commissioner.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64607292/lansing-state-journal/|title=Clipped From Lansing State Journal|date=July 21, 1977|pages=42|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64783650/the-courier-journal/|title=Clipped From The Courier-Journal|date=September 3, 1978|pages=8|via=newspapers.com}} The club took its name from its first sponsor, a blue-collar tavern in Milwaukee, the Copper Hearth, owned by John Korinek Sr.{{Cite web|url=http://www.jsonline.com/news/obituaries/korineks-homemade-food-was-the-bread-and-butter-of-copper-hearth-b99273696z1-260016361.html|title=Korinek’s homemade food was bread and butter of Copper Hearth|website=www.jsonline.com}} Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company took over sponsorship in 1978 and the team would play through their final professional season as the Milwaukee Schlitz.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64767856/fond-du-lac-commonwealth-reporter/|title=Clipped From Fond Du Lac Commonwealth Reporter|date=May 12, 1978|pages=16|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite web|title=Milwaukee Schlitz – Softball History USA|url=https://www.softballhistoryusa.com/milwaukee-schlitz/|access-date=2020-11-19|website=www.softballhistoryusa.com}}

Milwaukee was led by local softball standout Phil Higgins,{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64767439/the-journal-times/|title=Clipped From The Journal Times|date=June 29, 1976|pages=18|via=newspapers.com}} along with Doug Czaplewski, Jim Dillard and Ken Parker in 1977. The Copper Hearth finished with the third-best record in the league at 38-17 (.696), three games behind league-leading Detroit Caesars, but were upset in the first round of the playoffs by the Cleveland Jaybirds 2-1. Benny Holt of the Chicago Storm was the league MVP with Detroit winning the 1977 APSPL World Series.{{Cite web|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1977/06/13/its-easy-come-easy-go|title=It's easy come, easy go|first=Kent|last=Hannon|website=Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com}} Making the All-APSPL team from Milwaukee were Tom Gorski (.500 BA, 22 HRs, 75 RBIs, 17-8 Pitching), Doug Czaplewski (.603 BA, 92 runs scored), Jim Dillard (.544, 34 HRs, 117 RBIs), Phil Higgins (.611, 41 HRs, 131 RBIs) and Ken Parker (.545, 37 HRs, 109 RBIs).{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64767378/the-cincinnati-enquirer/|title=Clipped From The Cincinnati Enquirer|date=September 2, 1977|pages=37|via=newspapers.com}}

In 1978, Parker and Higgins once again led the team, now the Milwaukee Schlitz,{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64768023/the-journal-times/|title=Clipped From The Journal Times|date=May 7, 1978|pages=49|via=newspapers.com}} and the team produced a 38-28 (.583) record, finishing in third place in the highly competitive Midwestern Division, but missing the APSPL playoffs with their division finish, and despite having a better record than 3 playoff teams, including the two teams from the Eastern Division (New England Pilgrims and Philadelphia A's). The Detroit Caesars repeated as APSPL champions in 1978 with Ron Ford of Detroit winning the league MVP award. Phil Higgins (.569, 49 HRs, 137 RBIs) and Ken Parker (.634, 37 HRs, 121 RBIs) made the all -star team with Dave Holz (.528, 16 HRs) and Paul Wenzel (.521, 12 HRs, 73 RBIs) contributing well.

