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Milwaukee Brewers Alumni AssociationOne Brewers WayMilwaukee, WI 53214

H H H H H H H H H HH H H H H H H H H HUpcoming events Alumni H H H H H H H H H H

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July 18

Bud Selig Bobblehead Giveaway

Carlos Gomez Bobblehead Giveaway

Davey Nelson’s Celebrity Golf Tournament

Negro Leagues Tribute Game

Paul Molitor Bobblehead Giveaway

Bill Schroeder Wall of Honor Induction

Teddy Higuera Walk of Fame Induction

BREWERS

Get involved with the Milwaukee Brewers Alumni Association!

Contact: Dave Nelson, Director of Brewers Alumni Relations Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club • One Brewers Way • Milwaukee, WI 53214

(414) 902-4533 • (414) 902-4058 fax • (414) 426-8818 cell dave.nelson@brewers.com

WHERE NOW?Don August

arethey

’88-’91

As a kid growing up in Milwaukee, Craig Counsell had the best childhood imaginable. Like most youngsters, he loved playing baseball. Unlike most, he also lived it. Baseball was in his blood.

With a father who played minor league ball and later worked with Major League players, Craig had the inevitable privilege of getting up close and personal with many of his heroes and the game they represented. Not only did he get a chance to watch them play, he socialized with them, too.

He experienced firsthand what it took to play the game the right way. He observed unwavering dedication, determination and desire, hallmarks for longevity and productivity. Craig learned an important lesson about playing and acting like a big leaguer - how to handle one’s temperament as a professional on and off the field.

Counsell went on to fashion a productive 16-year career in the big leagues, including playing in four postseasons and being part of a pair of world championship teams. Once retired, he stepped into a front office position to evaluate future talent.

But in May, he found himself back in the dugout, accepting a 3-year contract as the Brewers’ 19th manager in franchise history.

“This is a place I prepared myself to be,” Counsell said. “This

is where I thought I’d end up – in a position of leadership like this. It’s an honor and it’s humbling but I believe this is what I was meant to do. I think I’ll be better at this than playing.”

Counsell, 44, accepted this challenge when Ron Roenicke was dismissed following the Brewers poor start in April, which was coupled with a disappointing second half collapse in 2014.

Even with no on-field experience, Brewers General Manager Doug Melvin said Counsell

has the intangibles to be a strong leader with the knowledge to develop and the drive to succeed.

“He played the game with a chip on his shoulder and he played to win,” Melvin said. “He has winning experience with two World Series rings. Over the last three years he’s worked in our front office with me (as a special assistant). It’ll be a big help to him on the field.”

Counsell joined Harvey Kuenn as the only Brewers manager to grow up in Milwaukee. And he credits his upbringing for his passion for the city of Milwaukee and the team.

“I’ve said this many times, I don’t think I’d be in the big leagues if I didn’t have that opportunity to be around the ballpark, around big league players and around the entire atmosphere at a young age,” he said. “It meant everything to me when I got

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The official newsletter of the milwaukee brewers

a l u m n i a s s o c i a t i o nv o l u m e 9 • i s s u e 1 S p r i n g • 2 0 1 5

Craig Counsell new Brewers skipper Hometown boy makes good

The

By Mario Ziino

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to the big leagues. It made everything easier. I knew what to expect.

“I’m a Brewer. I’ve watched the Brewers for 35 years. Baseball in this city is important to me. It’s part of me. I feel a responsibility for it. I always have. And I’m proud of it. The logo means something to me.”

Counsell’s father, John, who spent 10 years heading the Brewers Community Relations department back in the 1970s and ’80s, said he knew his son had the right makeup to make a special contribution to the sport, whether as a player or manager or both.

After graduating from Whitefish Bay High School, Craig returned to his birthplace of South Bend, IN, and attended his father’s alma mater, the University of Notre Dame. By his senior year, he was named team captain, just like his father was, and together, they became the first father-son combination to captain the Fighting Irish in the history of the program.

“He was fortunate to always have good coaches who taught him how to play the game the right way,” added his father, who lives in Fort Myers Beach, FL.

That’s the way Counsell is wired. His father pointed out, “Craig loved baseball ever since he’s been able to pick up a bat. And he has loved the Brewers ever since I can remember. When I worked for the Brewers, I’d have him tag along on speaking engagements or simply come sit in the dugout.

“He watched Paulie (Molitor) and Robin (Yount) the most. He watched how they played the game and then he tailored it to his own game as he grew.”

