Jerry Augustine – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Jerry Augustine made his mark in baseball as a pitcher who spent his entire nine-year Major League career with just one team. This lefty from Wisconsin played only for the Milwaukee Brewers from 1975 to 1984. He became a steady arm in their rotation during some of the Brewers’ most memorable years.

Augustine retired from Major League Baseball in 1984 after putting up a 55-59 record, a 4.23 ERA, and 348 strikeouts over his career. Fans remember his loyalty to Milwaukee. He joined a pretty exclusive group of players who never suited up for anyone else, spending almost a decade helping the Brewers become a real force in the American League.

Augustine’s journey stretched from his college days at UW-La Crosse to his last big league appearance on April 11, 1984. His story shows the dedication and grit you need to stick around in pro baseball. He went through the grind of breaking into the majors, dealt with the pressure of performing at the top, and eventually faced that weird transition to life after baseball—something every player has to handle.

Early Life and Education

Gerald Lee Augustine was born July 24, 1952, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, to Donald and Elerene Augustine. He grew up in a big family in Kewaunee, playing multiple sports through high school before heading to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse for college and more baseball.

Childhood in Kewaunee, Wisconsin

Jerry had six siblings: Dale, David, Susan, Joe, Mark, and Randy. He also had two half-brothers, Donald and Orville, who both played a big part in shaping his baseball career.

Choosing to throw left-handed came out of a funny family debate. Donald was right-handed, Orville was a lefty, and they couldn’t agree which way Jerry should pitch.

Orville ended the argument by handing Jerry a left-handed glove. That simple choice set the stage for Jerry’s future as a left-handed pitcher.

High School Athletics and Achievements

At Kewaunee High School, Augustine played three sports—baseball, football, and basketball. He wasn’t the only talented athlete there.

Jack Novak, who later played in the NFL, was one of his classmates. Dale Koehler, another classmate, went on to play college basketball at Wisconsin.

Kewaunee High clearly had a strong athletic program back then. Augustine’s baseball skills in high school started catching the attention of college scouts.

His growing talent on the mound set him up for a shot at the majors.

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Experience

Augustine picked UW-La Crosse to keep playing ball. He lettered in baseball for three years and became a key player for the Eagles.

Championship Success:

• 1972 Wisconsin State University Conference champions
• 1973 Wisconsin State University Conference champions

He made the All-Wisconsin State University Conference first team. As a starter, he racked up 14 wins and 186 strikeouts during his college career.

Personal Life: While at La Crosse, Augustine married his high school sweetheart, Nancy Flaherty. They had their first child, Tammy, while he was still in college.

He graduated with a degree in physical education and health. During baseball off-seasons, he taught, putting that degree to use.

Looking back, Augustine reflected: “When I look back at La Crosse, I was given the opportunity to not only grow as a baseball player, but to grow as a person and get my education.”

He credited his baseball coach, Bill Terry, with helping him develop. “Bill Terry was the right coach for me,” Augustine said. “It was Bill’s way of handling people that really made me grow up as a person.”

Path to Major League Baseball

Jerry Augustine’s path from college baseball to the big leagues started with a draft pick from his home state team and a short but meaningful minor league run. He found early success, hit a few bumps, and learned a lot in the process.

Draft Selection by Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers picked Augustine in the 15th round of the June 1974 free-agent draft. Scout Emil Belich, who also found Paul Molitor and Jim Gantner, saw Augustine’s potential and brought him on board.

Augustine called his signing bonus “a small bonus.” Honestly, that was pretty normal for a mid-round pick in the ‘70s.

Staying close to home helped Augustine keep his ties to Wisconsin strong. That connection served him well throughout his career.

Belich’s knack for spotting talent paid off for the Brewers. Augustine joined a draft class that helped shape the team’s success in the early ‘80s.

Minor League Development and Progression

Augustine kicked off his pro career with Danville in the Class A Midwest League. He started 12 games, completed six, and finished with a solid 7-4 record and a 2.56 ERA.

He shined in the playoffs, throwing a two-hitter against Quad Cities. Augustine struck out 14 in a 1-0 win and took a no-hitter into the eighth inning.

In 1975, things got rough when he hurt his knee badly during spring training. The injury happened during pitcher’s fielding practice while covering first base. Surgery kept him out until late June.

After he recovered, Augustine joined the Sacramento Solons, the Brewers’ Triple-A team in the Pacific Coast League. He appeared in 15 games, started 11, and posted a 4-3 record with a 4.78 ERA and three complete games.

Pitching in Sacramento’s Hughes Stadium was tough. The park, on a college campus, favored hitters thanks to a short left field—just 251 feet, protected by a screen.

