Fans give Brewers a rousing send-off at pep rally
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Fans gather at the Miller Oasis on the Summerfest grounds for a pep rally for the Milwaukee Brewers, Monday, Sept. 29, 2008, in Milwaukee. The Brewers are headed to the postseason for the first time since 1982.
MILWAUKEE — Brewers fans sent their team off in style Monday evening.
Wearing everything from throwback jerseys to wild-card T-shirts while waving white towels and chanting, “Let’s go, Brewers,” fans jammed the Miller Lite Oasis at the Summerfest grounds to cheer on the Crew before the team left for Philadelphia, bound for a first-round matchup with the Phillies that begins Wednesday afternoon.
The Brewers said 14,188 people attended the rally.
The crowd roared as the Brewers took the stage about 5:15 p.m., the fans releasing 26 years of pent-up frustration capped by one final month of nerve-rattling baseball.
“We know it took a long time to get here, and we don’t want to wait this long again,” said Doug Melvin, the team’s general manager, just before the players took turns addressing the fans.
The fans reserved their loudest cheers for -- surprise, surprise -- CC Sabathia and Ryan Braun.
As Braun took the microphone, fans chanted, “MVP, MVP.”
They got even louder when Sabathia said he would start Game 2 on Thursday.
Brewers closer Salomon Torres continued working the crowd into a frenzy when he took his turn at the microphone.
“What’s up, Milwaukee?” he yelled. “I said, what’s up Milwaukee? Twenty-six years you’ve been waiting. Twenty-six years! You can wait no more!”
After thanking Brewers fans for their support, Torres acknowledged that the road to the playoffs wasn’t a smooth one.
“I know it’s been a very, very hard season for all of us,” he said. “At times, a lot of people thought, ’We’re not going to make it.’ ”
Torres paused. The crowd rumbled.
“But we’re here!” he yelled. The crowd erupted.
“We’re going all the way,” said Joe Roamer, 43, of Milwaukee, who was a senior at Mukwonago High School in 1982, the last time the Brewers made the playoffs. “We’re peaking at the right time. There’s a reason it came down to the wire. It’s destiny.”
The rally had the feel of a giant tailgate party. Many fans stocked up on Brewers playoff gear, while others tossed baseballs to Melvin and Brewers owner Mark Attanasio, who signed the balls and tossed them back from their perch on a pavilion above the crowd before joining the team onstage.
Three former Brewers from the 1982 team -- Jerry Augustine, Jim Gantner and Gorman Thomas -- got big cheers when they were introduced, and Robin Yount received an ovation as he waved from a TV tent. The fans saluted Bob Uecker with a long, low call: “Y-o-o-o-o-k.”
The crowd wasn’t as excited to see Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett or Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker.
Cal Levaughn, 48, a lifelong Brewers fan, said he was thrilled with the turnout for the rally.
“I didn’t expect (this many people). I really didn’t,” he said. “The fan appreciation is awesome.”
While he spoke, his 5-year-old grandson, Jacques, high-fived passers-by with his left hand.
“He’s a lefty,” his grandfather said. “Like CC.”
Dan Mikolajczak took his sons home after school to grab their Brewers hats, but the boys didn’t even have time to change out of their school uniforms before going to the rally. His 9-year-old son, Kyle, tried to do his math homework at a picnic table after the team left the rally but before the fireworks show began.
“We wanted to see the Brewers because they’re not going to do this every year,” Mikolajczak said before immediately reconsidering his statement. “But hopefully they do.”
Oct 2, 2008 at 4:54 p.m.
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When are the bats going to come alive? I'm waiting for the real Mike Cammeron to show up and make a difference offensively like he did during spring training.
Oct 1, 2008 at 11:04 a.m.
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maybe best is a bit overstated. torres is the one major hiccup. gagne. mota. coffey(not playoff roster) have been lights out. mcclung. bush. all solid in relief. starting pitching was solid in aug and they struggled in sept. add to that the offensive woes, and the bullpen was probably our hightlight for sept. doesnt matter. its october now. less than 3 hours til game time!! lets go brewers lets go!!:)
Oct 1, 2008 at 7:32 a.m.
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FYI Sheets didn't win that game against the Cubs if your referring to the game on the 27th. They lost that game 7-3. Lilly was throwing a no hitter through 6 innings.
Oct 1, 2008 at 7:28 a.m.
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Umm Best bullpen in the last month? Do you not remember the debacle against the Cubs. Up 4 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning with 2 outs? Yeah they were un-stoppable. Come on now you really can't believe that our bullpen was that good last month. September was a terrible month for the Brewers they won 10 games and lost 16 in September. With 6 BLOWN saves if that is one of the best bullpens in September you may want to get your head examined. I like the Brewers but, to say that they have had a good month is nuts.
Sep 30, 2008 at 7:03 p.m.
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gagne has been pitching VERY well lately. 0 runs allowed in his last 9 appearances. with only a handful of hits scattered about. he sucked bad for most of the year but hes been lights out lately.
Sep 30, 2008 at 3:18 p.m.
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hey whybe. i do remember the team ned started with. i also see all the talent hes been dealt since then and still COULDNT get this team over the hump. and as far as our pitching. you should re-check yo numbers cuz weve had one of the BEST bullpens in the last month. bush went on 3 days rest against the cubs last week and WON. soup pitched 5 innings fri before mcclung(bullpen) came in an pitched the final 4. i too hope youre wrong sir:) we shall see....
Sep 30, 2008 at 3:05 p.m.
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Does anyone remember the team that Ned inherited? He really doesn't get enough credit for what he did in his time there. He had to show players that two players couldn't be on third base at the same time. He just couldn't get over the hump. I would like to see Don Money be the manager next year. He has done a great job in Nashville.
Sep 30, 2008 at 3:01 p.m.
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They won't get past the first round. They have a horrible pitching staff except for CC. They don't have a true closer. The bullpen has been a roller coaster ride the whole season. They have yet to put a complete game together offensively. I hope to hell I'm wrong here but, it doesn't look real good. Hell we had to rely on other teams to loose just to get into the playoffs. They should have won the central hands down with the players they have. Sheets being hurt is definitely a blow. Suppan sucks, Bush sucks, Gagne sucks, Hall can't hit the broad side of a barn lately.
Sep 30, 2008 at 2:23 p.m.
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noooooooooooooooooooooooooo lakennedy:). i told a friend last year that i thought the reason robin 'the kid' yount came back 2 years ago was to lure coach sveum away from boston for WHEN they fired ned, so im big timez glad ned is gone. we have as much talent as anyone else in the playoffs. there is NO reason we cant make a run now and finish this thing. WE'RE NOT DONE...WE'RE NOT DONE...WE'RE NOT DONE...WE'RE NOT DONE.....
Sep 30, 2008 at 2:10 p.m.
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kid...I'd gladly take your tickets off your hands if you've got somewhere else to be...perhaps a trade? Badger tickets for Brewers?
P.S...Do you miss Yost?
Sep 30, 2008 at 1:57 p.m.
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waiting LONG time for this. i still cant believe how that felt to be there sunday when they clinched and i hope its just as much fun saturday nite. go brewers go!! and a BIG THANK YOU to mr attanasio for putting this team on the field. big timez thank you sir.
Sep 30, 2008 at 1:36 p.m.
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Finally, some good news...GO BREWERS!!!!!!!
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