Counsell admitted he was a sponge.

“I watched and took everything in,” he said of his childhood. “I watched how they carried themselves. I watched how they prepared. I watched who did things the right way. I tried to learn from them.”

Now he’ll try to instill his knowledge and experience onto the Brewers.

“I’m going to try to get these guys to play to their capabilities,” the Milwaukee skipper said. “If we can do that, we’ll be good. I have expectations of them, and we’ll build on those as we go.”

Counsell (2004, ’07-’11) is the fifth former Brewers player currently managing in the big leagues, joining Minnesota’s Paul Molitor (1978-92), Kansas City’s Ned Yost (1980-83), Cleveland’s Terry Francona (1989-90) and St. Louis’s Mike Matheny (1994-98).

Craig and his wife, Michelle, have made their home in the Milwaukee area, and have four children.

2014 Preview – continued

It doesn’t happen very often, but for one brief moment, Allan H. (Bud) Selig was at a loss for words.

For 50 years, he had been the face of the Milwaukee Brewers and Major League Baseball.

He shaped the course of history in his beloved city and across the breadth of professional baseball. During his tenure, both locally and nationally, the game has not only survived, it has thrived.

His words and actions have made the game of baseball, the business of baseball, the future of baseball, the envy of all sports.

Under his watch, our national pastime has returned to its splendor as America’s game.

And now, high above Miller Park, on the ring of honor, Selig joins the likes of Henry Aaron, Rollie Fingers, Robin Yount and Paul Molitor, along with baseball icon Jackie Robinson, as the only individuals to have a Brewers’ uniform number retired in their honor.

When Brewers Chairman and Principal Owner Mark Attanasio made the announcement last September to fittingly retire uniform No.1 as a tribute, Selig, who attended a special press gathering, was left speechless for the first time in a long, long time.

“This means a great deal to me,” he shared. Then after pausing briefly to gather himself, Selig admitted, “I’m never at a loss for words. But, I am now.”

At the very moment Attanasio praised Selig for his lifelong achievements by saying he gave “his blood, sweat and tears” to his passion, Selig nodded in harmony, flashing back to where it all began for him.

A half century ago, he stood in the forefront of a seemingly improbable crusade to keep Milwaukee relevant in the eyes of Major League Baseball following the departure of the Braves to greener pastures.

Selig embarked on his mission at the age of 30. By organizing a group of local businessmen known as Teams, Inc., he hoped to deliver a message that Milwaukee was still a big league town.

It wouldn’t be easy. Over a grueling five-year period, he attended every Major League function, pleaded with every baseball executive willing to listen and debated that Milwaukee was worthy of any future expansion or relocation plans. Campaigning tirelessly, his efforts resulted in nothing more than disappointment and frustration.

When expansion was finally tabled, not once, but twice, Milwaukee’s proposal was rejected. Refusing to accept abandonment of his dream,

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Selig continued to pursue other options, even the possibility of taking on existing franchise on the brink of insolvency.

One promising attempt was quashed after Milwaukee helped keep the Chicago White Sox afloat by allowing games to be played at County Stadium where attendance totals enhanced the franchise’s bottom line.

But baseball refused to move the team 90 miles north. At the same time, an expansion franchise awarded to Seattle struggled to get through its first season.

Selig and his group turned their attention to the Northwest, admitting that this effort may be their last gasp. It would be a long winter. Finally, in the eleventh hour, his mission, his dream, was fulfilled.

“I remember it clearly, as if it were yesterday,” Selig shared. “It was a long, tough five and a half years. Baseball did not want to come back here. A lot of rejection. A lot of sadness. This was our final shot. Before the ultimate joy happened.”

That joy was punctuated by the resolution of the gavel. A bankruptcy court in Seattle awarded Milwaukee the American League Pilots.

“We were at it for so long,” he said of his attempts to convince the courts that his group could revive the insolvent franchise. “There was so much that went into it, it was hard to believe.”

Selig’s Brewers endured the growing pains of expansion before turning the team into a winner and capturing a pennant in its 12th year in Milwaukee.

The Brewers formed their legions of believers over the years and with the arrival of Miller Park, both enjoyed continued success to the point that the franchise, now celebrating its 45th season in Milwaukee, is among Baseball’s most stable.

Owners of other big league teams recognized Selig’s steadfastness, and when the industry was hurting, it turned to him to lead it out of turmoil.

