Milwaukee 

August 29, 2023

     So many weird thoughts ran through my mind as my cousin’s son, Justin, was pulling up to ‘American Family Field,’ home of the Milwaukee Brewers this past weekend. He and his better half, Sarah, had invited me up to Wisconsin from Michigan to take in a game and enjoy some R & R before my cancer treatment begins next month, and I had taken them up on their generous offer.

     Some of the thoughts were of baseball itself, I wanted to see that young phenom the San Diego Padres have, Fernando Tatis Jr., play. And I did, as he went 1 for 4 with a run scored and three strikeouts. (Sorry not the whole at bat below, like always cell phone battery was low from picture taking and video recording.)

      Justin and I’s conversations swayed from baseball during the hour drive to a bit of everything. He had decided first, we would head to the beach he and Sarah frequent on the shores of Lake Michigan. 

     And to those that thought I couldn’t ‘Write My Name in the Sand,’…

     …I did just that!

     Back at the ballgame I was amazed at Justin’s seating choice. Unlike most stadiums, including our own, Comerica Park, it’s often hard to pick the ball up after it leaves the bat. Not here, as they were clearly visible to detect in the air. 

      These were ‘Awesome Baby’ seats, as former college, NBA and basketball announcer Dick Vitale, would say. ‘Get Well’ wishes to him as he’s been diagnosed with cancer once more and is on his 30th radiation treatment.

     As for the park, I wondered throughout the game as to why they hadn’t just named it after the famously named brewing company ‘Shotz Brewery’ from ‘Leverne and Shirley’ days. (Keep telling you, overthinking does that to a person.) I understand, now, why it wasn’t. That brewery was actually located in Burbank, California and closed in 1982, a year after the show ended. But still. Love those two-word sentences. 

     There’s no rhyme nor reason to this blog’s flow, as you can tell. Yet not long after we strolled under the ‘Welcome’ sign, we discovered it was ‘Bobblehead Day.’

     I got one, as did Justin. Not sure who ‘the h*e-double hockey sticks’ he is, because I haven’t followed the Brewers since their move to the National League in 1997. It doesn’t really matter though, as I’m the one ‘Tellez’ing’ the story, right?

     Can definitely surmise they have some serious drinkers up there in Milwaukee, as this is the first time I’ve seen ‘Long Island Iced Tea’ sold at a ballgame. Or I’ve been ignorant to it all, as it hadn’t been a point of contention until now. But seriously though, I would have never gone home had I been drinking that during a game back in the day! Imagine ’99 cups of Long Island on the wall.’ Try singing that after a few, WOW, would be fortunate to be standing let alone verbalizing a song.

     And they’re definitely into ‘tailgate partying’ in the north too. Seen at least two of these permeant gazebo structures up for just that. Not to mention the hundred or so private grills in the parking lot folks were enjoying before the game. That’s what happens when you have a playoff contending team. It’s ‘party time!’

     The most intriguing part of Brewers Baseball are the ‘sausage races.’ Who’s your pick for the winner? I do prefer this as opposed to ‘Sweet Caroline’ being sung in Boston in the bottom half of the eighth. Nothing personal Caroline. 

     One last thought crept into my mind as I explored the stadium watching patrons enjoying those sausage, bratwurst or whatever you want to call them dogs…

     …wonder if Justin’s going to drive by this dude’s old apartment on the way home.

     Guess that isn’t possible now as they demolished the apartment complex down back in 1992, a year after his morbid self-became of any notoriety and 21 years after I pen this piece. 

     Guess it’s not too important. Just ‘food for thought,’ after all this is Milwaukee famous for sausage, cheese and of course him. 

     Final score Milwaukee 5 – San Diego 4

Please follow me on my social media sites:

 Rick Ollie (@rickollie) • Instagram

 Facebook 

 Rick Ollie (@rickollie) / X (twitter.com) 

 Rick Ollie (@rickollie) | TikTok 

 Rick Ollie (@rickollie) on Threads 

writer

blog

blogger

why not smile

my life