MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- All these years later? State native Jim Gantner is etched in Milwaukee Brewers' history.

CBS 58 Sports Director Lance Allan asked Gantner, "You're the answer to trivia....one of four Wisconsin natives that played their entire major league career with the Brewers. Augie, Willie Mueller, and Matt Erickson played four games with the Brewers." 

"Matt got four? That's great. I'm one of four," Gantner said.

The pride of Eden? Gantner, or "Gumby" as teammates called him, is still Wisconsin's direct link to the 1982 Brewers.

Allen: "You're described as the heart and soul of the '82 Brewers. How much pride do you take in that?"

Gantner: "I take a lot of pride playing for Wisconsin, the Brewers, being drafted by them, spending my entire career with them. Very blessed. It's the highlight of your career getting to a world series. and it happens so quick you dream of playing of the world series as the home team and it's high and then we lost the seventh game you're completely down. We had power, speed -- we didn't use it as much as we could of because so many people hit home runs. We had guys hitting for average, good pitching staff. we had a complete team. We didn't play up to our potential in a couple games in the world series but that's baseball. We had Pete Ladd, a great closer, we missed Rollie Fingers. We had the lead 5 of 7 games, if we had Rollie with Pete Ladd it would have made a difference."

Gantner had a special bond with Hall of Famers Robin Yount and Paul Molitor. And a special language all his own.

"I was kind of like Yogi Berra and I don't realize I said it until Robin or Paulie would ask if I realized what I just said and I'd go not really," Gantner said. "We had obstruction on the bases. I yelled 'construction, construction' instead of obstruction. I didn't realize until Robin came in after the inning and said you should have heard him out there, he was hollering construction, construction."

Now, Gantner says it's time to make history, of history.

"It's an honor to be recognized for '82. It shows how serious the fans are I want '82 over with," Gantner says. "I want to see this current team in the World Series and win it for the fans, players and the organization. I want to see them win the World Series. They don't need to talk about us. They don't need to talk about us. That team should be talked about; '82 should be put to rest, we have great memories, but I want Milwaukee to remember this team that will hopefully remember the World Series."

Just like the way the smalltown Wisconsin kid did four plus decades ago.

"I tried to play hard. when you play in Milwaukee that's all people want to see," Gantner said. "That's what this team is, hard nose players that are fun to watch. Pitching and defense wins games and that's what they're doing."