Milwaukee Brewers baseman found dead

Sal Bando, who played for the Milwaukee Brewers for the last five seasons of his illustrious playing career and then served as general manager for the team for an additional eight seasons, passed away on Friday in Oconomowoc at the age of 78. According to a family statement, Bando had been fighting cancer for five years.

After the 1976 season, the first premier free-agency addition in Brewers history, the three-time World Series champion and member of four all-star teams during his playing career with the Oakland Athletics, inked a five-year contract worth $1.5 million.

According to Allan H., a former Brewers owner and baseball commissioner, “the role Sal had in Brewers’ history, both on and off the field, can never be overstated.” “Bud” Selig. “I can’t stress this enough. That was a significant day in our history when he became a member of our team. He was everything we could have hoped for and crucial in turning our team’s younger players, like Paul Molitor and Robin Yount, into stars. In actuality, he was our captain.

He was not just a fantastic player but also an amazing person and a truly wonderful man. And because he chose to remain in Milwaukee and raise his family here, he truly loved the city. Despite everything else, Sue and

The Brewers were among the select few teams with negotiating rights when they selected third baseman Bando in the now-canceled 1976 free-agency “draft.” Reaching a deal with him signaled the start of a new chapter for the team.

“It has long-term importance because it proves we can sign free agents, and that will be important in future years,” Selig stated at the time.