It began as the private collection of West Allis’ Frank Seneca, a former minor leaguer and World War II vet. A few hundred baseballs, autographed by a who’s who of Hall of Famers, all donated to the Milwaukee Brewers. Seneca died in 1999 at age 91, but his legacy lives, perched on a Field Level concourse wall near the left-field corner. |
This is Autograph Alley, one of several little-known or underappreciated features of Miller Park. Look and smell beyond the bats and brats, and here’s what you’ll find.
Autograph Alley
Yellowed baseballs host signatures of the sport’s royalty – Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Warren Spahn, Robin Yount and many more. But over the years, bright-white balls autographed by ordinary fans have swelled the collection to more than 2,000 pieces. For $99 (proceeds went to charity), you could purchase a ball, write a few words on it and showcase it. And some of those signatures tell the most heartfelt stories.
When John Johnson comes here, his bespectacled eyes look for one particular ball. It was a Christmas 2000 present from his wife, Bobbi Jo, bearing both their names and that of John’s son Brady. When Brady died in May of 2007 at age 11, that baseball became a memorial.
“It’s nice to have something permanent in here,” John Johnson says.
It’s a popular sentiment. Many signatures here include the words “in memory of.” Others thank everyone from family to players to Bud Selig. At least one ball holds a marriage proposal, from Dan to Leysa in 1997. You wonder if she said yes.
Walls of Honor
Youngsters, take note. Wisconsin’s baseball history runs far deeper than the Brewers. Near Autograph Alley are nine displays dedicated to baseball gone by: County Stadium, the 1957 Milwaukee Braves, women’s baseball (including the Milwaukee Chicks, Racine Belles and Kenosha Comets) and more. There’s even a list of every Wisconsin-born major leaguer, from Abner Dalrymple’s debut in 1878 updated through Vinny Rottino’s in 2006.
Kids Zone
Too much cotton candy got little Tommie hoppin’? Burn some energy here. Children can take batting cage hacks and have pitches clocked by radar guns. They can run virtual foot races with Corey Hart (2.98 seconds beats him to first base) and pal with the Klement’s Racing Sausages. It’s all free – even the Xbox 360 video games. Location: Field Level, right field.
Negro League/Latino displays
Each year, the Brewers honor Negro League and Latino baseball with special tribute games. The team also has a pair of year-round displays (Field Level concourse, either side of home plate) dedicated to minority contributions to the sport. The Latino display lauds former Brewer notables like Teddy Higuera and Juan Nieves. The Negro League exhibit includes replica ball caps and a Wall of Fame recognizing greats such as Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe, Monte Irvin and Hank Aaron. And speaking of the Home Run King…
Hank Aaron Tribute
If the tailgaters cooperate, you can find history in Brewers Lot No. 1. East of Helfaer Field, the sea of gray asphalt gives way to red bricks that frame a weathered plaque. It reads: “This marks the landing location of the final home run of Hank Aaron’s career, #755, hit at County Stadium on July 20, 1976.” But on game days, it also marks the location of many a barbecue grill – some blasphemously placed right atop the marker – so get there early to see it.
