Amateur (196? – 1976)
American Professional Slo-Pitch League (1977)
Tombstone
Born: 1960’s
Re-Branded: 1978 (Milwaukee Schlitz)
First Game:
Last Game: September 3, 1977 (L 14-7 against Cleveland Jaybirds)
APSPL Championships: None
Stadium
Branding
Team Colors:
Ownership
Owner: John Korinek, Sr.
Background
Milwaukee Copper Hearth was a powerhouse amateur softball club in the Big Eight League in Milwaukee, Wisconsin during the 1960’s and into the mid 1970’s. The club took its name from its sponsor, a blue-collar tavern and wedding hall on North Teutonia Avenue, owned by John Korinek Sr. His son, John Jr., played for the team and later managed the club.
Copper Hearth dominated the Milwaukee slo-pitch scene, winning seven city championships. In 1969, Copper Hearth won the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) national open championship.
In 1977, serial sports promoter Bill Byrne, who was a front office worker in the World Football League and later started the first Women’s Professional Basketball League in the United States, decided to start a fully professional men’s slow pitch league. Byrne’s American Professional Slo-Pitch League (APSPL) debuted in May 1977 The league featured several top amateur clubs who were willing to take on the greater expenses of professionalization, including Copper Hearth, along with a handful of clubs that were started from scratch. APSPL franchises were clustered mostly in the traditional working class softball powerhouses of the upper Midwest, including Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee and Pittsburgh.
Milwaukee was one of the best teams in the APSPL in 1977, finishing with a 39-17 record. The Cleveland Jaybirds upset Copper Hearth in the first round of the 1977 playoffs.
Schlitz Brewing Sponsorship
After the 1977 season, Schlitz Brewing took over sponsorship of the team from John Korinek. The team became the “Milwaukee Schlitz” prior to the 1978 APSPL season. As the Schlitz, the team continued to compete until the end of the professional slow pitch era in 1982, winning league championships in 1979, 1980 and 1982 in a succession of leagues.
The Copper Hearth tavern closed in 1987. Owner and softball team sponsor John Korinek, Sr. passed away in November 1996 at age 78.
Downloads
1977 Milwaukee Copper Hearth Roster & Player Bios
1977 Milwaukee Copper Hearth Roster & Bios
Links
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2 Responses
Played with & against so many members of Copper Hearth & Milwaukee Schlitz, miss those that passed way too young & congratulations on all the memories you created.
Hi to everyone that created & kept the excitement & memories alive in a very perfect/peaceful time