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MILWAUKEE BREWERS BASEBALL CARDS

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The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded in 1969 as the Seattle Pilots, the team moved to Milwaukee in 1970 and adopted the Brewers moniker. In the decades since, the club has produced many notable players who have been feature don baseball cards over the years.

One of the earliest star players to appear on Brewers cards was outfielder/first baseman George Scott. Scott played for the Brewers from 1970-1973 after stints with the Red Sox and A’s, and was one of the first team stars after the move to Milwaukee. Scott hits cards appear in the early 1970s issues of Topps, Leaf, and Kellogg’s. Another early hitter was outfielder/DH Jim Lonborg, who played 71 games for the 1972 Brewers after pitching successes in Boston.

In the late 1970s, outfielder Ben Oglivie emerged as the new face of the Brewers franchise. A feared power hitter, Oglivie appeared on many rookie and regular cards in the late 70s produced by Topps, Donruss, and Fleer. He would go on to make the 1980 All-Star team and finish third in MVP voting that season while cementing his status as a Brewers icon.

The 1982 season saw the Brewers win the American League pennant behind stellar pitching. Stars like Rollie Fingers, Pete Ladd, Moose Haas, and Don Sutton all received significant card coverage that year and beyond from the major baseball card companies. Topps in particular focused on the ’82 team with special league championship subsets. Relief ace Fingers continued bringing the heat on cards into the mid-1980s as the Brewers relied on their bullpen.

New stars emerged in the late 1980s like slugging first baseman\DH Geoff Jenkins, who made his card debut in 1999 Topps and went on to appear in many sets during his Brewers tenure. Pitchers Teddy Higuera and Cal Eldred also occupied card space in the late 80s-90s period as the Brewers rebuilt. Paul Molitor also delivered hits and became a fan favorite, appearing prolifically in cards from 1993-2000 as a middle infielder and batter.

In the 2000s, outfielders Carlos Lee, Ben Grieve, and Jeff Cirillo patrolled the pasture and received regular card issues. But perhaps no modern Brewer made a bigger card splash than catcher/first baseman Prince Fielder. Debuting on cards in 2006, Fielder became a superstar slugger who wielded a heavy bat immortalized on many premium parallel and autograph cards until his departure after the 2011 season.

Most recently, stars like Ryan Braun, Yovani Gallardo, Jonathan Lucroy, and others have carried the Brewers torch on cards in the 2010s. New stars like Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain, acquired prior to the 2018 season, have emerged as today’s key Milwaukee players getting significant card coverage as the Brewers aim to return to prominence. Though the franchise has endured peaks and valleys, Milwaukee Brewers cards have continued to commemorate the players who have worn the uniform over 50 years.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS AUTOGRAPHED BASEBALL CARDS

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The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded in 1969, the Brewers have a long and storied history in Major League Baseball. Part of the enthusiasm for Brewers fandom is collecting autographed memorabilia from your favorite players. Autographed baseball cards from Brewers players over the years are some of the most prized possessions a fan can own. Let’s take a deeper look at the history and value of Milwaukee Brewers autographed baseball cards.

One of the earliest periods of Brewers autographed cards that collectors seek are from the 1970s, when the team was in its infancy. Robin Yount rookie cards from his 1974 season are highly coveted, as Yount went on to have a Hall of Fame career spent entirely with the Brewers franchise. His autograph on his rookie card can fetch hundreds or even thousands of dollars depending on the card’s condition and prominence of the autograph. Other 1970s stars whose autographed rookie cards are valued include Sixto Lezcano, Sal Bando, George Scott, and Charlie Moore. These early autos help document the founding of the Brewers organization.

The 1982 team featured in the film “Major League” is also a memorable era for Brewers collectors. Players like Gorman Thomas, Ben Oglivie, Rollie Fingers, and Harvey Kuenn, whose autos grace cards from that season, remind fans of the “loveable losers” team and underdog story portrayed in the hit movie. While common unsigned, fully autographed cards from this era can still sell for well over $100 even today. The nostalgia from the “Major League” connection keeps interest high in autos from Brewers stars of that late 70s/early 80s period.

The late 1980s Brewers clubs featured perhaps their all-time best player in Robin Yount, who won the 1982 and 1989 MVP awards. Paul Molitor also had an excellent Brewers career during this time. Autos on their high quality late 80s Donruss, Fleer, or Topps cards still hold value in the $75-150 range normally. Cubs like Geoff Jenkins, Ben Sheets, and Damian Miller also populated these rosters, with their rookie cards autographed potential bargains today. This spans the Brewers’ rise to respectability in the AL during the late 80s.