Selig took the reins as chairman of the executive committee on September 9, 1992 – on the same night Robin Yount became the 17th player in MLB history to collect 3,000 hits. As the acting commissioner, he would navigate the game through some rough waters, including the eighth work stoppage in a generation. But there would be peace for the next 20-plus years.

“We’ve got leadership,” one owner said at the time. “He understands the problems facing owners and players alike.”

“He’s done more in his first five or six years of temporary leadership than has been done in the history of baseball,” added another owner.

After serving as acting commissioner for 2,131 days – longer than the span of four of his eight predecessors – Selig was unanimously

elected the ninth Commissioner of Baseball on July 9, 1998. He was the first owner elevated to the position.

Selig allowed the game to change by introducing interleague play, the three-division format, presenting the Division Series, realignment, and not one, but two Wild Card teams to the playoffs. His bold concept of revenue sharing and a competitive-balance tax were radical at first but proved profitable for all clubs. He oversaw the expansion of the

game into four new markets and the opening of 22 new stadiums. MLB.

com and the MLB Networks were launched while instant replay was introduced. And most

impressively, the industry grew from $1 billion to $9 billion.

And if that wasn’t enough, Selig’s prioritized the need to give baseball a more global presence. In 2006, MLB introduced the World Baseball Classic and the opening of seasons in Japan and Australia.

“It has been one of the game’s priorities to internationalize baseball,” Selig once said. “We’ve done everything we could to move the sport in an international direction. I think it has been absolutely spectacular.”

Hall of Famer Henry Aaron said it best of his life-long friend: “He left our game in a far better state than when he started.”

Yet, for all that he did accomplish as the second-longest tenured Commissioner, Selig would prefer to reflect on his days in Milwaukee and his pride in returning baseball to his hometown.

“No matter what happens, bringing the team to Milwaukee, after the heartache and bitterness, will always be my greatest thrill,” he disclosed. “When the Braves decided to move to Atlanta in 1963, that’s when my baseball career began.”

Bud Selig Bobblehead PromotionTo commemorate the ‘Selig Experience’ at Miller Park, the Brewers will present all fans with a special Allan H. (Bud) Selig Bobblehead, courtesy of IBS Dynaman, on Sunday, May 31 when the Arizona Diamondbacks are in town.

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After retiring what did you do? After my last year with the Brewers in 1991, I played a few more years in the minors, and then internationally in Mexico, Taiwan, and Italy. I was completely done with professional baseball in 2000. Since I was drafted by the Houston Astros after my junior year of college, I didn’t finish college, I went back to finish college at Carroll University. From there I got my degree in Education and I got my state of Wisconsin teacher’s license. At the same time I began coaching high school baseball at Menomonee Falls High School.

What are you doing now? After graduating I began teaching in Menomonee Falls for seven years. The past two years I have been substitute teaching, and I have continued to coach baseball, this upcoming season will be my 14th year. I give pitching lessons to kids, I do pitching clinics, and I have an annual baseball camp I do every year with my former teammate Jim Gantner. A year ago I began announcing the High School Baseball Game of the Week for Time Warner Cable Sports. I am currently exploring other career options, hopefully something to do with baseball.

What are your hobbies? Golfing, coaching and teaching kids baseball, and barbequing.

Where did you grow up? I was born outside of L.A. in Inglewood, California. I grew up in Lawndale and Hawthorne, California until after my sophomore year of high school, then my family moved down south to Orange County in Mission Viejo, California.

Did you have an idol growing up? My idols growing up were any L.A. Dodgers or California Angels baseball player, but there was one that did stand out, and that was Nolan Ryan when he pitched for the Angels. What was a thrill to me was when I went to my first two spring trainings with the Houston Astros I was there as a teammate with Nolan Ryan.

