September 24, 2011

The night the Milwaukee fans rooted for the Chicago Cubs.

The Brewers had already won the game the fans came to see....
And then thousands of jubilant fans, eager to celebrate the Brewers' first divisional title in 29 years, remained in the stands and crammed the concourses.

And Brewers' players gathered on the field.

All eyes were on a giant screen and everyone was transfixed by the final outs of the game beamed in from St. Louis, the game the matched the second-place St. Louis Cardinals against the Chicago Cubs.

When the Cubs won, 5-1, the Brewers, at last, were champs, fireworks going off beneath the closed stadium roof and streamers raining down.
Clinching, in the NL Central division.

49 comments:

PaulV said...

The Braves were happy too. They rooted for Los Mets Thursday, another Cardinals collapse.

raf said...

I hope the Brewers win it all. Just because I like their logo.

Anonymous said...

Go Yankees!

Curious George said...

"raf said...
I hope the Brewers win it all. Just because I like their logo."

I'm guessing you mean this logo

That's the old one, wish they would go back.

Curious George said...

Heard fireworks (or gunfire!) last night. I'm guessing it was locals celebrating. It would be a nice thing for the city if the Brewers had a good playoff.

Curious George said...

By the way Ann, it's not the first night that this has happened. There are a lot of Cub fans in town...kids that grew up after the Braves left and before the Brewers came (former Seattle Pilots) often picked the Cubs as their team.

edutcher said...

Congrats to your guys.

Although, as a yout', I was a Dodger (Brooklyn, not that place where they claim the Dodgers went) fan, I always remember the Milwaukee guys (Braves, the real ones) were always the enemy.

Leland said...

In Houston, we're just waiting for October 1st and the end of Carlos Lee's $18.5 million/year (or $1 million per home run) contract. Oh wait, he's reconsidering his promise to retire at the end of this year. The hang over shall continue. Thanks for the beer!

Fred4Pres said...

It's cool to look back at predictions last spring...

traditionalguy said...

If this Milwaukee team keeps winning, then Atlanta will need to steal it to replace the last one they stole.

But the playoffs should be a good evaluation.

I can't wait to watch Nyger after he strikes out and the pitcher looks in the wrong direction.

m stone said...

Is it me or is this one of the few times jubilant players were shown guzzling the champagne (and I think beer)?

Ann Althouse said...

We've actually been rooting for the Cardinals.

First, we wanted the Brewers to win with their own wins, not by the Cardinals losing. Win. Earn it. That was weird last night... standing around rooting for some other team to beat the team you just dropped 2 out of 3 games to (and before that, 3 out of 3... home games). That's not very grand.

Second, we'd like to see the Cardinals get the wild card. Central Division, baby!

Fred4Pres said...

Please let the Yankees implode. Please.

Joe Schmoe said...

I'm very happy for the Brewers and their fans. I hope they go to the World Series.

Cardinal fans think they're some sort of baseball royalty. Gimme the Brew Crew anyday.

Trooper York said...

I would love for the Yankees to play the Brewers in the World Series. We haven't beaten a team from Milwaukee in a while.

Trooper York said...

I don't follow the National league because it is so boring. Does Eddie Matthews still play for Milwaukee?

Shouting Thomas said...

I don't follow the National league because it is so boring. Does Eddie Matthews still play for Milwaukee?

The designated hitter is an Obama-nation!

That's not baseball.

Who was that 6'11" guy pitching for the Yankees the other night? He fired a fastball two feet behind the hitter's back!

ndspinelli said...

Professor, This is sports, they don't ask how...just how many. Or, as the great philosopher, Al Davis, said, "Just win baby."

The Brewers are a good bunch. They have a paucity of postseason experience as do the other teams to varying degrees, EXCEPT THE PHILLIES. The Phillies are the 800lb. gorilla.

The strength of the Brewers is pitching. And, in postseason, the bullpen is key. The Brewers have a good bullpen. If they can get some confidence and lose the butterflies in the first game or two, that could overcome their lack of experience. I hope so. And, I hope they end up beating the Yanks just to really bust the balls of the Brooklyn Bullshitter!

ndspinelli said...

