Brewers Championship: Fans Line Streets Before Dawn for Parade
The procession moved from Tropicana Field to the Summerfest grounds, concluding with a rally where Manager Pat Murphy quipped about his team's rest day.
By Chloe Wilson ·
Fans gathered in Downtown Milwaukee before sunrise to celebrate the Brewers' World Series victory. The parade officially started at 10 a.m. on Friday, though crowds were already lining Wisconsin Avenue and Jackson Street hours earlier.
The procession featured dozens of vehicles, including classic cars, pickups, semis, and buses, transporting current players, staff, broadcasters, and former athletes. The route ended at the Summerfest grounds, where a rally with speeches began after noon.
Two buses carried the players who had defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 5 of the World Series just 35 hours prior. Team captain Christian Yelich held the championship trophy at the front of the lead bus. Players on the open platforms drank Miller Lite and High Life while spraying champagne into the crowd.
Fans on the street threw jerseys, hats, and shoes toward the buses. Many items fell short of the players' outstretched hands. Spectators waved from every floor of the parking structures along the route. Around the Summerfest grounds, some fans sat or stood on columns positioned five feet above the main crowd.
The parade paused for approximately 10 minutes at the intersection of Jackson and Mason streets. This stop occurred near a 100-foot mural of Bob Uecker. Blue and gold confetti rained down as players exited their vehicles to high-five fans and take group photos. NLCS MVP Jake Bauers greeted spectators along the perimeter.
Following the player buses, cars carried former Brewers stars Robin Yount, Ted Simmons, Paul Molitor, Ryan Braun, and Rollie Fingers. Former player Eric Thames, described as bearded and muscular, rode in a red sports car.
Manager Pat Murphy brought up the rear of the procession. He sat in a folding chair in the bed of a pickup truck, resting his injured knee. His sons Austin, Jaxon, and 26-year-old Kai surrounded him. Murphy repeatedly mouthed the words thank you to the onlookers.
The route included various moments, such as World Series MVP William Contreras pointing into the crowd and hitting coach Dan Vogelbach holding two bottles of beer. Jacob Misiorowski, who is 6 feet 7 inches tall, lifted 5 feet 7 inches Luis Lara to ensure the smaller player was visible in a group photo. A couple got married along the parade path. Four Wisconsin National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters flew over the area as the parade neared the festival park.
Upon arriving at the rally, players removed their tarps and high-fived fans. During the event, longtime broadcaster Brian Anderson spoke with Murphy. Anderson asked for a final thought on the team and reminded Murphy that they did not have a game the next day.
Murphy replied, We don't play tomorrow? followed by a single expletive. The exchange, broadcast on television, triggered loud cheers and chants for Murphy from the crowd.
Source: Milwaukee Magazine
