Bob Buege

From 1888 to 1952 Borchert Field was a center of sporting activity in Milwaukee. One might be tempted to dismiss the significance of what was, for the most part, a wooden minor league stadium. Borchert Field’s saga is much richer than that. As long-time home to the Milwaukee Brewers, minor league, not the current National League franchise, it hosted an array of personalities in a variety of sports. Some baseball players passed through on their way up, such as Mickey Mantle, Eddie Matthews, Casey Stengel and Bill Veeck. John McGraw and Tommy Lasorda played before managing the New York Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers. Negro League teams competed, others, including Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig and the House of David, made stops for exhibition games or during off-season barnstorming tours. The Green Bay Packers played there, Lou Thesz wrestled, champions James J. Jeffries and James J. Braddock boxed, Jesse Owens raced against a horse, Dwight Eisenhower almost lost his military career at Borchert due to a knee injury while tackling Jim Thorpe, Chuck Connors played baseball before turning to acting and Harry Truman campaigned for President. There are mistreated figures who performed at Borchert, such as Dummy Hoy (mute) and every American Indian who was called “Chief”.

Author Bob Buege organized the text in 55 chapters that chronicle the anecdotes that make Borchert a legend. The sequence of tales and personalities associated with Borchert seize and hold the readers’ interest. Whether your interests are anchored in Milwaukee lore or the long cavalcade of American sport, “Borchert Field” is a delight.

I did receive a free copy of this book without an obligation to post a review.… (meer)