As the Milwaukee Brewers pursue their first World Series title, a member of the franchise’s inaugural 1970 roster is hoping to secure a long-awaited autograph from the team’s original owner, Bud Selig.
Bob Burda, a Missouri native who began his major league career with the St. Louis Cardinals, played alongside more than 20 future Hall of Famers during his time in the majors, including baseball legend Willie Mays. Burda also shared the field with Tito Francona, whose son Terry Francona later managed the Boston Red Sox to two World Series titles.
Reflecting on his time in Milwaukee, Burda described the experience as interesting to say the least. The unique keepsake at the center of his appeal is not a baseball, but a football. During the 1970 season, the Brewers attended a Green Bay Packers game, where Burda’s father caught a football in the stands. Members of the team subsequently signed the ball, creating a one-of-a-kind artifact from Burda’s first year with the franchise.
However, one notable signature remains missing: that of Bud Selig, the former Brewers owner and longtime Major League Baseball commissioner. More than half a century later, Burda’s family hopes to track down Selig, who resides in the Phoenix area, to complete the collection.
The family has expressed a desire for the memorabilia to eventually find a permanent home at the Brewers’ Maryvale spring training facility in Phoenix. For Burda, the ball serves as a tangible link to a career defined by enduring memories and historic teammates.
Reaching for the object brings back a flood of recollections from his playing days, Burda noted, adding that he knows Selig would appreciate seeing the piece. With one open spot remaining on the leather, the family’s appeal to Selig comes as the current Brewers franchise continues its postseason campaign.
