Most people expected 2017 to be just another year in the rebuild. Expectations were low, and few predicted the Milwaukee Brewers to be anything better than a fourth-place finisher in the NL Central. Expectations changed following a monster month of April from off season acquisition Eric Thames, propelling the team to a 13-13 record to finish the first month of the season.
On the other hand, 1980 was a year of hope for the Brewers. In 1979, the team had the second-best record in the American League. Sadly, the division-rival Baltimore Orioles held the best record in the league, making Milwaukee a mere afterthought.