[9][10][5] Milwaukee was led by local softball standout Phil Higgins,[11] along with Doug Czaplewski, Jim Dillard and Ken Parker in 1977.
The Copper Hearth finished with the third-best record in the league at 38-17 (.696), three games behind league-leading Detroit Caesars, but were upset in the first round of the playoffs by the Cleveland Jaybirds 2-1.
Benny Holt of the Chicago Storm was the league MVP with Detroit winning the 1977 APSPL World Series.
Milwaukee had an initial set-back in 1981 as perennial all-star Phil Higgins elected to play amateur baseball to start the season but would return to the team in August, just before the playoffs.
[33] Milwaukee went on to defeat Detroit Softball City 9-8, 8-3, 7-10, 13-11, 12-7, 39-6; (5-1), with Dick Laba of the Schlitz honored as the MVP.
[34] Schlitz players Rick Weiterman (.514 BA), Dennis Graser (43 HRs, 122 RBIs),[35] Phil Higgins (.572, 40 HRs, 125 RBIs, 24 doubles) and Derek Gallagher (.560 BA) made the all-league team with Dana Andry of the Cleveland Competitors winning the league MVP in the final season of professional softball in the United States.
[37] Milwaukee first-baseman Dennis Graser is a member of the American Softball Association Hall of Fame, inducted in 2000.
[38] Schlitz pitcher Rick Weiterman was similarly honored and is in the United States Slowpitch Softball Association (USSSA) Hall of Fame.