10/30/2026 11:44:00
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10/30 11:42 CDT Brewers fans flood Milwaukee streets for a long-awaited World
Series victory parade
Brewers fans flood Milwaukee streets for a long-awaited World Series victory
parade
By STEVE MEGARGEE
AP Sports Writer
MILWAUKEE (AP) --- Tens of thousands of exuberant Brewers fans flooded the
streets, watched from parking garages and cheered from office building windows
in downtown Milwaukee on Friday to celebrate the franchise's first World Series
title.
The small-market Brewers gave their long-suffering fans the championship they
had been waiting for with a 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday,
clinching the Series in five games. It was their first time playing in the Fall
Classic in 44 years.
"Unbelievable," said parade attendee Mark Diedrich, a 76-year-old who has been
an on-and-off partial season ticket holder since the 1980s. "You just never
thought it would happen. But it did."
Players on buses chugged cans of Miller Lite beer, walked the parade route
high-fiving fans and hoisted the Commissioner's Trophy as the cheers echoed
through the streets. Every level of the Brewers franchise was represented in
the parade, from owner Mark Attanasio to manager Pat Murphy, grounds crew
members and behind-the-scenes staff.
The Johnsonville sausages, a fan favorite that race during every home game,
were also walking the parade route.
Rollie Fingers, Robin Yount, Paul Molitor and other members of the 1982 Brewers
team, the last prior to this year to play in the World Series, also rode along
the parade route. Current and former players posed for pictures, signed
autographs and reveled in the moment.
Members of the 1982 team had traveled a similar route in the parade that year
after losing the World Series in seven games to the St. Louis Cardinals. Many
fans at Friday's parade weren't even born the last time Milwaukee celebrated
the Brewers.
Milwaukee Public Schools canceled classes on Friday, allowing fans to enjoy the
parade that ran past a mural of beloved Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker and was
to conclude with a fan fest at Henry Maier Festival Park that holds 25,000
people, not far from the shores of Lake Michigan.
Milwaukee city officials were expecting about 400,000 people to attend the
parade and celebration.
Kasey Diedrich, one of the fans at the parade, said he attended his first
Brewers game as a 4-year-old in 1983, the year after that World Series
appearance. Little did he know at the time how long he would have to wait for
the Brewers to make it back.
"I don't think we still think it happened," Diedrich said. "It seems like a
dream."
Mark Diedrich said he owns the seats from the old Milwaukee County Stadium
where he and one of his sons were sitting when Hall of Famer Yount got his
3,000th hit in 1992.
"We could tell you stories for days of all the games we went to," Mark Diedrich
said. "I remember going to opening day with these guys and there was ice on the
steps of County Stadium. We're sitting down to get ready for the game and a
guy's spreading salt to melt the ice on the steps."
The Diedriches were one of many families who had multiple generations
representing them at the parade.
Craig Muehl, a 42-year-old from the Milwaukee suburb of Brookfield, said he
inherited his Brewers fandom from his father. Muehl woke up early to attend the
parade with his young son and daughter.
"It all started, just like many families around here, sitting outside in the
summer and fall," Muehl said. "My dad had the Brewers game on the radio
everywhere we went. Some families have music on the radio. We had the Brewers
games all summer long."
Several Brewers, including team captain Christian Yelich and Cy Young Award
favorite Jacob Misiorowski, went to Lambeau Field for Thursday night's Green
Bay Packers game. They received a huge ovation, especially when pitcher Brandon
Woodruff emerged from the tunnel in the second quarter holding the
Commissioner's Trophy.
A few players attempted a "Lambeau leap" into the crowd, with outfielder Sal
Frelick having the most success. Those Brewers players later were shown on the
video board cheering as they wore cheeseheads that included the message, "2026
WS Champions."
A large police presence was on hand for the parade to handle the big crowds and
heavy traffic.
The franchise originated as the Seattle Pilots in 1969 before moving to
Milwaukee and becoming the Brewers the following year.
Milwaukee has celebrated a World Series title once before. The Milwaukee Braves
won the 1957 World Series over the New York Yankees before moving to Atlanta in
1966.
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Scott Bauer contributed to this story.
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See AP's full MLB coverage here
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