The team was founded in 1969 as the Seattle Pilots, an expansion team of the American League (AL), in Seattle, Washington. After just one season, the team relocated to Milwaukee and became the Brewers.

On April 15, 1987, Nieves threw a no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles, becoming the second-youngest player in Major League history to do so. It was not only the first no-hitter in Brewers history, but also the first ever thrown by a Puerto Rican in Major League Baseball.

Bernie Brewer became the team's official mascot in 1973 as a tribute to one of the team's most famous fans, Milt Mason, a 69-year-old man who decided to sit on top of the scoreboard until the team could draw a home crowd of 40,000. He was there for about 40 days before the team drew a Bat Day crowd of 44,387 on August 16, 1970. After a long illness, Mason died on June 12, 1973 but not before being recognized as the original Bernie Brewer.

Fingers' effectiveness as a relief pitcher helped redefine the value of relievers and usher in the modern closer role.

Paul Molitor struggled with injuries for much of his early career, being placed on the disabled list six times between 1980 and 1986, but the designated hitter attracted national media attention in 1987 during his 39-game hitting streak. Near the end of the streak, columnist Mike Downey wrote that "the amazing thing about Paul Molitor's recent bat-o-rama is not that he has hit in 33 straight games but that he has played in 33 straight games." The streak ended with Molitor in the on-deck circle when Rick Manning got a game-ending hit to beat the Cleveland Indians on August 26, 1987. Fans booed Manning for driving in the winning run and thus depriving Molitor of one last chance to reach 40 games.

In 2007, Prince Fielder ranked first in the National League with 50 home runs. Not only was Prince the youngest (23 years and 139 days) to ever hit 50, but he and his father Cecil became the only father-son duo to each put together a 50-homer campaign.

On May 8, 1984, the Chicago White Sox and the Milwaukee Brewers began a game that lasted a record 8 hours and 6 minutes. It was suspended after 17 innings and resumed the next day. Finally, at the bottom of the 25th inning, Chicago's Harold Baines drove a walk-off home run off Chuck Porter for the win.

In 1969, Tommy Harper led the American League with a career-high 73 stolen bases--the most by an American Leaguer since Ty Cobb's 96 in 1915 and a mark that still stands today as a Pilots/Brewers record.

Listach's best professional season was in 1992, his rookie year. After being called up from the minor leagues by the Brewers in April, Listach became a vital member of a team that won 92 games and contended for the American League playoffs.

Hank Aaron was definitely in the twilight of his career, but the Brewers had two seasons of the greatest home run hitter of all time. As management hoped, having Aaron on the team rejuvenated the Milwaukee fan base, and the Brewers were able to retire Aaron's number.