137:. The APSPL continued with just 6 teams (down from 12 in each of the previous 3 seasons). Milwaukee dominated the new NASL with a league best 44-12 (.786) record with all-NASL performances from Dennis Graser (.480, 30 HRs, 98 RBIs), Phil Higgins .485, 16 HRs, 95 RBIs, 33 doubles), Rick Weiterman (45-13 pitching), and Jim Dilliard (22 doubles). The Schlitz would take on
105:). The Detroit Caesars repeated as APSPL champions in 1978 with Ron Ford of Detroit winning the league MVP award. Phil Higgins (.569, 49 HRs, 137 RBIs) and Ken Parker (.634, 37 HRs, 121 RBIs) made the all -star team with Dave Holtz (.528, 16 HRs) and Paul Wenzel (.521, 12 HRs, 73 RBIs) contributing well.
174:
9-8, 8-3, 7-10, 13-11, 12-7, 39-6; (5-1), with Dick Laba of the
Schlitz honored as the MVP. Schlitz players Rick Weiterman (.514 BA), Dennis Graser (43 HRs, 122 RBIs), Phil Higgins (.572, 40 HRs, 125 RBIs, 24 doubles) and Derek Gallagher (.560 BA) made the all-league team with Dana Andry of the
161:
in the
Western Division. The Schlitz would get swept by the eventual league champion Kentucky Bourbons in the first-round 5-4, 13-4, 11-10; (3-0). Bill Gatti of Kentucky won the league MVP award. Dennis Graser (.500 BA, 26 HRs, 76 RBIs) was the only Schlitz to make the all-league team in 1981.
108:
Focused on taking the next step, the
Schlitz were led in 1979 by APSPL all-stars Phil Higgins (.531, 18 HRs, 89 RBIs) and Dennis Graser (.486, 22 HRs, 87 RBIs), as well as league and eventual APSPL World Series MVP Rick Weiterman (.557, 9 HRs, 69 RBIs, 37-18 Pitching). Milwaukee finished with a
96:
In 1978, Parker and
Higgins once again led the team, now the Milwaukee Schlitz, and the team produced a 38-28 (.583) record, finishing in third place in the highly competitive Midwestern Division, but missing the APSPL playoffs with their division finish, and despite having a better record than 3
92:
was the league MVP with
Detroit winning the 1977 APSPL World Series. Making the All-APSPL team from Milwaukee were Tom Gorski (.500 BA, 22 HRs, 75 RBIs, 17-8 Pitching), Doug Czaplewski (.603 BA, 92 runs scored), Jim Dillard (.544, 34 HRs, 117 RBIs), Phil Higgins (.611, 41 HRs, 131 RBIs) and Ken
157:(UPSL). Milwaukee had an initial set-back in 1981 as perennial all-star Phil Higgins elected to play amateur baseball to start the season but would return to the team in August, just before the playoffs. Still, the Schlitz finished with a 37-21 (.638) record in 1981, 6 games behind the
169:
in the first round 11-4, 11-8, 13-4; (3-0) and then upset the
Kentucky Bourbons, going to a 5th and deciding game with Milwaukee winning 23-22, for a 3-2 (10-7, 4-7, 9-21, 14-10, 23-22) victory in the semi-finals. Milwaukee went on to defeat
79:
Milwaukee was led by local softball standout Phil
Higgins, along with Doug Czaplewski, Jim Dillard and Ken Parker in 1977. The Copper Hearth finished with the third-best record in the league at 38-17 (.696), three games behind league-leading
109:
40-23 (.635) record, winning the
Midwestern Division. Milwaukee beat Cleveland 3-0 in the first round of the APSPL playoffs and then beat the two-time APSPL champion Detroit Caesars 3-0 in the semi-finals, advancing to play the
145:
5–2 (19–11, 10–12, 12–16, 22–13, 13–4, 12–3, 11–9) to win the only NASL World Series. Ken Parker of
Milwaukee would take the World Series MVP trophy while Ron Olesiak of Chicago was the league MVP.
183:
purchased
Schlitz in 1982 and elected not to continue the team after the season. The UPSL also folded after the 1982 season, bringing the era of men's professional softball to an end.