You do remember, oh great Brooklyn Bullshitter, the Yanks losing to the Braves. Just because something happened before you were born doesn't mean it didn't occur! You just focus on getting the pennant, Marty Liquori.

Are you all aware Trooper York is working out now? It's good for him and his righteous bride is being the enforcer. But, you can still bust his balls and then give him a pat on the back. That's how real men act. And, real women for that matter.

Anonymous said...

Trivia question: what's the only team in baseball history ever to lose a best-of-7 series after leading it 3-0?

ndspinelli said...

Curious, have you heard the about the great panic of 1959. It was the Cold War days and we all learned to "duck and cover" when we heard the sirens.

Mayor Daley[the first stupid one] was a huge White Sox fan. When the Sox won the pennant he had all the sirens in Chicago set off. Now..many folks were watching and listening to the game and figured out what the sirens were about. However, there are a lot of immigrants, particularly Eastern European, who didn't know shit about the White Sox. The poor bastards were ducking and covering. Irish politicians, more balls than brains.

ndspinelli said...

Well Campy..excellent question. The Red Sox beat the Brooklyn Bullshitters team and went on to win the WS. Trooper has reportedly had electro-shock to erase that trauma and depression.

Trooper York said...

The Yankees hold most of the records in baseball both good and bad.

That was a bad series.

But not match for the endless suckitude of the Red Sox and Cubs and Brewers for that matter.

As a matter of fact the Sox and the Cubbies are sucking it big time this year. Congratulations.

Trooper York said...

The designated hitter is an innovation in the game that helps the offense and ends the ridiculous double switch bullshit that has you end up with you pitcher batting with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth. It allows some of our biggest stars a spot to stay in the game instead of wallowing on the bench.

I realize that new fangled things like women getting the vote and electric lights in the ballpark is hard for someone as hidebound as Shouting Thomas to take but some of us are not adverse to some changes in the game.

Joe Schmoe said...

Shouting Thomas said:

The designated hitter is an Obama-nation!

Puh-leeze. If you're conservative, then baseball is the ultimate in conservative sports. Founded in the first half of the 19th century, there've been 3 substantive changes in the last 150 years:
- going from fielders using barehands to gloves
- going from deadball era to liveball in 1920 (umps would change out balls that became worn during the game; also outlawed scuffballs and spitballs)
- the designated hitter in 1973 (people were tired of watching .100 hitting-pitchers who were automatic outs; they were ready to try something else)

Edmunde Burke would approve of the barely-perceptible evolution of the institution of baseball.

ndspinelli said...

Trooper..that wasn't a bad series, you're being too modest. It was the biggest postseason choke in baseball history. The great Yanks even choke the best.

I am w/ you on the DH. If Tommy Lasorda could master the double switch we know it can't be hard!

Trooper York said...

Hey Joe don't forget the other change when Rickey Branch let in those black guys.

That worked about pretty good too.

Trooper York said...

Of course a lot of old timers like Cap Anson and Ty Cobb and Connie Mack weren't so hot on the idea.

Trooper York said...

If they had the designated hitter back then Ty Cobb would have played till he was sixty.

SunnyJ said...

It was a grand celebration! We cheer for some to win and others to lose all season long, we hope our guys hit one more homerun and win the title, that means the other guy hits one less, we hope for a title that means someone loses, we hope for playoff home field advantage, that means others have to lose (and you know the season series counts in that decision)...does everyone wish we won by 10 1/2 and it didn't matter, sure! Maybe we could be the only team and always win and then we'd never have to hope the opposite of winning occurs. I don't think that's a rational choice.

In my humble opinion it's no less grand to find yourself cheering for the Cubbies..infact, I call that incredibly grand! I cheered for Randy Johnson when he last pitched at Miller Park...I cheered for Pujols when he hit his Grand Slam in the last series at Miller Park...I was cheering his effort not cheering against the Brewer pitcher he hit on (one of my personal favorites Yo, he needs a mom that boy!).

