Ken Sanders

[Matt Breen]

Ken George Sanders was born in St. Louis, Missouri on July 8, 1941. He attended high school in St. Louis, where he starred in football, baseball, and soccer. After graduation, Sanders briefly went to St. Louis University before signing with the Kansas City Athletics as a free agent in 1960.

In his first season in D-affiliate ball, Sanders threw an astounding 240 innings, racking up 22 complete games and 19 wins - all while still a teenager. The next few years saw Sanders find middling success, and in 1964, he was converted to a full-time reliever. He made his major league debut later that year.

Sanders spent the rest of the 1960s bouncing between the major and minor leagues including time in Oakland, Boston, and Kansas City. At times, he struggled with his control, walking too many batters. Still, he was mostly effective; his ERA was never more than 3.80. 

And then, before the 1970 season, Sanders was dealt by the A’s to the Brewers, along with Mike Hershberger, Lew Krausse Jr., and Phil Roof in exchange for Don Mincher and Ron Clark.

The 28-year-old Sanders began the season at Spokane, the Brewers Triple-A affiliate, before getting the call to Milwaukee. What followed was Sanders' greatest stint in baseball.

That season, he was outstanding, tossing 92 innings to the tune of a 1.75 ERA. He also had 13 saves and demonstrated improved command. Brewers Manager Dave Bristol nicknamed Sanders ‘Bulldog’ because he was “So mean, tough and stubborn on the mound.”

It was great stuff - but even better was yet to come.

In 1971, Sanders had the finest campaign of his career. Operating as the club’s closer, he appeared in 83 games, threw 136 innings, and had 31 saves - the latter leading the majors. It was all highlighted by a sparkling 1.91 ERA, plus a major league record 77 games finished. He was selected as the Brewers MVP. For his stellar campaign, Sanders was named Fireman of the Year by the Sporting News and even received MVP votes - the first Brewer pitcher to ever do so.

The 1972 season began well for Sanders, but some mid-season struggles saw him removed from the closer’s role as manager Del Crandall lost faith in him. Sanders's numbers - 92 IP, 3.12 ERA, and 17 saves - were respectable but far from the heights of his previous work with the club. 

In the offseason, the Brewers decided to move on from Sanders, trading him to Philadelphia along with Jim Lonborg, Ken Brett, and Earl Stephenson in exchange for Don Money, John Vukovich, and Bill Champion. The Phillies flipped Sanders to Minnesota a month later.

Sanders spent the next four years on five major league teams (as well as some minor league clubs) - sometimes pitching well, sometimes not so good. In 1977, he rejoined the Brewers organization, tossing 30 ineffective innings at Triple-A Spokane. After that, he knew the writing was on the wall and retired. Ken Sanders was 35 years old.

After his retirement, Sanders stayed in the Milwaukee area, living in Hales Corners, where he and his wife, Mary Ann - his childhood sweetheart - raised three children. Sanders began a career in real estate and then moved into banking. 

One interesting tidbit where real estate and baseball came together was when Sanders, in 2013, was the listing agent for the Field of Dreams site in Iowa. 

Sanders stayed involved in baseball in retirement, serving on the MLB Players Alumni Association board for 20 years and participating in various fantasy camps for two decades. 

Sanders, 82 as of this article, splits his time between Milwaukee and Florida.

Ken Sanders was, at first glance, the very definition of a journeyman ball player. 18 seasons. Parts of 13 years in the minor leagues. Eight major league teams over 11 years. 

But he was, when given the opportunity, effective. He has a lifetime ERA of 2.97 in 409 games and 656 innings pitched. That includes 86 saves.

Sanders' time in Milwaukee (less than three full seasons) defines him in most fans' eyes. Yes, it was a short run but the 1970-71 stint was brilliant. 

Sanders still holds the Brewers record for the most games pitched in a season, 83, tied with Alex Claudio. And his 77 games finished that same year - is a team record. He is one of only two Brewers to win the Fireman of the Year award (the other being Rollie Fingers). The award was discontinued in 2011. 

So hats off to Ken Sanders - who saved (pun intended) his very best for Milwaukee. 

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