67:
was brought on to serve as league commissioner. The club took its name from its first sponsor, a blue-collar tavern in Milwaukee, the Copper Hearth, owned by John Korinek Sr.
165:
The Schlitz finished with a 32-32 (.500) record in 1982, their worst record in their 6 seasons of professional softball. But Milwaukee advanced to the playoffs, beating the
1099:
681:
531:
1134:
1020:
154:
126:
40:
24:
662:
1114:
125:
Instability in other markets and internal political fighting saw three teams (Fort Wayne, Cleveland and Milwaukee) leave the APSPL to form the
1139:
1149:
191:
56:
43:(APSPL) season as the Milwaukee Copper Hearth. The Copper Hearth was initially an amateur softball club that, in 1969, had won the
179:
winning the league MVP in the final season of professional softball in the United States. The Schlitz lost their sponsor when the
113:
in the World Series. The series were broadcast nationwide as the first televised event on the new start-up sports network
71:
took over sponsorship in 1978 and the team would play through their final professional season as the Milwaukee Schlitz.
682:"40 years ago, the first live ESPN game ever broadcast was a slow-pitch softball game in Wisconsin. How did it happen?"
102:
992:
52:
1089:
461:
98:
138:
68:
1028:
549:
443:
187:
1144:
141:
in the first round, beating Chicago 9-13, 10-7, 17-12, 16-12, 10-17, 22-17; (4-2). Milwaukee defeated the
44:
819:
791:
620:
190:
Hall of Fame, inducted in 2000. Schlitz pitcher Rick Weiterman was similarly honored and is in the
89:
1068:
503:
1129:
977:
917:
903:
871:
517:
731:
745:
634:
602:
587:
489:
180:
176:
171:
48:
885:
805:
945:
773:
8:
759:
648:
130:
1006:
963:
931:
857:
663:"The Bourbons, the Schlitz and the missing tapes -- the story of ESPN's first broadcast"
563:
429:
408:
142:
85:
162:
Dick Laba batted .485 and Rick Weiterman had a 36-21 pitching record in support.
110:
60:
1094:
705:
166:
158:
81:
47:
national championship. Milwaukee joined the fledgling APSPL, formed by former
153:
The NASL and the APSPL merged after the 1980 season to form a new league, the
1123:
134:
64:
1104:
1109:
833:
710:
129:, under the leadership of Cleveland owner (and eventual owner of the
28:
97:
playoff teams, including the two teams from the Eastern Division (
444:"1969 ASA Men's Open Slow Pitch Nationals – Softball History USA"
532:"Korinek's homemade food was bread and butter of Copper Hearth"
117:. Milwaukee beat Kentucky 5-3 to win the APSPL championship.
1049:
966:. September 19, 1982. p. 28 – via newspapers.com.
822:. September 15, 1980. p. 20 – via newspapers.com.
808:. September 4, 1980. p. 15 – via newspapers.com.
794:. September 3, 1980. p. 23 – via newspapers.com.
651:. September 5, 1979. p. 17 – via newspapers.com.
623:. September 2, 1977. p. 37 – via newspapers.com.
114:
84:, but were upset in the first round of the playoffs by the
762:. January 16, 1980. p. 19 – via newspapers.com.
520:. September 3, 1978. p. 8 – via newspapers.com.
934:. August 29, 1982. p. 30 – via newspapers.com.
906:. August 24, 1981. p. 21 – via newspapers.com.
734:. August 19, 1979. p. 72 – via newspapers.com.
462:"196?-1977 Milwaukee Copper Hearth • Fun While It Lasted"
186:
Milwaukee first-baseman Dennis Graser is a member of the
874:. August 9, 1981. p. 46 – via newspapers.com.
590:. June 29, 1976. p. 18 – via newspapers.com.
506:. July 21, 1977. p. 42 – via newspapers.com.
492:. April 3, 1977. p. 47 – via newspapers.com.
23:
were a professional softball team that played in three
980:. July 7, 1982. p. 11 – via newspapers.com.
920:. June 7, 1981. p. 40 – via newspapers.com.
