Milwaukee Brewers, 1894–1901

Long before today's Brewers, another Milwaukee club helped launch the American League into the major leagues.

Before the American League Was Major

The Milwaukee Brewers began play in 1894 as members of the Western League.

For most of the decade, they were a minor league club.

From 1897 through 1900, their manager was a man who would become one of the most recognizable figures in baseball history:

Connie Mack.

A New American League

The Western League was renamed the American League in 1900.

One year later, league president Ban Johnson declared it a major league and challenged the established National League.

Milwaukee was one of the American League's eight original major league cities.

The Brewers played their home games at Lloyd Street Grounds and were managed in 1901 by future Hall of Famer Hugh Duffy.

A Rough Beginning

Milwaukee's only major league season began with a game that became memorable for all the wrong reasons.

On April 25, 1901, the Brewers carried a 13–4 lead into the ninth inning against Detroit.

The Tigers scored ten runs in the bottom of the ninth and won 14–13.

Milwaukee never found its footing, finishing the year 48–89 and last in the new American League.

One Major League Season

After the 1901 season, the franchise was moved to St. Louis.

The club became the St. Louis Browns and remained there for more than half a century.

In 1954, that same franchise moved again, this time to Baltimore, where it became the modern Orioles.

Milwaukee, meanwhile, continued using the Brewers name for a successful minor league club from 1902 through 1952.

The name would return to the major leagues decades later.