Asserting that it is not grand to celebrate each moment is to isolate yourself from all that the game is...it is win/lose on every play, every game and every day.

BREWTOBER....Fear the Beer!

ndspinelli said...

SunnyJ, You are a higher order thinker on baseball. I am w/ you. Years have tempered my fanaticism for teams, but not for the sport. When you have the myopic view of "my team" you miss so much.

Joe Schmoe said...

Hey Joe don't forget the other change when Rickey Branch let in those black guys.

Great point by you (it was Branch Rickey btw). Okay; 4 changes in 150 years. All for the better, IMHO. Our government would do well to follow baseball's lead.

Like Babe Ruth said when asked if he deserved more money than Hoover (the president at the time): "I had a better year than he did." By that standard the last guy on the Brewers' bench had a better year than Obama.

Trooper York said...

Joe don't tell that to Carol Herman.

(Recurring bad joke here on Althouse)

(Both Rickey Branch and Carol Herman)

Just sayn'

kjbe said...

Maybe of you knew a little Brewers history, you'd know another reason those folks at Miller Park weren't going to cheer for the Cards.

Win. Earn it? Please. They did. Cards didn't.

Joe Schmoe said...

Sorry; I'm too much of a newbie commenter to get the inside scoop.

Re: Carol Herman, I think of her as the Human Rain Delay. When she's commenting I'm usually at the concession stand or in the restroom.

Curious George said...

@ ndspinelli

I have heard that story, although not the detail. Those were the "Go-Go Sox" (sad baseball doesn't have cool nicknames like that anymore.) Anyway, I'm a Cubs fan and an Indians fan. My first baseball game was "Save the Indians Day" in the old stadium in '62 I think it was. Of course the Indians were terrible, but like all teams before expansion had some real stars. Rocky Colavito, Max Alvis, Vic Davalillo, Leon Wagner. Moved to Chciago when I was seven so became a bs fan but still loved the Indians. Different leagues, so it was all good.

My ex's grandfather was in the majors, Boston Braves, caught Spahn and Sain (and pray for rain!) Used to love to talk about baseball in his day, and stories about the stars that he knew. Despite being a two time all-star he was a butcher in the off-season. Times have changed for sure.

Joe Schmoe said...

Anyway, I'm a Cubs fan and an Indians fan.

My condolences. That's a double whammy right there. I'd be happy for either of those teams and their fans if they won. As a Red Sox fan I've been there. All that suffering does make it triply-sweet when you do finally win, though.

Trooper York said...

I would also love to see the Cubs win but they can't until the reverse the curse of the Billy Goat.

The only way that can happen is if a Cubs fan has sex with a goat.

Shouting Thomas?

ndspinelli said...

Curious, Your ex's grandfather was a lucky man to catch those great hurlers. We had family reunions on Martha'a Vineyard back in the 90's. We were all in the bar of the Ocean View Restaurant[about 25 of us..we're Catholic!] in Oak Bluffs waiting for our table. In walked Warren Spahn. He was w/ his son and a couple other guys. Spahn fell in love w/ blue fishing when the Braves were in Boston and it's great off the Vineyard. This was a real gentleman and down to earth guy. He traded stories about Watertown, Wi. w/ my bride[her hometown..She had a few and kept saying, "I got off school when you pitched in the WS"]. He talked to all the kids, squatting down when he spoke. You can tell alot about a person when he takes the effort to get down to the level of a 5 year olds eyes to speak..it's respectful. Spahn was drinking Heinekens and smoking Luckies. From a time when men were men! The winningest left hander of all time..and the guy could hit too!

Curious George said...

"Joe Schmoe said...

My condolences. That's a double whammy right there. I'd be happy for either of those teams and their fans if they won. As a Red Sox fan I've been there. All that suffering does make it triply-sweet when you do finally win, though." Ha, there will be a special place in heaven...