Focused on taking the next step, the Schlitz were led in 1979 by APSPL all-stars Phil Higgins (.531, 18 HRs, 89 RBIs) and Dennis Graser (.486, 22 HRs, 87 RBIs), as well as league and eventual APSPL World Series MVP Rick Weiterman (.557, 9 HRs, 69 RBIs, 37-18 Pitching).{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64768132/kenosha-news/|title=Clipped From Kenosha News|date=September 5, 1979|pages=17|via=newspapers.com}} Milwaukee finished with a 40-23 (.635) record, winning the Midwestern Division. Milwaukee beat Cleveland 3-0 in the first round of the APSPL playoffs and then beat the two-time APSPL champion Detroit Caesars 3-0 in the semi-finals, advancing to play the Kentucky Bourbons in the World Series.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/27530046/the-bourbons-schlitz-missing-tapes-story-espn-first-ever-broadcast|title=The Bourbons, the Schlitz and the missing tapes -- the story of ESPN's first broadcast|date=September 7, 2019|website=ESPN.com}} The series were broadcast nationwide as the first televised event on the new start-up sports network ESPN.{{Cite web|last=Radcliffe|first=J. R.|title=40 years ago, the first live ESPN game ever broadcast was a slow-pitch softball game in Wisconsin. How did it happen?|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/2019/08/28/e-60-espn-commemorates-its-first-broadcast-softball-game-lannon-wisconsin/1902053001/|access-date=2020-11-19|website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|language=en-US}} Milwaukee beat Kentucky 5-3 to win the APSPL championship.{{Cite web|title=Professional Slow Pitch Softball History|url=https://www.angelfire.com/sd/slopitch/pro.html|access-date=2020-11-19|website=Angelfire}}

Instability in other markets and internal political fighting saw three teams (Fort Wayne, Cleveland and Milwaukee) leave the APSPL to form the North American Softball League (NASL), under the leadership of Cleveland owner (and eventual owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers) Ted Stepien.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65037753/detroit-free-press/|title=Clipped From Detroit Free Press|date=August 19, 1979|pages=72|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64769478/the-journal-times/|title=Clipped From The Journal Times|date=June 8, 1980|pages=27|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64779255/kenosha-news/|title=Clipped From Kenosha News|date=January 16, 1980|pages=19|via=newspapers.com}} The APSPL continued with just 6 teams (down from 12 in each of the previous 3 seasons). Milwaukee dominated the new NASL with a league best 44-12 (.786) record with all-NASL performances from Dennis Graser (.480, 30 HRs, 98 RBIs), Phil Higgins .485, 16 HRs, 95 RBIs, 33 doubles), Rick Weiterman (45-13 pitching), and Jim Dilliard (22 doubles).{{Cite web|url=https://www.softballhistoryusa.com/category/other/nasl/|title=NASL – Softball History USA|website=www.softballhistoryusa.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65297038/wisconsin-state-journal/|title=Clipped From Wisconsin State Journal|date=September 3, 1980|pages=23|via=newspapers.com}} The Schlitz would take on Chicago Nationwide Advertising in the first round, beating Chicago 9-13, 10-7, 17-12, 16-12, 10-17, 22-17; (4-2).{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65747540/southtown-star/|title=Clipped From Southtown Star|date=September 4, 1980|pages=15|via=newspapers.com}} Milwaukee defeated the Detroit Auto Kings 5–2 (19–11, 10–12, 12–16, 22–13, 13–4, 12–3, 11–9) to win the only NASL World Series.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64768230/green-bay-press-gazette/|title=Clipped From Green Bay Press-Gazette|date=September 15, 1980|pages=20|via=newspapers.com}} Ken Parker of Milwaukee would take the World Series MVP trophy while Ron Olesiak of Chicago was the league MVP.{{Cite web|title=Detroit Caesars|url=https://detroitcaesars.weebly.com/|access-date=2020-11-19|website=Detroit Caesars|language=en}}

The NASL and the APSPL merged after the 1980 season to form a new league, the United Professional Softball League (UPSL). Milwaukee had an initial set-back in 1981 as perennial all-star Phil Higgins elected to play amateur baseball to start the season but would return to the team in August, just before the playoffs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65303933/the-tribune/|title=Clipped From The Tribune|date=May 21, 1981|pages=27|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65297375/the-courier-journal/|title=Clipped From The Courier-Journal|date=August 9, 1981|pages=46|via=newspapers.com}} Still, the Schlitz finished with a 37-21 (.638) record in 1981, 6 games behind the Cincinnati Suds in the Western Division. The Schlitz would get swept by the eventual league champion Kentucky Bourbons in the first-round 5-4, 13-4, 11-10; (3-0).{{Cite web|url=https://www.softballhistoryusa.com/category/other/aspsl/|title=ASPSL – Softball History USA|website=www.softballhistoryusa.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65298434/the-courier-journal/|title=Clipped From The Courier-Journal|date=August 24, 1981|pages=21|via=newspapers.com}} Bill Gatti of Kentucky won the league MVP award. Dennis Graser (.500 BA, 26 HRs, 76 RBIs) was the only Schlitz to make the all-league team in 1981. Dick Laba batted .485 and Rick Weiterman had a 36-21 pitching record in support.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64768385/the-courier-journal/|title=Clipped From The Courier-Journal|date=June 7, 1981|pages=40|via=newspapers.com}}