860:. May 21, 1981. p. 27 – via newspapers.com.
748:. June 8, 1980. p. 27 – via newspapers.com.
552:. May 12, 1978. p. 16 – via newspapers.com.
432:. May 25, 1977. p. 42 – via newspapers.com.
1009:. May 8, 1983. p. 32 – via newspapers.com.
637:. May 7, 1978. p. 49 – via newspapers.com.
192:
United States Slowpitch Softball Association (USSSA)
993:"JOS. SCHLITZ ACCEPTS STROH OFFER (Published 1982)"
1121:
550:"Clipped From Fond Du Lac Commonwealth Reporter"
197:
1090:Milwaukee Copper Hearth on FunWhileItLasted.net
27:from 1977 through 1982 at Wilson Stadium in
39:Milwaukee began play in the inaugural 1977
1135:Sports clubs and teams established in 1977
706:"Professional Slow Pitch Softball History"
564:"Milwaukee Schlitz – Softball History USA"
409:"Milwaukee Schlitz – Softball History USA"
1069:""It's Around Here Someplace""
1100:ESPN First Broadcast - Journal Sentinel
424:
422:
1122:
1073:Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com
1066:
820:"Clipped From Green Bay Press-Gazette"
792:"Clipped From Wisconsin State Journal"
621:"Clipped From The Cincinnati Enquirer"
607:Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com
484:
482:
120:
57:Women's Professional Basketball League
41:American Professional Slo-Pitch League
679:
127:North American Softball League (NASL)
990:
504:"Clipped From Lansing State Journal"
419:
1150:Sports clubs and teams in Wisconsin
978:"Clipped From The Dunn County News"
479:
155:United Professional Softball League
25:men's professional softball leagues
13:
991:Cole, Robert J. (April 16, 1982).
918:"Clipped From The Courier-Journal"
904:"Clipped From The Courier-Journal"
872:"Clipped From The Courier-Journal"
600:
518:"Clipped From The Courier-Journal"
14:
1161:
1140:Men's professional softball teams
1083:
732:"Clipped From Detroit Free Press"
93:Parker (.545, 37 HRs, 109 RBIs).
746:"Clipped From The Journal Times"
635:"Clipped From The Journal Times"
588:"Clipped From The Journal Times"
490:"Clipped From The Journal Times"
74:
55:, who would go on to launch the
1060:
1050:"USSSA Hall of Fame and Museum"
1042:
1013:
999:
984:
970:
956:
938:
924:
910:
896:
878:
864:
850:
826:
812:
798:
784:
766:
752:
738:
724:
698:
673:
655:
641:
627:
613:
594:
580:
556:
148:
1115:National Softball Hall of Fame
886:"ASPSL – Softball History USA"
542:
524:
510:
496:
454:
436:
401:
139:Chicago Nationwide Advertising
69:Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company
1:
946:"USPL – Softball History USA"
806:"Clipped From Southtown Star"
774:"NASL – Softball History USA"
394:
198:Milwaukee year-by-year record
188:American Softball Association
363:
337:
309:
281:
255:
229:
45:Amateur Softball Association
7:
1110:Detroit Caesars Online Home
760:"Clipped From Kenosha News"
649:"Clipped From Kenosha News"
10:
1166:
1007:"Clipped From Sunday News"
964:"Clipped From Sunday News"
950:www.softballhistoryusa.com
932:"Clipped From Sunday News"
890:www.softballhistoryusa.com
858:"Clipped From The Tribune"
778:www.softballhistoryusa.com
686:Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
568:www.softballhistoryusa.com
448:www.softballhistoryusa.com
430:"Clipped From Valley News"
413:www.softballhistoryusa.com
34:
16:Professional softball team
603:"It's easy come, easy go"
995:– via NYTimes.com.
88:2-1. Benny Holt of the
1095:Softball History Data
181:Stroh Brewing Company
177:Cleveland Competitors
172:Detroit Softball City
49:World Football League
1105:Softball History USA
669:. September 7, 2019.
99:New England Pilgrims
1145:Sports in Milwaukee
466:Fun While It Lasted
131:Cleveland Cavaliers
121:1980 NASL Champions
143:Detroit Auto Kings
86:Cleveland Jaybirds
834:"Detroit Caesars"
680:Radcliffe, J. R.
