Harvey Kuenn’s foundation keeps the Brewers legend alive.

Harvey Kuenn’s legacy lives on.

It lives on through a foundation his son started after the former Milwaukee Brewers manager died in 1988.

Kuenn grew up in West Allis, Wisconsin.

He played professional baseball and later managed the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers to the franchise’s first World Series.

That team became known as “Harvey’s Wallbangers.”

Kuenn took over a team that was 23-24 and seven games back in the standings.

His laid-back leadership style changed the clubhouse atmosphere.

He did all of that just a short time after a blood clot forced the amputation of his right leg below the knee.

“He got his prosthetic leg, he was, I think, 49,” said Harvey Kuenn Jr. during a July interview with FOX6 News Milwaukee.

“He was already into coaching at the time and then managed in the ’82 World Series with a wooden leg.”

That prosthetic leg now hangs from the ceiling at 4th Base, a Milwaukee sports bar.

It served as a good-luck charm for this year’s Brewers, who won the 2026 World Series — the first championship in franchise history.

But Kuenn’s legacy is not just about baseball.

Harvey Kuenn Jr. started the Harvey Kuenn Foundation not long after his father’s death.

“I guess it brings back memories of my dad, but the biggest thing is that we help kids,” Kuenn Jr. said.

“The more money we can raise, the more money we can give to the kids.”

The foundation partners with Hanger Clinic to help cover the cost of prosthetic limbs for children who need them.

It also sponsors some Little League baseball in West Allis.

Jennifer Cosgrove said the foundation has helped her family tremendously over the years.

“Early on, I would say we probably didn’t know what we were getting ourselves into,” Cosgrove told FOX6 News.

Her daughters Ivy and Anna were born with congenital limb differences.

Ivy was born without tibia bones in both of her legs.

Five weeks after surgery, she was fitted for prosthetics.

“Seeing the girls really thrive and grow and be willing to tackle any sort of challenge has been so encouraging,” Cosgrove said.

“As we’ve gone down this road, we’ve realized that there’s not much that they can’t do.”

The foundation’s work has taken on new meaning after the Brewers’ 2026 World Series win.

Kuenn’s 1982 team was the only Brewers squad to reach the Fall Classic until this year.

That 1982 team lost the World Series in seven games to the St. Louis Cardinals.

This year’s Brewers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays four games to one.

The 2026 Brewers posted a 103-59 regular-season record.

They swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.

The Dodgers entered as two-time defending champions with MLB’s highest payroll.

Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench said the Brewers were clearly the best team in baseball this year.

“Who was the best team in baseball? There’s not a question, Milwaukee had it,” Bench said on MLB Network Radio.

Kuenn’s son watched the championship run with a sense of connection to his father’s legacy.

The foundation had already been active for decades before this year’s title.

But the renewed attention on the Brewers has brought more awareness to the foundation’s mission.

Kuenn Jr. said the goal remains the same: help as many kids as possible.

The foundation covers costs that insurance often does not fully pay for.

Prosthetic limbs can cost thousands of dollars.

Children outgrow them quickly, so families face recurring expenses.

The Hanger Clinic partnership helps keep those costs manageable.

Cosgrove said the support has been life-changing for her daughters.

Ivy and Anna can play sports, run, and do everything other kids do.

“They’re willing to tackle any sort of challenge,” Cosgrove said.

The foundation also keeps Kuenn’s memory alive in West Allis.

Little League fields in the area bear his influence.

Young players learn the game in a community that remembers “Harvey’s Wallbangers.”

Kuenn’s wooden leg, now displayed at 4th Base, has become a symbol of resilience.

It represents a man who managed a World Series team while using a prosthetic.

It also represents a foundation that helps children walk, run, and play.

The 1982 Brewers were known for their power hitting.

Players like Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, and Cecil Cooper led that team.

Kuenn’s easygoing style kept the clubhouse loose during a tense pennant race.

He died of a heart attack in 1988 at age 57.

His son said the foundation was created to turn loss into something positive.