How the 2026 and 1982 Brewers are alike, in style and in spirit - ESPN

The last time the Milwaukee Brewers were in the World Series, in 1982, the left-field bleachers at historic County Stadium swayed when filled with the maniacal fans of the swashbuckling Brewers that magical October. I witnessed it firsthand 44 years ago, during the first World Series that I covered, and the memory returned Saturday when I arrived at my seat in the auxiliary press box above the left-field stands at American Family Field, just above star Brewers left fielder Jackson Chourio.

The left-field stands at American Family Field do not sway, but the ballpark seemed to pulsate amid the apocalyptic crowd noise when the 2026 World Series returned to Milwaukee.

«This place is nuts,'' said Brewers right fielder Sal Frelick after Game 1 against the Rays. „When I ran out on the field for the first time, with all the lights going off, it was like being in a movie. I was so fired up, I thought, 'I just want to hit someone.' When I got on base, I said, 'I just want to get dirty.''' (So, after his single in the second inning, he stole third with a headfirst slide.)

That's how the greatest Brewer ever, Hall of Famer Robin Yount, felt every time he ran onto the field during his career, and he got the chance again this week. Before Game 1, former Brewers owner Bud Selig, who brought the franchise to Milwaukee in 1970, presented the ceremonial first pitch to Yount, who was wearing a sports coat belonging to perhaps the most beloved broadcaster and former player ever, the late Bob Uecker. Yount removed the jacket to reveal his retired No. 19 — but instead of Yount written on the back, it read Ueck. Yount threw out the first pitch to the booming ovation from a sellout crowd that seemed to be completely seated two hours before the