392:
391:
111:Kentucky Bourbons
21:Milwaukee Schlitz
1157:
1077:
1076:
1064:
1058:
1057:
1046:
1040:
1039:
1037:
1036:
1027:. Archived from
1017:
1011:
1010:
1003:
997:
996:
988:
982:
981:
974:
968:
967:
960:
954:
953:
942:
936:
935:
928:
922:
921:
914:
908:
907:
900:
894:
893:
882:
876:
875:
868:
862:
861:
854:
848:
847:
845:
844:
830:
824:
823:
816:
810:
809:
802:
796:
795:
788:
782:
781:
770:
764:
763:
756:
750:
749:
742:
736:
735:
728:
722:
721:
719:
718:
702:
696:
695:
693:
692:
677:
671:
670:
659:
653:
652:
645:
639:
638:
631:
625:
624:
617:
611:
610:
598:
592:
591:
584:
578:
577:
575:
574:
560:
554:
553:
546:
540:
539:
536:www.jsonline.com
528:
522:
521:
514:
508:
507:
500:
494:
493:
486:
477:
476:
474:
473:
458:
452:
451:
440:
434:
433:
426:
417:
416:
405:
202:
201:
103:Philadelphia A's
61:New York Yankees
1165:
1164:
1160:
1159:
1158:
1156:
1155:
1154:
1120:
1119:
1086:
1081:
1080:
1065:
1061:
1048:
1047:
1043:
1034:
1032:
1031:on May 31, 2019
1025:www.teamusa.org
1019:
1018:
1014:
1005:
1004:
1000:
989:
985:
976:
975:
971:
962:
961:
957:
944:
943:
939:
930:
929:
925:
916:
915:
911:
902:
901:
897:
884:
883:
879:
870:
869:
865:
856:
855:
851:
842:
840:
838:Detroit Caesars
832:
831:
827:
818:
817:
813:
804:
803:
799:
790:
789:
785:
772:
771:
767:
758:
757:
753:
744:
743:
739:
730:
729:
725:
716:
714:
704:
703:
699:
690:
688:
678:
674:
661:
660:
656:
647:
646:
642:
633:
632:
628:
619:
618:
614:
599:
595:
586:
585:
581:
572:
570:
562:
561:
557:
548:
547:
543:
530:
529:
525:
516:
515:
511:
502:
501:
497:
488:
487:
480:
471:
469:
460:
459:
455:
442:
441:
437:
428:
427:
420:
407:
406:
402:
397:
200:
167:Cincinnati Suds
159:Cincinnati Suds
151:
123:
82:Detroit Caesars
77:
37:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1163:
1153:
1152:
1147:
1142:
1137:
1132:
1130:Softball teams
1118:
1117:
1112:
1107:
1102:
1097:
1092:
1085:
1084:External links
1082:
1079:
1078:
1067:D'Orso, Mike.
1059:
1041:
1012:
998:
983:
969:
955:
937:
923:
909:
895:
877:
863:
849:
825:
811:
797:
783:
765:
751:
737:
723:
697:
672:
654:
640:
626:
612:
601:Hannon, Kent.
593:
579:
555:
541:
523:
509:
495:
478:
453:
435:
418:
399:
398:
396:
393:
390:
389:
386:
381:
378:
375:
372:
369:
366:
362:
361:
358:
355:
352:
349:
346:
343:
340:
336:
335:
332:
327:
324:
321:
318:
315:
312:
308:
307:
304:
299:
296:
293:
290:
287:
284:
280:
279:
276:
273:
270:
267:
264:
261:
258:
254:
253:
250:
247:
244:
241:
238:
235:
232:
228:
227:
224:
221:
218:
215:
212:
209:
206:
199:
196:
194:Hall of Fame.
