August Busch Jr.: America’s Greatest Brewer

August “Gussie” Busch Jr. was an American brewer who established the world’s largest brewery, Anheuser-Busch. At the time of the company’s fastest growth from 1946 to 1975, Busch was the company’s chairman. Busch was a baseball enthusiast. His love for the game ended in owning the franchise of the St. Louis Cardinals in the Major League Baseball since 1953 until he died in 1989.

Busch was born on March 28, 1899 in St. Louis, Missouri. He was exposed to brewery as a young man. His grandfather, Adolphus Busch, was a co-founder of a brewery. Busch started in his grandfather’s company in 1922. His job was to sweep the floors and clean the vats. He became the general superintendent for brewing operations in 1924. At his father’s death in 1934, Busch was given the opportunity to head the brewery department.  And in 1946, he assumed the company’s presidency when his older brother Adolphus Busch III died.

St. Louis saw several revivals in the 1950s. When the Busch Memorial Stadium was built, Busch donated $5 million to fund its construction. In 1953, Busch purchased the franchise of the St. Louis Cardinals. Although the Cardinals were a prominent team at that time, team owner Fred Saigh was financially broke. Busch’s acquisition of the Cardinals was a timely business deal for the team.

During the time of Busch with the Cardinals, the team won six championships with the National League and three with the World Series. At the playoffs, Busch made a mark by entering the stadium riding a Clydesdales-drawn wagon. The Clydesdales is attached to Budweiser’s beer wagons. The team retired jersey number 85 in 1984 to commemorate Busch’s 85^th birthday.

Grant’s Farm, the estate of the Busch family near St. Louis, was turned into a 281-acre wildlife preserve and historical site.

Busch died on September 29, 1989 at 90 years old. In 1966, the Cardinals was bought by William DeWitt Jr. along with several other investors.