5407. See the birthplace of the American League plaque in Milwaukee

 I don't remember where I saw that the Birthplace of the American League was in Milwaukee. I just remember saying I needed to see that. 

Back in 1899, Connie Mack was manager the Milwaukee Brewers of the Western League of the American Association. Yup, never knew they existed Over the course of the next year, Connie Mack and his friends Henry Killilea and Ban Johnson worked tirelessly and with many fights to start what is now the American League along with Charlie Comiskey. They met at the Republican House, a downtown hotel on the corner of Old World 3rd Street and Kilbourn Ave. On March 5, 1990 the White Stockings were incorporated and the team's 8 team alignment was complete. To read the complete story of the birth of the American League click here.

The 8 original teams were Boston Americans, Chicago White Stockings, Cleveland Bluebirds, Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Athletics, Milwaukee Brewers, and Washington Senators. The Brewers moved to St. Louis only after a year. The Athletics were owned by Connie Mack, the White Stockings by Charlie Comiskey, and the Brewers by Henry Killilea.

The plaque can be found on the fence that encloses the Journal-Sentinel parking lot on Dr. Martin Luther King Drive. I was told to count the fence post as it's between the third and fourth post. It is about halfway down the block. I was able to locate it from across the street. If you stand at the entrance to the Milwaukee Historical Society, it is almost directly across from you. I just happened to look up and saw it. If I had more time I would have walked across the street to actually read the plaque. 

Who know such a cool piece of baseball history is hidden in plain sight in Milwaukee. Who knew the Brewers were in Milwaukee before they came in the 1970s. 

Next time you find yourself wandering the streets of Old Milwaukee, go find this random piece of baseball history.