400,000 fans cheer Brewers title parade

Downtown Milwaukee turned into a sea of green and gold on Friday as tens of thousands of fans gathered to celebrate the Brewers' first World Series title in four decades. The parade stretched past a mural of broadcaster Bob Uecker and ended at Henry Maier Festival Park near Lake Michigan. City officials estimated that 400,000 people attended the event. Many spectators watched from parking garages and office windows as the celebration moved through the streets. Milwaukee Public Schools canceled classes to allow residents to join the festivities.

The Brewers secured the championship with a 4-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday. That win concluded the series in five games. It marked the first time the team played in the Fall Classic since 1982. Fans had waited a long time for this moment. The franchise originated as the Seattle Pilots in 1969 before moving to Milwaukee the following year.

Players, coaches, and staff rode open-top buses along the route. They chugged cans of Miller Lite and high-fived the crowd. The group included owner Mark Attanasio, manager Pat Murphy, and grounds crew members. Buses displayed the slogan "Won. Our Way," an update to the team's postseason phrase. Outfielder Sal Frelick and second baseman Brice Turang removed their shirts to participate in the "Tarps Off" trend. Players took turns holding the Commissioner's Trophy aloft while greeting supporters.

Members of the 1982 Brewers team also rode in the parade. Hall of Famers Rollie Fingers, Robin Yount, and Paul Molitor joined the current roster. The 1982 team had previously paraded in Milwaukee after losing the World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. Many fans at Friday's event were not yet born when that earlier parade took place. The sausages that race during home games also walked the route alongside the players.

Mark Diedrich, 76, attended the parade with his son Kasey. Mark has held partial season tickets on and off since the 1980s. He described the moment as unbelievable. He said he never expected it to happen, but it did. Kasey attended his first Brewers game at age four in 1983. He said it still feels like a dream. Mark owns the seats from the old Milwaukee County Stadium where he watched Robin Yount reach 3,000 hits in 1992. He recalled the ice on the stadium steps during an opening day game years ago.

Craig Muehl, 42, traveled from the suburb of Brookfield to join the crowd. He brought his young son and daughter to the event. Muehl said his family fandom began with his father playing Brewers games on the radio. He noted that while other families played music, they listened to baseball all summer long. Several generations of local families were represented in the crowd on Friday.

The celebration began before the parade. Team captain Christian Yelich and pitcher Jacob Misiorowski attended the Green Bay Packers game at Lambeau Field on Thursday night. The crowd gave a large ovation when Brandon Woodruff emerged from the tunnel holding the trophy. Frelick attempted a leap into the stands and succeeded. The players later appeared on the video board wearing cheesehead hats that read "2026 WS Champions."

A large police presence managed traffic and crowds during the event. The Milwaukee Braves previously won a World Series in 1957 before moving to Atlanta. That title remains the city's other championship in baseball history. The Friday parade marked a new chapter for the Brewers organization and its long-time supporters.