Brewers fans flood Milwaukee
streets for a long-awaited World Series victory celebration
[October 31, 2026]
By STEVE MEGARGEE
MILWAUKEE (AP) — It was only fitting that the Milwaukee Brewers
celebrated their first World Series title with a beer-soaked
celebration worthy of their name.
“We’ve had way too many parade beers,” team captain and designated
hitter Christian Yelich said Friday at a rally that capped a daylong
party with fans. “I took the trophy to the face, got a black eye.
It’s all worth it. It’s for you guys. We should celebrate forever.”
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.
That long wait made Friday’s celebration that much sweeter.
“Unbelievable,” said parade attendee Mark Diedrich, a 76-year-old
from who has been an on-and-off partial season ticket holder since
the 1980s. “You just never thought it would happen. But it did.”
Before the rally at American Family Insurance Amphitheater near the
shore of Lake Michigan, the Brewers held a parade through downtown
Milwaukee. Exuberant fans flooded the streets, watched from parking
garages and cheered from office building windows.
Milwaukee police estimated that over 750,000 attended the parade or
rally, well above their initial expectations of about 400,000.
“That was incredible — incredible,” manager Pat Murphy said. “I kept
thinking I saw the same people over and over, and we were just going
in a circle. There’s no way there’s that many people who live here.”
Then came a rally that featured World Series MVP William Contreras
joining in on the fans’ “MVP” chants.
“We win the trophy for you guys, for the city,” Contreras said.
The rally concluded with hitting coach Daniel Vogelbach performing a
karaoke version of “Stacy’s Mom” by Fountains of Wayne and Hall of
Fame shortstop Robin Yount riding onto the stage on a Harley
Davidson owned by beloved broadcaster Bob Uecker.
Taking time to honor Uecker
Yount was an MVP when the Brewers made their last World Series
appearance, losing in seven games to the St. Louis Cardinals in
1982. By the time they got back, it was without Uecker, who called
Brewers games for 54 seasons before dying in January 2025 at the age
of 90.
The Brewers made sure he was remembered. The parade route ran
through a downtown mural honoring Uecker, and 2011 MVP Ryan Braun
led a “Ueck” cheer during the rally.
“God bless you, Bob Uecker,” Yount said at the end of the ceremony.
At the parade, Brewers players, coaches and staffers waved to fans
from the top of buses, some of which bore the message, “Won Our
Way,” to update their postseason slogan of “Win Our Way.” Several
players, such as outfielder Sal Frelick and second baseman Brice
Turang, removed their shirts in a nod to this seasons’ MLB-wide
“Tarps Off” craze as they exhorted the crowd.
Players took turns holding the Commissioner’s Trophy aloft, with
many of them getting off their buses and greeting fans.
“For me and my teammates, this has been the most special day of our
lives — you guys showing up here and cheering us on,” said Aaron
Ashby, who set a major league record by throwing 18 consecutive
scoreless innings of relief in the postseason to lead Milwaukee’s
stellar bullpen performance. “This is better than anything we could
ever imagine.”
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Milwaukee Brewers' fans raise their hands as they pose for a selfie
during a rally at the baseball team's World Series parade, Friday,
Oct. 30, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)
Every level of the Brewers franchise was
represented in the parade, from owner Mark Attanasio to grounds crew
members, behind-the-scenes staff and even the Johnsonville racing
sausages. Yount and fellow Hall of Famers Rollie Fingers, Paul
Molitor and Ted Simmons from that 1982 team also participated in the
parade and rally.
“Good things come to those who wait,” Molitor said. “We waited long
enough.”
Celebration brings out fans of all ages
The end of that wait had families bringing multiple generations of
fans downtown, as Milwaukee Public Schools canceled classes.
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."
Diedrich, who is from Necedah, Wisconsin, said he owns the seats
from the old Milwaukee County Stadium where he and one of his sons
were sitting when Yount got his 3,000th hit in 1992.
“We could tell you stories for days of all the games we went to,”
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.”
Bringing the trophy to Lambeau Field
The celebration actually started well before Friday.
Several Brewers, including 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
Frelick having the most success.
“It was unbelievable,” said Frelick, a former high school
quarterback. “It’s been a dream of mine. I was in the end zone, I
saw it, and I said, ‘I’ve got to go.’ So I went.”
Those Brewers players later were shown on the video board cheering
as they wore cheeseheads that included the message, “2026 WS
Champions.”
The current 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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Associated Press writer Scott Bauer contributed to this story.
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