Milwaukee Brewers fans filled American Family Field on Saturday, September 26, as the team prepared for the play-offs with a final regular-season home series against the St Louis Cardinals.
The atmosphere in Milwaukee reflected a season that has already delivered major milestones. The Brewers had secured their eighth post-season appearance in nine years, won the National League Central for a fourth consecutive season and entered the weekend as Major League Baseball’s No 1 seed, with home advantage throughout the post-season.
Supporters arriving at the ballpark said the excitement around the club had built steadily throughout the campaign, with many hopeful that the team can go further this October.
“There’s just this energy that feels like we can get this done this year,” fan Matt Skinner told FOX6 News.
Skinner, who has followed the Brewers since childhood, said the occasion also carried personal memories. He recalled attending games in 1982, when he was five, and praised the current side for succeeding through its collective strength rather than relying on one individual.
Alex Rabe said the season had brought together baseball, tradition and an unfamiliar sense of success for long-time supporters.
“There’s been excitement. There’s been tradition,” Rabe said. “There’s almost a part of my brain that doesn’t understand what it feels like to be so successful and good, but they’re winning.”
Kristi and Chris Oliver said they had not missed a game during the season and described themselves as “excited, pumped, amped” ahead of the play-off push.
Chris Oliver said the team’s strength came from the way its players worked together, crediting manager Pat Murphy with guiding the Brewers through their winning campaign.
“The group of guys where they match together, it’s just fun to watch,” he said. “They’re like family and that goes a long way.”
The Brewers’ official Fan Appreciation event added to the occasion, with supporters able to enter prize draws and receive giveaways including a team tumbler, game-worn jerseys, ticket vouchers and a team photograph.
For those outside American Family Field, the hope was that the noise and confidence surrounding the club would carry into October.
“There’s a swagger that it’s electric,” Oliver said, as another supporter, Al Werning, offered a simple message: “Go Brewers!”