Do you recall your first appearance with the Brewers? My first appearance with the Brewers came on June 2, 1988. I began the season with AAA Denver, so on that day I flew from Denver to Milwaukee. I arrived, but not all of my luggage did, at least my baseball bag made it. I was told to go ahead to County Stadium and we would worry about the rest of luggage later. I walked into the

clubhouse and there it was, my locker with my big league uniform. I said hello to the guys who were there, and then our manager Tom Trebelhorn came up and congratulated me on being called up. He told me they called me up to be a starter and that I would be starting four days later in Seattle, but tonight I was going to be out in the bullpen, so be ready. The game that night was against the California Angels, the game would be broadcast back to my home in Southern California. Since I was told I was being called up only the night before I was only able to tell my mom and my dad the news, so a lot of my family and friends didn’t know yet. During the 5th inning the bullpen phone rang and bullpen coach Larry Haney told me I was going in to pitch the 6th inning. When I came in we were losing, I would pitch the 6th and 7th innings, 2 innings no runs. In the bottom of the 7th we scored 5 runs and took the lead. Dan Plesac, our all-star closer came in the 8th and 9th innings and saved my first Major League win on my first Major League day. Later I was told by my family and friends who didn’t know I was called up, they just happened to turn on the Angels game against the Brewers on tv and were surprised when they saw me come in to the game to

Don currently resides in Wisconsin with his wife Tami. They have a son, Logan August

WHERE NOW?arethey

’88-’91

Don August pitcher

in memoriumRay Sadecki (1976) – November 17, 2014 (73) Jose Capellan (2007) – April 7, 2015 (34)

pitch. So on my first big league day, I pitched and got the win against my old hometown team. And after the game, my luggage was in front of my locker.

Was there one Brewer you played with who stood out above all? The answer is no, there were two Brewers who stood out above all. They were Yount and Molitor, two future Hall of Famers in their prime. It was amazing to me to watch them play day in and day out at that level. There were a number of times that I told myself to take this all in, that I was watching these great players up close, and as a teammate. The main thing was they played the game right, they were selfless, and they were playing for the team to get to the World Series. For the four years that I was their teammate I saw a lot of great things from them.

What is your fondest memory as a Brewer? The ending to my rookie season in 1988. In late August we were about 12 games out of first place, and during those final five weeks of the season we made an amazing run. We just kept winning

and inched ourselves closer and closer to the 1st place Boston Red Sox. During this stretch I was pitching very well, winning six starts in a row contributing to our team’s success. It came down to the last weekend of the season, our final three games of the year, we were three games out of first with three games to play. Boston got swept and we were able to only win 1 out of the three games in Oakland. We were the last team in the MLB to be eliminated; we finished 2 games out of first place. It was a great, memorable run.

What did you like most about playing in Milwaukee? I liked that it was a smaller big city. I felt like we were closer to our great fans than probably most of the other teams were to theirs. I felt like Milwaukee was a beautiful safe city right on the lake where the fans really loved us. There were a lot of things going on throughout the summer, always something to do. Plus, I ended up meeting my wife who is from Menomonee Falls. I have been living here ever since I was called up to the Major Leagues on

June 2, 1988. Do you still follow the Brewers? Absolutely! I am probably one of the biggest fans. I try to go to as many games I can. I would like to go to more, but I coach high school baseball and I’m not able to go to as many as I would like. I do watch many games on tv just about every night. When the Brewers slumped the last month of the season and missed the post season, I think I hurt almost as much as they did. I was pulling for them every night. I look forward to this 2015 season.

What are some of the things you enjoy doing with your family? I have enjoyed watching my son grow up. I have great memories of going on vacations with my family. We went to Arizona a number of times to get out of our Wisconsin winters during spring training. We enjoyed the warmth and sunshine, and going to some Brewer Spring Training games. Currently, my wife and I enjoy watching our son play club baseball at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Where are They Now – continued

Are you doing something good for your community?

Did you just open a new business?

Let us know what you are doing.

Send your story and photos to

Davey Nelson at

dave.nelson@brewers.com

so we can share the news

in the next newsletter.

KK K

WHAT’S ON?goin’Don August’s PORK CHOPS CALABRASE

Ingredients:n ½ cup (1 stick) butter (divided)n Small onion, slicedn Green bell pepper, slicedn Whole button mushrooms, slicedn Pinch of dried oreganon Pinch of black peppern Pinch of dried basiln Minced garlic to tasten Salt to tasten Red pepper flakes (optional) n Center loin pork chops (about 8 ounces each)n Very thinly cut potato wedges (about 2 medium potatoes) Directions: Put ¼ cup of the butter in a large sauté pan and melt over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper and mushrooms. Season with oregano, pepper, basil, garlic, salt and red pepper flakes. Sauté until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally, about 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer vegetables to a bowl and set aside; keeping it warm.

In the same sauté pan add remaining butter and melt. Add pork chops and potato wedges. Cook meat until desired doneness, turning once. When meat is done and potatoes are tender, top with reserved vegetable mixture and heat through. Makes 4 servings.

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