Panthers GM Bill Zito's Unlikely Tie to Brewers' 1982 World Series Run

Florida Panthers General Manager Bill Zito has a unique connection to the Milwaukee Brewers' most recent World Series appearance: he was a bat boy for the team in 1982. Zito was a teenager during the 1981 and 1982 seasons, working for the Brewers during their run to the Fall Classic.

In a past interview, Zito recalled the influence of then-Brewers General Manager Harry Dalton. "He took me under his wing," Zito said of Dalton. "It was the 1982 Brewers, who went to Game 7 of the World Series. He was so kind to me and afforded me the opportunity. I could go up to his office whenever I wanted, I could learn scouting. He took the time to explain everything to me and always encouraged me to get into the management side."

Zito's early involvement in sports predates his success with the Panthers, who won consecutive Stanley Cups in 2024 and 2025. His father, William Zito Sr., played football for the University of Pittsburgh and the Steelers before the family relocated to Wisconsin. Zito himself played college hockey at Yale before earning a law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

He embarked on a career as a sports agent before transitioning to team management, joining the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2013. Zito was hired by the Panthers in 2020 and has since been a four-time finalist for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award.

The Brewers recently secured a spot in the World Series, their first since 1982, after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS.