Twenty-two years after a skeptical observer in the front row warned Mark Attanasio that he would not be smiling after two decades more of losing, the Milwaukee Brewers are back in the World Series. The team secured the National League pennant with a victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, ending a championship drought that stretched back to 1982.
Attanasio Reflects on Two Decades of Ownership and Pressure
When Mark Attanasio took over ownership of the franchise on Oct. 4, 2004, the team was coming off a 106-loss season at Miller Park and had not reached a World Series since 1982. Over the following two decades, the front office expanded from roughly 130 full-time employees to over 400. Attanasio admitted that the morning of Game 4 brought an unusual wave of anxiety despite the team finishing September with an 18-6 record and a franchise-record 103 regular-season wins.
A special night 💛💙 so happy for the fans and the city. The support has been truly incredible. Time to bring it all home #WinOurWay pic.twitter.com/LWz4LSUSLH
“I was more nervous than ever because this really could happen,” Attanasio said. “I didn’t imagine that this could happen. So, in a sort of way, because of the responsibility I feel as a steward of the organization, it was the first time I felt pressure, real pressure. And, fortunately, our guys responded.”
Front Office Perspective and Franchise Growth
Rick Schlesinger, who returned to his home city of Milwaukee after experiencing a World Series win with the Angelinos, pointed to the foundational pieces already in place when the ownership group arrived. Schlesinger noted that the organization possessed a strong farm system featuring players like Prince Fielder and Corey Hart alongside a supportive fan base.
“Mark brought vision, energy and resources, all the great qualities of a leader who recognized that we had great people in the organization, led by [then-general manager] Doug Melvin, who really was the glue holding it all together,” Schlesinger said. Following a 2011 postseason run that fell two wins short of the World Series and a Game 7 loss in the 2018 NLCS against the Dodgers, the club established a stretch of eight playoff appearances in nine years.
The Final Out and Succession Plans
In a suite overlooking the field, Mike Attanasio watched alongside family and friends as left fielder Jackson Chourio secured the final out of the National League Championship Series. Mike, who was 13 years old when his father bought the team, recalled being told in his father’s office that the purchase would change their lives. Alongside his brother Dan, Mike is part of a public succession plan established by Mark Attanasio to eventually lead the organization.
As players and executives prepared to receive the Warren C. Giles Trophy on the field, Schlesinger and Attanasio embraced. “At that moment, I really couldn’t feel my limbs,” Schlesinger said. “It was surreal.”
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