150:
147:
122:
119:
76:
73:
36:
33:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1162:
1151:
1148:
1146:
1143:
1141:
1138:
1136:
1133:
1131:
1128:
1127:
1125:
1116:
1113:
1111:
1108:
1106:
1103:
1101:
1098:
1096:
1093:
1091:
1088:
1087:
1074:
1070:
1063:
1055:
1054:hof.usssa.com
1051:
1045:
1030:
1026:
1022:
1021:"HOF listing"
1016:
1008:
1002:
994:
987:
979:
973:
965:
959:
951:
947:
941:
933:
927:
919:
913:
905:
899:
891:
887:
881:
873:
867:
859:
853:
839:
835:
829:
821:
815:
807:
801:
793:
787:
779:
775:
769:
761:
755:
747:
741:
733:
727:
713:
712:
707:
701:
687:
683:
676:
668:
664:
658:
650:
644:
636:
630:
622:
616:
608:
604:
597:
589:
583:
569:
565:
559:
551:
545:
537:
533:
527:
519:
513:
505:
499:
491:
485:
483:
467:
463:
457:
449:
445:
439:
431:
425:
423:
414:
410:
404:
400:
387:
385:
382:
379:
376:
373:
370:
367:
364:
359:
356:
353:
350:
347:
344:
341:
338:
333:
331:
328:
325:
322:
319:
316:
313:
310:
305:
303:
300:
297:
294:
291:
288:
285:
282:
277:
274:
271:
268:
265:
262:
259:
256:
251:
248:
245:
242:
239:
236:
234:Copper Hearth
233:
230:
225:
222:
219:
216:
213:
210:
207:
204:
203:
195:
193:
189:
184:
182:
178:
173:
168:
163:
160:
156:
146:
144:
140:
136:
132:
128:
118:
116:
112:
106:
104:
100:
94:
91:
90:Chicago Storm
87:
83:
75:The APSPL era
72:
70:
66:
62:
58:
54:
50:
46:
42:
32:
31:, Wisconsin.
30:
26:
22:
1072:
1062:
1053:
1044:
1033:. Retrieved
1029:the original
1024:
1015:
1001:
986:
972:
958:
949:
940:
926:
912:
898:
889:
880:
866:
852:
841:. Retrieved
837:
828:
814:
800:
786:
777:
768:
754:
740:
726:
715:. Retrieved
709:
700:
689:. Retrieved
685:
675:
666:
657:
643:
629:
615:
606:
596:
582:
571:. Retrieved
567:
558:
544:
535:
526:
512:
498:
470:. Retrieved
468:. 2013-08-23
465:
456:
447:
438:
412:
403:
383:
329:
301:
185:
164:
152:
149:The UPSL era
124:
107:
95:
78:
38:
20:
18:
135:Ted Stepien
65:Whitey Ford
1124:Categories
1035:2020-12-14
843:2020-11-19
717:2020-11-19
691:2020-11-19
573:2020-11-19
472:2020-11-19
395:References
59:. Former
53:Bill Byrne
51:executive
711:Angelfire
384:Champions
357:1st Round
330:Champions
302:Champions
249:1st Round
208:Team Name
29:Milwaukee
667:ESPN.com
223:Playoffs
220:Division
380:Midwest
368:Schlitz
354:Western
342:Schlitz
326:Midwest
314:Schlitz
298:Midwest
286:Schlitz
272:Midwest
260:Schlitz
246:Midwest
226:League
63:player
35:History
306:APSPL
278:APSPL
252:APSPL
217:Finish
211:Record
388:UPSL
371:32-32
360:UPSL
345:37-21
334:NASL
317:47-13
289:40-23
263:38-28
237:39-17
374:.500
365:1982
348:.638
339:1981
320:.786
311:1980
292:.635
283:1979
266:.583
257:1978
240:.696
231:1977
205:Year
115:ESPN
101:and
19:The
377:3rd
351:2nd
323:1st
295:1st
269:3rd
243:2nd
214:Pct
1126::
1071:.
1052:.
1023:.
948:.
888:.
836:.
776:.
708:.
684:.
665:.
605:.
566:.
534:.
481:^
464:.
446:.
421:^
411:.
133:)
1075:.
1056:.
1038:.
952:.
892:.
846:.
780:.
720:.
694:.
609:.
576:.
538:.
475:.
450:.
415:.
275:-
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.