Ben Oglivie

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Lore & Background

Ben Oglivie was a central figure in the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers' power-hitting identity. That season, the Brewers hit 216 home runs, earning the nickname "Harvey's Wallbangers" after manager Harvey Kuenn. Oglivie's 34 home runs placed him second on the team behind Gorman Thomas, who hit 39. Together, Thomas and Oglivie combined for more home runs than the entire St. Louis Cardinals roster, which hit only 67 homers all season. Oglivie arrived in Milwaukee via trade, part of a front office strategy that also brought in Pete Vuckovich, Ted Simmons, Rollie Fingers, Cecil Cooper, and Don Money through trades, while players like Thomas, Robin Yount, and Paul Molitor came through the farm system. In Game 1 of the World Series, Oglivie drew a one-out walk off Dave LaPoint in the ninth inning, advanced to second on a groundout, and scored on Don Money's single. In Game 3, he was caught in a bizarre sequence: Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog argued that George Hendrick should have been allowed to score on a ground-rule double after Hendrick had reached first on catcher's interference by Ted Simmons — Oglivie's teammate — creating a moment that left everyone scratching their heads.

In Their Own Story

The 1982 World Series was the first and only World Series appearance for the Milwaukee Brewers as of 2026. In Game 1, the Brewers' offense exploded for a 10–0 victory, with Paul Molitor recording a World Series-record five hits and Robin Yount adding four hits. Oglivie contributed by drawing a walk in the ninth inning and later scoring on a Don Money single. The Brewers' pitching was dominant in that game, with Mike Caldwell throwing a complete-game three-hit shutout. The series was dubbed the "Suds Series" by the media, reflecting the commercial rivalry between St. Louis's Anheuser–Busch and Milwaukee's Miller Brewing. The Cardinals ultimately won the series in seven games, marking their first championship since 1967 and helping the National League win four straight World Series from 1979 to 1982. For Oglivie, it was a bittersweet climax to a season where his 34 homers helped define one of the most fearsome lineups of the era.

Reader's Guide

Era at the Club: Ben Oglivie was a member of the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers, the team's only World Series appearance to date. The Brewers had started as an expansion club, the Seattle Pilots, in 1969, then moved to Milwaukee in 1970 and changed their name to the Brewers. The 1982 season was the Brewers' only American League pennant-winning season; they would later join the National League Central Division in 1998. Playing Style: Oglivie was a classic power hitter, mashing 34 home runs in the 1982 regular season with a patient approach that also drew 71 walks. He was a key part of a Brewers lineup that hit 216 home runs — more than triple the Cardinals' 67 — and he often batted in the heart of the order, providing protection for Gorman Thomas and Robin Yount. His power came from a compact, aggressive swing that punished mistakes, especially on fastballs, making him a constant threat in the 'Wallbangers' attack.

Did You Know?

• Ben Oglivie hit 34 home runs for the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers, second on the team behind Gorman Thomas's 39.
• The 1982 Brewers hit 216 home runs as a team, earning the nickname 'Harvey's Wallbangers' after manager Harvey Kuenn.
• Oglivie arrived in Milwaukee via trade, part of a December 1980 deal that sent pitchers Dave LaPoint and Lary Sorensen and outfielders Sixto Lezcano and David Green to the Cardinals in exchange for pitcher Pete Vuckovich and catcher Ted Simmons.
• The 1982 World Series was the Brewers' only World Series appearance as of 2026.
• Oglivie scored a run in Game 1 of the 1982 World Series after drawing a walk in the ninth inning.