Professional Career with Milwaukee Brewers

Jerry Augustine played his entire 10-year Major League career with the Milwaukee Brewers from 1975 to 1984. He started as a promising rookie and grew into a reliable bullpen contributor, tallying 55 wins and 59 losses in 279 games and earning respect as a veteran leader.

Rookie Success and Accolades

Augustine made his MLB debut on September 9, 1975, against Baltimore, after a call-up from Triple-A Sacramento. His first start came on September 16 against the Yankees at County Stadium, where he notched his first win in a 5-2 game.

He quickly made his mark as a rookie in 1976, finishing with a 9-12 record and a career-best 3.30 ERA. On his 24th birthday, July 24, he pitched his first major league shutout against the Orioles—a 5-0 win with four hits allowed and eight strikeouts.

Augustine’s rookie year brought him plenty of recognition. He made the Topps American League Rookie All-Star Team and finished second to Mark Fidrych for The Sporting News Rookie Pitcher of the Year. The Wisconsin Baseball Writers’ Association named him Brewers’ Rookie of the Year.

Role as Starting Pitcher

In his early years, Augustine was a key starter for the Brewers. In 1977, he led the team with 12 wins, even though the club finished 68-94. He also led in complete games with 10 and pitched a career-high 209 innings.

His top season as a starter came in 1978, with a personal best 13 wins and 12 losses. In June, he was especially sharp, giving up just three runs in 32⅓ innings and picking up four victories. That earned him the Brewer Pitcher of the Month Award.

Augustine often performed well against tough teams. He went 3-1 against the 1978 World Series champion Yankees. On August 28, he dominated Detroit with a two-hit, 10-1 win.

Transition to Bullpen Duties

Manager George Bamberger shifted Augustine to the bullpen late in 1978, and it gave his career new life. In 1979, Augustine posted a 9-6 record, five saves, and a 3.47 ERA over 43 appearances.

He admitted he missed starting at first. “I kind of miss being a starter and yet, I’ve been having just as much fun out of the bullpen,” he said. “I’m able to pitch in more games. That’s what I really enjoy about the bullpen.”

His best relief outing came on September 25, 1979, when he threw eight innings in a 7-6 win over Seattle. From May 9 to July 23, Augustine didn’t give up a home run in 20 appearances. He closed the season strong, going 5-1 with a 0.92 ERA from August 15 to September 25, and won the Brewers’ Rolaids Relief Pitcher of the Year award.

Career Highlights and Memorable Moments

Augustine’s career had plenty of highlights. In 1976, he put together a 21-inning scoreless streak, which ended with a tough 1-0 loss to Detroit on July 28. Manager Alex Grammas said Augustine had “reached the point where he’s much more relaxed.”

During the strike-shortened 1981 season, Augustine sometimes went back to starting. On April 30, he started against the Angels and pitched seven innings, allowing just two hits in a 12-1 win.

His last complete game came on July 19, 1982, against Minnesota in a 6-4 loss. When the Brewers got Don Sutton on August 30, 1982, Augustine was designated for assignment, which ended his shot at the playoffs. He later said, “I was replaced on the roster by Don Sutton, not a bad guy to be replaced with.”

When he retired, Augustine’s 279 pitching appearances ranked third in franchise history. He spent a decade with Milwaukee, adapting his role and earning respect as a veteran who always put the team first.

Performance Review and Career Stats

Jerry Augustine’s ten years with the Brewers led to a 55-59 win-loss record and a 4.23 ERA in 279 games. He started out as a promising starter and later became a reliable bullpen arm, with his best seasons coming in the mid-1970s.

Overall Win-Loss Record and ERA

Augustine wrapped up his career with 55 wins and 59 losses and a 4.23 ERA over 944 innings. His .482 winning percentage reflected the challenges of pitching for Milwaukee teams that often struggled to score runs.

He peaked with a 3.04 ERA in his rookie 1975 season. In 1976, he delivered 9 wins and 12 losses with a 3.30 ERA over 171.2 innings.

Augustine struck out 348 batters and issued 340 walks in his career. His 1.449 WHIP showed solid control for most of his time, though he had some command issues later on.

He recorded 11 career saves, mostly during his bullpen years from 1979 to 1983. Augustine’s versatility let him pitch in 104 games as a starter and 75 as a reliever.

Pitching Style and Notable Abilities

Augustine pitched with finesse, not overpowering speed. He focused on hitting his spots and mixing speeds to keep hitters guessing. That worked well early, but it became tougher as he got older.

