World Series Opening Game Notes

The great Paul Molitor, pictured above, went 5 for 5 as the Brewers “opened” the Cardinals in St. Louis in game 1 of the 1982 World Series.

Tonight the 122nd World Series matching National and American League teams commencing in Milwaukee, a city that has first housed a National (Braves) then an American (the Brewers) and now the American League Brewers.

Milwaukee ranked first in regular season wins, their opponent the Tampa Bay Rays were third (the two time champion Dodgers swept out by the Brewers were second).

First game World Series winners went (24-6) from ’85-2015, however, were just (6-4) the last ten seasons, the former a “nice” even 80%, the latter 60.

All three Milwaukee World Series (’57 Yankees opener–Braves title, ’58 the opposite and ’82 Brewers opener/Cards title) manifested in the game 1 losing team taking the crown.

The game 1 winner won both in the two previous Tampa Bay World Series appearances, as the Dodgers took the very much shortened season 2020 crown preceded by the Phils winning both game 1 of and the 2008 title.

Milwaukee Braves (1954-1965)

Dane Iorg Helped ’82 Cards win then had the biggest hit as his Royals 7’d them in 1985.