Miller Park
in Milwaukee, WI,
opened in 2001, but I never had the opportunity to watch a Brewers’ game there
because every time I was home in Sheboygan
was either during the off season or the Brewers were on the road. This year, I
found myself needing to be in Chicago
for work on April 2nd. After talking with my wife, I decided to
extend my stay to spend the week with Dad, and I set about the possibility to
finally making it to the park.
Easter Sunday fell on March 31st, but I wanted to
spend the day with my family in Virginia.
I made plans to fly to Milwaukee Mitchell Field for April 1st and
talked with my Dad and brother-in-law, Steve, about going to opening game on
that same day. At first everyone seem enthusiastic about going; but an on-line
check for tickets found that it was sold out or available at five times face
value, and winter keeping its grip in the region, soon opening day wasn’t
viable. Luckily we decided that early because my flight ended up being delayed
twice at Reagan National
Airport, and I didn’t land in Milwaukee
until mid-afternoon.
Talking that night with my Dad, he told me that with the
cold spell going on and with his knee and hip replacement and recent back
surgery, he wanted to decline going to the game with me. I understood his
plight and tried to get Steve to go, but he’s more of a Packer fan and willing
to brave the weather for them than the Brewers. Yeah, I don’t think that even
if the Brewers won the World Series would they ever supplant the Packers. However,
my two nieces, Abbi and Ashlie, were both enthusiastic about going to a game as
long as their boyfriends came along, and we decided to go to Wednesday, April 3rd’s
last game of the series against the Colorado Rockies.
After the girls got off of work on Wednesday, we all met up
at my sister’s house and headed for Milwaukee
by 4:45 for the 7:10 game. We decided not to tailgate because it was a
windy 42 degrees, which I think was the high temperature for the week I was
there.
What I think is funny was everyone asking if we had tickets
for the game. While I wouldn’t try it in a good baseball town like Boston or
St. Louis, but with opening day being only two days before, it being a mid-week
game, and no promotions going on, I’m used to walking up to the ticket window
at a park and being able to get decent seats. That held true to form and we got
second level seats on the third base side for $40 a ticket, and didn’t have to
pay any handling or Ticket Master fees. I considered the parking in the general
admission lot to be a reasonable $10.
We entered the stadium from the center field area and walked
around the concourse. I saw the tributes to the Milwaukee Braves World Series
win; former Brewer greats like Hank Aaron, Robin Yount, and Paul Molitor; the
1923 Milwaukee Bears team from the Negro National League; and, of course,
current players and managers. I quickly found a team store and bought a
throw-back Brewer cap with the “MB” glove and ball logo to go with my Robin
Yount throwback jersey.
Walking around the park, I saw the Sausages and Bernie
Brewer getting pictures taken with kids young and old; and the iconic food
courts serving hot dogs, bratwurst, polish and Italian sausages and chorizos.
We found our seats in Section 225 by 7:00 and they were great. With the dome closed and all the
steel structures for the retractable roof, the field looks like an airplane or
dirigible hanger. The park was clean and the food and stands and restrooms were
close to us. An amusing site in the section next to ours was a guy in a Ricky
Vaughn “99” Cleveland Indians jersey. Has anyone else seen a jersey like that
in other parks?
Of course I had to try one of their Klement’s bratwursts but
was greatly disappointed. Granted, we in Sheboygan think we know how to cook
brats the best because we’re the home of the vastly superior Johnsonville sausages,
which isn’t even the best brat is town, (I prefer Meisfeld’s when in Sheboygan,
and don’t get me going about serving it on a hot dog bun); but flat-grilling bratwurst
is just sacrilege. I know they have to mass prepare bratwurst for the crowds,
but to not even have an option for a charcoal grilled brat is an opportunity
lost. I guess that’s one of the reasons people tailgate is to get their brats
done right. Oh well, I guess I’m going to have to go back and try some of their
other food selections; and I’m sure there’s a lot of hidden gems to discover.
Before going to the game, I reviewed some posts from people
who had gone and recommended the Leinenkugel Summer Shandy, a pale and wheat
Weiss beer brewed with blackberry juice and natural lemonade flavor. I liked it
so much, I had two. Even though it was 42 degrees outside and a comfortable 70
degrees inside, the beer is perfect for summer days especially after yard work.
I bought a six-pack last week and had one on Saturday after cutting the grass.
The game? Oh yeah, they played one. The Rockies
jumped out to a 2-0 lead but the Brewers fought back to make it 2-2. The Rockies
made it 4-2, but the Brewers got it to 4-3 with Rickie Weeks and Ryan Braun
hitting back-to-back doubles. However John Axford couldn’t hold it close giving
up three runs in the 9th. I think the Brewers are going to be
also-rans this year because of pitching.
After the game, I had to run around to the front of the park
to see the statues. It was cold and windy with the kids anxiously waiting for
me; however, it was too dark to get good pictures, even though I took some.
I’m hoping to catch another Brewer game when they come
to DC at Nationals Park during the 1st through 4th of
July. But it may be difficult because the first three games are at night and
then fighting the traffic on the 4th with all the tourists wanting
to see the fireworks. At least the game on the 4th is a day game,
but last year I believe the temperature was 105. At least I’ll be able to get
my Ben’s Chili Bowl fix.
I know Joffrey Lupul (center) is King Joffrey, but is Phil Kessel supposed to be Jamie Lannister? Or perhaps Petyr Baelish (aka Littlefinger) because no matter his reputation he’s always underestimated?
