The Journal Times Online - Racine, Wisconsin

By Gery Woelfel

They aren’t "Harvey’s Wallbangers’’, but they sure resemble them.

While the current Milwaukee Brewers don’t have a catchy nickname like that explosive Brewers team in 1982, they too are a power-laden outfit.

The ‘82 Brewers hit a whopping 216 home runs, a team record. Gorman Thomas led their power surge with 39 homers, a number that tied him with legendary Reggie Jackson for American League honors.

But Thomas wasn’t the only feared hitter in that unforgettable Brewers’ lineup. Ben Oglivie hit 34 homers that year and Cecil Cooper contributed 32. Add in Robin Yount’s 29 homers and Ted Simmons’ 23 and you can see why manager Harvey Kuenn’s crew was a nightmare for opposing pitchers.

While 2007 Brewers aren’t likely to equal the ‘82 team’s home run output, they are fast becoming a feared power-hitting team themselves.

The Brewers entered Friday night’s game against Philadelphia with 147 home runs. That, folks, is not only the most in the National League but all of Major League Baseball.

The only team that comes close to matching the Brewers’ home run total is Cincinnati, which has 143 home runs. The next highest home run total belongs to Philadelphia, which has 133.

What makes the Brewers’ home run production even more impressive is that one their big boppers — Ryan Braun — wasn’t even on the Opening Day roster.

Braun, the rookie sensation, started the season at Class AAA Nashville, He has played in just 61 games with only 248 at-bats. Yet, Braun has 18 homers.

That’s the same number as Corey Hart and J.J. Hardy, who trail Prince Fielder's team-leading 31 homers.

Considering Fielder and Braun are only 23 years old and Hardy and Hart are 24 and 25, respectively, you know it’s only a matter of time before they — like that ‘82 team — have a catchy nickname of their own.