Truth be told Cubs fans (and Bosox) get to watch their teams in the last remaining "old parks". Cubs have had some good teams and great players. I've been to many Cubs games, and they have won more often than lost. As I kid they would have 25,000 unreserved tickets on sale every day...you could go to any game you wanted with the a little motivation. If you like baseball, something to be said for all that, win or lose.

Jose_K said...

It was bettter a Cubs defeat and clinch by themselves instead of being handed the postseason berth.
Anyway, D-Back will be the NL champs

Jose_K said...

Cardinal fans think they're some sort of baseball royalty
They are second in WS titles even if Dodgers has gone to the WS more than them

Fred4Pres said...

Joe Schmoe, Carol Herman about a week ago was pontificating about Jackie Robinson and "Rickey Branch." Trooper alsmost went into full grand mal seizure.

It was like a Bill Buckner moment. Except Buckner could actually play and just had one really bad play/day. Carol is like that all the time.

Curious George said...

@ ndspinelli

I have more Spahn stories that I can tell in this forum, and it's great because it's "inside" stuff from a teammate. My favorite though is that Spahn once threw at the on deck hitter who was "timing" his pitches in the on-deck circle HA!

The "Spahn and Sain and pray for rain" thing was really not true, they had bonuses for wins and the team accommodated them.

Funny coincidence, having lived in Cleveland as a very young boy, and my dad growing up in OH and a huge Indians fan, there is a very famous play from the 1948 World Series Indians v Braves. Bob Feller picked off my ex's grandfather at second in game one but he was called safe, and went on to score costing Feller a World Series win (he never had one). My dad would go on and on about it...and I ended up marrying his grandaughter! Led for lively conversations.

Fred4Pres said...

According to three interviews with Sam Sianis, William Sianis' nephew-in-law, the Curse of the Billy Goat can be dispelled only by the Chicago Cubs organization's showing a sincere fondness for goats...

Trooper, A mere cub fan cannot do it. Someone from the Cub's organization has to do it.

But if you have ever seen some of their wives, it is really should not be that big a deal.

Trooper York said...

Well the Red Sox only won because they rescued Babe Ruth's piano so I think Shouting Thomas should at least give it a try.

Or see if they can get Kadafy to become a Cubs fan.

ndspinelli said...

My God Curious..your ex's grandfather is Phil Masi. A baseball book my old man gave me for Christmas when I was a kid had a classic photo of Lou Boudreau looking stunned that Masi was called safe, having clearly tagged him shown in a sequence of photos, the last w/ Boudreau in shock. I'll bet you do have some great ones..squeeze some in as we banter about postseason, I'd love to read them. Screw others if they don't..we all put up w/ The Ditz so we have to be indulged.

Joe Schmoe said...

Fred4Pres, thanks for the explanation.

And Trooper, thanks for reading Carol Herman so we don't have to. That's taking one for the team, definitely.

Curious George said...

ndspinelli said...
My God Curious..your ex's grandfather is Phil Masi. A baseball book my old man gave me for Christmas when I was a kid had a classic photo of Lou Boudreau looking stunned that Masi was called safe, having clearly tagged him shown in a sequence of photos, the last w/ Boudreau in shock. I'll bet you do have some great ones..squeeze some in as we banter about postseason, I'd love to read them. Screw others if they don't..we all put up w/ The Ditz so we have to be indulged."

Yep. Now passed. He was a great guy. He admitted he was out only after the ump that called him safe passed on...out of respect. Up to that point he would just smile and say "I was in there" or "Boudreau missed the tag". As an aside, Boudreau was the color man for the Cubs radio for years, and would bring up Phil's name on the air on his birthday, but I don't recall him ever bringing up the play either.

We talked a lot about baseball, I think he had respect for me because I really understood the game (which many rapid fans actually don't) and had the desire to listen to his stories about his life in baseball. I was married and had kids very young, so while the other siblings were off doing what young people do, we spent a lot of time with him, and his wife. A great guy.