The 1990s saw continued success, including division titles in 1981, 1992, 1993, and an appearance in the 1982 World Series. Signature standouts of that decade include pitchers Teddy Higuera, Cal Eldred, Doug Henry, and catchers Dave Nilsson and Scott Servais. Having a signed rookie or star card from players who contributed to the Brewers’ competitive ways during the early 90s nostalgia is exciting for collectors. Prices have dipped but demand remains fairly stable for autographed cards of Brewers contributors from the team’s last championship season in 1982.

Entering the new millennium, household names like Richie Sexson, Jose Hernandez, and Luis Garcia headlined the early 2000s clubs. While the autos might not fetch huge dollars yet, savvy collectors know that appreciation will come as this generation of fans enters adulthood. The same could be said for later 2000-2010 stars like Prince Fielder, J.J. Hardy, Corey Hart, and Yovani Gallardo. Having their low-serial-numbered rookies signed could yield real returns down the line as these players’ careers are better remembered.

In more modern times, the 2011 inaugural season at Miller Park makes autos from players meaningful to that transition like Ryan Braun, Rickie Weeks, and John Axford historic. Braun’s recent struggles don’t diminish the appeal of an auto’d card from his early MVP seasons. The current Brewers, led by Christian Yelich, Lorenzo Cain, and Josh Hader, are keeping fans engaged. As this new core establishes itself, an auto on one of their early stars’ rookie cards could be a savvy investment.

Whether seeking the earliest team icons like Yount, Molitor, and Fingers or today’s emerging talents, autographed Brewers cards are a fun way for diehard fans to connect to their favorite franchise’s storied past and future. With conditioning and some patience, the right autos can even gain considerably in value down the road. For dedicated Brewers collectors, finding that special signed card from players who left their mark on this proud Midwestern club is a true treat and great conversation piece for any sports memorabilia collection.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS POLICE BASEBALL CARDS

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In the 1970s and 1980s, Major League Baseball team promotions and giveaways reached new heights of creativity. One of the most unique promotional items from this era were the official Milwaukee Brewers police baseball cards that were handed out to fans at County Stadium during select home games from 1979 to 1983. These limited edition collectible cards served as both an appreciation of local law enforcement and a creative marketing tactic by the Brewers organization.

The concept originated in 1979 when Brewers Vice President Marvin Goldklang was brainstorming new ideas to attract fans to games at the aging County Stadium. Goldklang recognized that many children enjoyed collecting baseball cards but also looked up to police officers as heroic community protectors. He wanted to find a way to celebrate both. With the cooperation of the Milwaukee Police Department, Goldklang commissioned a set of 100 specially designed cards featuring photos and stats of local officers.

Each card contained the officer’s name, badge number, years of service, and position within the MPD. Instead of baseball stats, fun facts about the officer’s career accomplishments, hobbies, and family were listed. Things like “Made 127 arrests in 5 years patrolling the downtown area” or “Avid model train enthusiast in his spare time.” The front of each card featured a uniformed photo while the back contained this biographical information.

For the inaugural 1979 set, officers were selected from a range of departments including patrol, detectives, and specialized K-9 and mounted units. Popular cards included those of Chief Harold Breier, Lieutenant Joseph Gabrish who racked up the most DUI arrests that year, and the unique tandem cards of officers who worked as partners. Distribution was limited to two games that summer where the first 15,000 fans received a random pack of 5 cards upon entrance. Demand was enormous and the promotion was deemed a tremendous success.

Word of the unique promotion spread and sparked ideas of expanding the police baseball card tradition. In 1980, a second 100-card set was produced highlighting more Milwaukee officers. The cards again proved extremely popular, leading Goldklang to suggest making them an annual Brewers tradition. With the support of MPD, the Brewers handed out police baseball card packs over three more seasons through 1983. Each new year featured fresh cards of officers who had gained accolades or been promoted since the prior set.

While baseball cards were mass-produced, the police editions remained limited collectibles. Fans eagerly awaited each new year’s officers to add to their growing albums. The cards served as a novelty item but also a means to personalized the often impersonal relationships between officers and public. Young “collectors” got to match names to faces of the people protecting their neighborhoods. Even career criminals in the city obtained full sets to admire from behind bars!

Over the 5 years of production, a total of 500 unique baseball cards were distributed honoring Milwaukee police officers. For many fans, their police card collections became treasured mementos of Brewers games and memories with their fathers or grandfathers. Some of the original 1979 rookie cards even increased in value as officers retired or were later killed in the line of duty. A few select vintage specimens have sold at auction for over $100 to dedicated collectors and law enforcement memorabilia enthusiasts.

By the mid-1980s, the baseball card craze was beginning to wane and the promotion proved too elaborate for the Brewers to sustain long-term. The final 1983 set closed the book on what was truly a one-of-a-kind baseball tradition. Not only did the cards serve as lighthearted entertainment but also recognition of the important public service provided by Milwaukee’s Finest day in and day out. Nearly 40 years later, the police baseball cards of the Brewers remain a cherished collectible for those lucky enough to have snapped up a pack during County Stadium games long ago.