Milwaukee Brewers fans probably feel like it’s been quite a while. After beating the Chicago Cubs 3-1 in Game 5 of the National League Division Series on Saturday night, the Brewers moved one step closer to winning the World Series, a ticket the franchise has waited 57 years for.
And, in case anyone forgot, someone from every stop in Brewers history appeared at American Family Field to remind fans how long it’s been since their team won in a Major League Baseball postseason.
Paul Molitor ignited the home crowd by furiously waving a golden napkin on the mound and throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. Molitor was among the league’s best players in 1982, when the Brewers won their only National League pennant before losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 7 of the World Series.
Ryan Braun also stopped by, hoping to whip the home fans into a frenzy. Braun was the Brewers’ leading hitter seven years ago when they lost in seven games in the National League Championship Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was the last time the Brewers played for a pennant.
Braun’s manager that season was Craig Counsell, in the dugout this time as manager of the Cubs. Counsell’s Brewers finished first in the NL Central and won more than 90 games three times, and they made the playoffs five times from 2018 to 2023. Only five other teams have won more games in Counsell’s seven full seasons as Brewers manager.
As if the living individuals and testaments to the Brewers’ greatness/near-greatness weren’t enough, the guest list got a little surreal from there – at least virtually. Before the broadcast on TBS, the network aired the movie “Major League,” which was not about the Brewers but was filmed in Milwaukee, partly at their old county ballpark, and featured beloved legendary broadcaster/actor Bob Uecker calling the games.
TBS studio host Adam Lefkoe took note of the connection, praising the programming wizards who came up with a fantastic transition that added context to the moment for the Brewers. Uecker died in January at the age of 90, having stopped working only near the end of the 2024 season. But his memory, and even his presence, remains. Yes, sometimes to the point of absurdity (see the groundbreaking “Ueck Letter” that manager Pat Murphy wrote and read to the team at the end of the regular season, with the help of owner Mark Attanasio. Sure, it wasn’t real, but if you don’t like it, you can go pound all the sand in the world!)
Uecker’s recall on TBS was a good idea. Uecker’s connection to Milwaukee baseball runs deep, dating back well before he became the voice of the team in the early 1970s — back when Bud Selig poached the franchise from Seattle. Uecker played with the Milwaukee Braves, and although he was still in the minor leagues in 1957 when they beat the New York Yankees in the World Series with Henry Aaron, Eddie Matthews and Warren Spahn, he was born and raised in Milwaukee. No one waited longer than Uecker for the major league team to win it all again. If you count the next life.
The time could be now. The Brewers finished with the best record in the majors, and they made it this far into the postseason despite (like every other postseason team) losing key players to injuries. Their biggest obstacle yet, and perhaps not at all, the Dodgers in the NLCS, are mostly expected to repeat as champions. But (like every other team in the postseason), the Dodgers also have huge flaws. And hey, the Brewers beat them in all six games they played against them in 25.
Aside from The Fonz news, which we’re about to do, all the celebrity stops have been removed. Molitor’s relationship with the Brewers, after his playing days, was not always great. He won his ring with the Toronto Blue Jays and he works/worked for his own hometown team, the Minnesota Twins. But Molly is here for the Brewers now.
Braun’s relationship with the Brewers, and with MLB as a whole, has been rocky since he was caught lying about performance-enhancing drugs. Braunie, who is actually on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time this year, is now here for the Brewers.
Counsell helped the Brewers win, but not enough, and now he’s been defeated alongside their rivals from the South’s biggest city. Craiggers, he’s no longer in the way.
Ueck is there in spirit, but to be honest, it’s almost certain that Ryne Sandberg’s spirit just as badly wanted the Cubs to win the NLDS. But the Cubs have only missed the Commissioner’s Trophy for nine years. It’s been literally forever for the Brewers, and about 68 years for MLB in Milwaukee.
So maybe the Brewers could line up an invented player on a fictionalized version of a different team in a movie set in Cleveland from 36 years ago and featuring their real but dearly departed voice. This might be the year the Brewers win it all. That’s all that remains to be done.