His best pitch was a curveball he could throw for strikes at any count. He also used a changeup that worked well with his fastball, keeping both lefties and righties off balance.

He showed real durability in his prime. Augustine completed 27 games in his career, with 10 complete games in 1977. That workhorse mentality made him valuable in Milwaukee’s rotation.

Augustine fielded his position well. In both 1978 and 1979, he posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage, handling 51 and 9 chances without a single error.

Season-by-Season Breakdown

Augustine’s career really had its ups and downs. During the 1975-1978 seasons, he carved out a regular spot in the rotation. In 1976, he hit his stride, logging 171.2 innings pitched, which is nothing to sneeze at.

But then came the 1977 season, which, honestly, was kind of rough for him. He went 12-18 and posted a 4.48 ERA over 209 innings. That was his heaviest workload, but unfortunately, his numbers for run prevention took a hit.

1979 brought a career transition when Augustine switched over to mostly relief duty. He put up a 3.47 ERA in 43 appearances, with just 2 starts, and managed to snag 5 saves.

His final seasons (1980-1984) weren’t too kind to him. His ERA climbed above 4.50 in three out of those five years. Still, he stuck around as a veteran in Milwaukee’s bullpen, which says something about his presence.

The 1984 campaign turned into his farewell run. Augustine appeared in only 4 games, pitching 5.1 innings with a spotless 0.00 ERA before he retired at just 31.

Retirement and Final Playing Years

Jerry Augustine’s last seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers didn’t go well. After his performance dropped off, the team sent him down to the minors in 1984, and that was pretty much it for his big league days.

Decreased Performance and Move to Minor League

Augustine just couldn’t keep up during his last two full seasons in the majors. In both 1982 and 1983, his ERA shot over 5.00, which made it clear he wasn’t able to compete at that level anymore.

He struggled with consistency on the mound. Over his career, he walked almost as many batters as he struck out—340 walks compared to 348 strikeouts. Not exactly ideal.

At the start of 1984, the Brewers decided to send Augustine to the minors. That move ended his decade-long run with Milwaukee, which was the only big league team he ever played for.

After Milwaukee released him following the 1984 season, Augustine didn’t give up right away. He bounced around the minor league systems of five different clubs over the next two years, hoping for another shot at the majors.

Retirement from Professional Baseball in 1984

Augustine made his final major league appearance on April 11, 1984, against the California Angels. He threw 3.2 innings, gave up three hits, and struck out three in what turned out to be his last big league game at age 31.

He officially retired after the 1986 season, at 33. He spent two more years in the minors after his major league career ended, but the call back up just never came.

Augustine wrapped up his 10-year major league career with a 55-59 record and a 4.23 ERA over 279 games. He never really became a star, but being a Wisconsin native who spent his whole career with the Brewers made him stand out to fans in Milwaukee.

His retirement closed the book on a journey that started when the Brewers picked him in the 15th round of the 1974 draft out of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Post-Baseball Life and Legacy

After walking away from professional baseball in 1984, Jerry Augustine never really left Wisconsin—or baseball, for that matter. He jumped into coaching, broadcasting, and even some business ventures, all while keeping his strong ties to the Brewers alive.

Coaching at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Augustine brought his decade in the majors to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers baseball program. He coached the team for 12 seasons, helping young players grow and sharing what he’d learned from his own career.

During those years, he worked closely with pitchers, teaching them the basics and the finer points he picked up with the Brewers. His time as both a starter and reliever gave him a lot to draw from when working with college players.

Coaching let Augustine stay close to the game and give back to Wisconsin’s baseball scene. Twelve years with the Panthers showed just how much he cared about helping the next generation of players from his home state.

Contribution to Baseball Community

Augustine didn’t break his connection to the Brewers after his playing days. He joined Fox Sports Wisconsin as a studio analyst, sharing his takes and insights during Brewers broadcasts.

Fans got used to hearing his voice. Augustine’s straightforward style and deep knowledge of the game really clicked with viewers who wanted honest analysis.

The Milwaukee Brewers honored Augustine by adding him to their Wall of Honor in 2014. It was a nod not just to his playing days, but also to everything he’d done for the organization and for baseball in Wisconsin.

Business Ventures and Later Activities

Augustine started Jerry Augustine Agency, Inc., an insurance business in West Allis, Wisconsin. That move really showed his entrepreneurial side and his desire to put down roots in his home state after baseball.

He used the insurance agency to stay connected with the Wisconsin business community. Honestly, his baseball name probably made it a bit easier to build credibility for his business.

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse honored him in 1984 by inducting him into its Wall of Fame. They recognized both his college baseball achievements and his years with the Brewers.