Brew Crew Battle: 1982 vs. 2011

While not a Milwaukee Brewers fan (I have the birth defect of being a Chicago White Sox supporter) I have always had a soft spot for the Brewers. I have spent the last 32 years working in professional sports and the Brewers were my first employer in the industry from 1979 to 1983. They are also in the same division of the team I enjoy cheering against the most, the Chicago Cubs. My enemy’s enemy is my friend.

I worked as an usher and ticket taker for the Brewers the last time they won a Division title.  Today’s blog post compares this year’s Brewers to the 1982 American League champions in 21 really important categories.  Ok, maybe 20 really unimportant categories and one important one:

Category                     1982 Brewers              > = <   2011 Brewers            
 
Closer’s facial hair:                    Rollie Fingers      >       John Axford
 
MVP humility:                              Robin Yount     =        Ryan Braun

Bars and Restaurants:       Stormin' and Vuke's     >       Ryan Braun's Graffito
 
Stadiums:               Milwaukee County Stadium    >      Miller Park
 
Historic displays:  Hank Aaron's shower sandals    >      Hank Aaron's statue
 
Announcer:                                   Bob Uecker    =       Bob Uecker

Mascot:                                         Old Bernie     <       New Bernie and Racing Sausages

Female entertainment:              Bonnie Brewer    <       Diamond Dancers
 
Owner:                                           Bud Selig     =       Mark Attanasio
 
Video Board:                                       Matrix      <       WOW!

Opposition respect:                     Cecil Cooper      >      Beast Mode & Tony Plush
 
Late season help:                         Don Sutton      >      Jerry Hairston
 
Ad spokesmen:        Jim Gantner Whirlpool Ads    <        Ryan Braun

Organist:                                   Frank Charles    >       Dean Rosko
 
Nickname:                    Harvey's Wallbanger's     >        SWAT Team
 
Unsung Heroes:                          Harry Dalton     =       Doug Melvin
 
Primary Logos:   1970s Barrel Man  >  MB Glove and Ball   >  M with Wheat shaft

Nicknames:      Tony Plush; Cory "Shades" Hart     >      Gumby and Mollie
 
Animal nicknames: Moose Haas; Big Foot Pete Ladd  >  LaTroy "Hawk" Hawkins; Randy "Lobo" Wolf

Local Hero:  Harvey Kuenn, Jim Gantner and Jerry Augustine   >   Whitefish Bay’s Craig Counsell

Attendance:                  2 million (give or take)     <       3 million (give or take)
 
Latinos:                  Ed Romero and Ben Oglivie      <       Yuni and Yovi
 
Sentimentality swings the 1982 Brewers as a heavy 12 category to five favorite in the categories above, but in the only comparison that may matter at all, the team on the field, the betting odds are different.

Despite my small personal connection to the 1982 Brewers, I have to give the edge to the current Brewers from a competitive stand point.  The 1982 Brewers had the better statistical power and batting average; they turned 133 more double plays and may have even had better team chemistry than the current team.  The current Brewers team chemistry is really good, too, however. 

Most importantly, though, the current Brewers starting and relief pitching is far superior to the 1982 staff.  Nothing against Moose Haas, Mike Caldwell, Don Sutton, Jerry Augustine, Rollie Fingers and the rest of the 1982 staff, but the 2011 Brewers pitching staff is the best in Milwaukee since “Spahn and Sain and pray for rain”. 

The 1982 Brewers will always be Milwaukee’s only American League champions after all.  In a seven game series, I would pick the current Brewers to win four games to three…assuming the current Brewers would have home field advantage for game seven.