Milwaukee Braves, 1953–1965

Thirteen seasons. Thirteen winning records. A World Series title. Milwaukee didn't have the Braves for long, but it made the years count.

Milwaukee Gets the Braves

In March 1953, only weeks before Opening Day, owner Lou Perini received approval to move the Boston Braves to Milwaukee.

The city was ready.

A new County Stadium had just been completed, and fans welcomed major league baseball back to Milwaukee for the first time since 1901.

The response was immediate. In their first season, the Braves drew more than 1.8 million fans, setting a National League attendance record at the time.

A Roster Full of Legends

Milwaukee's Braves featured some of the best players of their generation.

Hank Aaron.
Warren Spahn.
Eddie Mathews.
Red Schoendienst.
Lew Burdette.

Aaron reached the majors with Milwaukee in 1954 and quickly became one of the game's brightest young stars.

By 1957, he was the National League's Most Valuable Player and the centerpiece of a championship team.

1957

The Braves won the National League pennant in 1957 and faced the New York Yankees in the World Series.

Milwaukee won the series in seven games.

Pitcher Lew Burdette won three games, including a shutout in Game 7 at Yankee Stadium, and was named World Series MVP.

It was the franchise's first World Series championship since the Boston Braves won in 1914.

Milwaukee returned to the World Series against the Yankees in 1958, but New York won the rematch in seven games.

Never a Losing Season

The Braves remained remarkably consistent throughout their Milwaukee years.

From 1953 through 1965, they posted a winning record every single season.

But as the years passed, attendance began to decline and ownership started looking toward a larger television market.

On to Atlanta

The Braves played their final season in Milwaukee in 1965.

The following year, the franchise moved south and became the Atlanta Braves.

Milwaukee would be without Major League Baseball until the Brewers arrived in 1970.