The Schlitz finished with a 32-32 (.500) record in 1982, their worst record in their 6 seasons of professional softball.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64768545/sunday-news/|title=Clipped From Sunday News|date=August 29, 1982|pages=30|via=newspapers.com}} But Milwaukee advanced to the playoffs, beating the Cincinnati Suds in the first round 11-4, 11-8, 13-4; (3-0) and then upset the Kentucky Bourbons, going to a 5th and deciding game with Milwaukee winning 23-22, for a 3-2 (10-7, 4-7, 9-21, 14-10, 23-22) victory in the semi-finals.{{Cite web|url=https://www.softballhistoryusa.com/category/other/uspl/|title=USPL – Softball History USA|website=www.softballhistoryusa.com}} Milwaukee went on to defeat Detroit Softball City 9-8, 8-3, 7-10, 13-11, 12-7, 39-6; (5-1), with Dick Laba of the Schlitz honored as the MVP.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64768632/sunday-news/|title=Clipped From Sunday News|date=September 19, 1982|pages=28|via=newspapers.com}} Schlitz players Rick Weiterman (.514 BA), Dennis Graser (43 HRs, 122 RBIs),{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64768453/the-dunn-county-news/|title=Clipped From The Dunn County News|date=July 7, 1982|pages=11|via=newspapers.com}} Phil Higgins (.572, 40 HRs, 125 RBIs, 24 doubles) and Derek Gallagher (.560 BA) made the all-league team with Dana Andry of the Cleveland Competitors winning the league MVP in the final season of professional softball in the United States. The Schlitz lost their sponsor when the Stroh Brewing Company purchased Schlitz in 1982 {{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/04/16/business/jos-schlitz-accepts-stroh-offer.html|title=JOS. SCHLITZ ACCEPTS STROH OFFER (Published 1982)|first=Robert J.|last=Cole|date=April 16, 1982|via=NYTimes.com}} and elected not to continue the team after the season. The UPSL also folded after the 1982 season, bringing the era of men's professional softball to an end.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64768682/sunday-news/|title=Clipped From Sunday News|date=May 8, 1983|pages=32|via=newspapers.com}}

Milwaukee first-baseman Dennis Graser is a member of the American Softball Association Hall of Fame, inducted in 2000.{{cite web |url=https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/National-Softball-Hall-of-Fame/Members |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531152611/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/National-Softball-Hall-of-Fame/Members |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 31, 2019 |title=HOF listing|website=www.teamusa.org|access-date=2020-12-14}} Schlitz pitcher Rick Weiterman was similarly honored and is in the United States Slowpitch Softball Association (USSSA) Hall of Fame.{{Cite web|url=http://hof.usssa.com/fame/|title=USSSA Hall of Fame and Museum|website=hof.usssa.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1993/08/09/its-around-here-someplace|title="It's Around Here Someplace"|first=Mike|last=D'Orso|website=Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://funwhileitlasted.net/2013/08/23/1977-milwaukee-copper-hearth-softball/ Milwaukee Copper Hearth on FunWhileItLasted.net]
• [https://www.angelfire.com/sd/slopitch/pro.html Softball History Data]
• [https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/2019/08/28/e-60-espn-commemorates-its-first-broadcast-softball-game-lannon-wisconsin/1902053001/ ESPN First Broadcast - Journal Sentinel]
• [https://www.softballhistoryusa.com/ Softball History USA]
• [https://detroitcaesars.weebly.com/ Detroit Caesars Online Home]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20190324200635/https://www.teamusa.org/usa-softball/national-softball-hall-of-fame National Softball Hall of Fame]

Category:Softball teams in Wisconsin

Category:Sports clubs and teams established in 1977

Category:Men's professional softball teams

Category:Sports in Milwaukee