Milwaukee Brewers win first World Series title in franchise history

The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 in game five of the World Series Wednesday evening at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, clinching the first World Series title in Brewers history.

Wisconsinites enthusiastically cheered for the team at watch parties, including at American Family Field, which packed in a sold out crowd of 31,000 fans three nights in a row. Big crowds also watched the game in the Deer District outside of Fiserv Forum in downtown Milwaukee, at Tropicana Field in Tampa, and in bars and livingrooms all over Wisconsin.

“Thank you. That’s it,” Jacob Misiorowski, the Brewers starting pitcher, said when asked about what the win would mean for Wisconsin and Milwaukee in an interview on Fox Sports after the game. “They’ve been nothing but support for us this whole year and years prior,” he said of the fans, tearing up as he spoke.

“I think about the state of Wisconsin, they pushed us through for sure,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said.

The Brewers lost just twice in the playoffs and along the way swept the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers, who boast the highest payroll in Major League Baseball.

The Brewers won the first three games in the series, but lost in the fourth game on Tuesday in Tampa after blowing a 12th inning lead.

On Thursday during the fifth game, the Brewers came back strong, keeping a lead on the Rays during the whole game and only allowing the team to squeak in one score during the ninth inning.

The team, and its huge win, represents a point of unity in a state sometimes riven by political divisions and a 50-50 partisan split. The World Series provided a respite from politics , especially with less than a week to go before the midterm elections.

The Brewers have been based in Wisconsin’s largest city, but the MLB’s smallest market, since 1970, when they moved to Milwaukee from Seattle. The team last appeared in the World Series over 40 years ago in 1982 where they faced the St. Louis Cardinals and lost in seven games.

A Marquette Law School poll released Wednesday found that 77% of Wisconsinites are supporters of the Brewers with 49% identifying as fans and 28% identifying as casual supporters. Only 1% said they actively root against the team. The Brewers had the second largest professional sports fanbase in the state, behind the Green Bay Packers.

Fans were happy to soak up the statewide joy the team could offer including during the game four watch party at American Family Field.

Sarah Coleman, a Brookfield native who now lives in Milwaukee, said the Brewers’ underdog story was part of the team’s appeal.

“It says a lot that a small market team swept the highest paid team in Major League Baseball,” she said. “It’s cool to talk about the underdog.”

“It’s nice to enjoy something so positive,” Christal Glynn-Skipini said.

The win was celebrated by Wisconsinites across the political spectrum.

Gov. Tony Evers, a lifelong Brewers fan, reacted to the win in a post on X, writing in all caps, “JAZZED AS HELL IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT”.

The candidates for governor also celebrated the Brewers (the team at times has played a role in the race).

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, the Democratic candidate running in the open race for governor, reacted to the win online: “FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, THE MILWAUKEE BREWERS ARE WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS!!!”

Crowley and members of his party have pointed to his role in negotiating the stadium deal that kept the team in Milwaukee through 2050. Republican state Rep. Rob Brooks recently told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Crowley was “big part” and “true partner” in getting the deal done.

Supporters of the deal, including Evers, said the state and local government investment was important because of the economic activity that the Brewers bring to the state. According to the Milwaukee Business Journal, the Brewers’ World Series appearance was estimated to generate between $10 million to $12 million in economic impact per home game.

Republican candidate and U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany said in a post that “Ueck is smiling down on us tonight,” referring to the late Bob Uecker, who was the legendary Hall of Fame radio broadcaster for the team.

“What a moment for Wisconsin,” Tiffany said. “GO BREWERS!”

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said in a post that “this special team represented what this city is all about and the entire state of Wisconsin is proud of them.”

“Congratulations guys — you deserve every bit of this victory,” Johnson said.

Originally published by Wisconsin Examiner, a nonprofit news organization.