Why Brewers Fans Have More to Be Thankful for Than They Might Realize — Six Key Reasons .MH
Turkey Day is here, and many of us will gather with our families and friends to partake in turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. It is a tradition that has been ongoing for many years, but this year, let’s add why Brewers fans should be thankful.
6. Tailgating
For as long as the Milwaukee Brewers have been in existence, fans have been partying in the parking lots before, during, and after games at the ballyard. Large quantities of alcohol are consumed. Hamburgers, brats, and hot dogs are cooked up on the most basic ‘Lil Smokey’ charcoal grill, all the way up to the four-burner gas grill with side burners for veggies. The beer, burgers, and potato chips go along with games of catch and cornhole. People wander around, cadging cans of Bud Light while making new friends with other fans. Let’s all be thankful for the fellowship, friendship, and time to cheer on our Brewers.
5. Miller Park/American Family Field/Uecker Field
For 31 years, fans flocked to Milwaukee County Stadium, often wondering whether the weather would postpone games and/or make things miserable. A small group of friends and I went to Opening Day nearly every year in the 1980s. We never knew what to expect: it could be snowing, and 30 degrees, or it could be sunny and 60. And the weather forecast could change by the time we drove three hours from central Wisconsin. We might have long johns and winter jackets, or we could have t-shirts and shorts. You just never knew. When Miller Park opened in 2001, it took away the uncertainty of ‘will there be a ballgame today?’ For that, we should be thankful.
4. An Abundance of Talented Prospects
Jackson Chourio, Brice Turang, Sal Frelick, Jacob Misiorowski. Hopefully, that foursome will be competing at a high level in Milwaukee for the next 10 years. And then check out the prospects in the minors. Although they are at various levels, they should arrive at Uecker Field over the next few years and shine like the stars we hope they can be. Jesús Made, Luis Peña, Cooper Pratt, Jeferson Quero, Braylon Payne, Luke Adams, Brock Wilken, and Bishop Letson are all exciting players who should make their presence felt in Milwaukee soon. Let’s be thankful that the Brewers ‘cupboard is full and that the future looks bright.
3. Matt Arnold and Staff
Arnold has been a member of the Brewers front office since October 2015 and has been the general manager since November 2020. Last month, Arnold was promoted to president of baseball operations. Along with the new title, Arnold will presumably earn a larger salary, and the job of president could prevent other teams from trying to pry Arnold away from Milwaukee with the promise of a president’s position. Although the previous regime of David Stearns had success in the amateur draft, Arnold has seen seven players reach the major leagues from the 2021-2023 draft classes, including Sal Frelick and Jacob Misiorowski. Add to that the fact that the Brewers had four players in MLB.com’s Top 100 Prospect list for 2025: Made (4), Peña (18), Pratt (56), and Quero (84). Arnold isn’t perfect, but he is doing a darn good job for the Brewers, and we are thankful to have him and his staff.
2. Pat Murphy
The Brewers’ current manager has had a long and storied career both in college and in the pros. He coached Notre Dame and Arizona State from 1988 to 2009, compiling a 947-400-2 record and being named Baseball America’s Coach of the Year in 1998 at Arizona State. He held several positions in the San Diego Padres organization, including minor league manager and interim manager for the Padres in the second half of 2015.
Milwaukee hired him after the 2015 season and became a bench coach on Craig Counsell’s staff. After Counsell left to manage the Chicago Cubs, Murphy became the Brewers’ manager, and the rest is history. Milwaukee won two NL Central titles under ‘Murph,’ and he was named NL Manager of the Year in both 2024 and 2025. Whether it is the Brewers’ success under Murphy, his humor, or his culinary specialties, we should be thankful for Patrick Thomas Murphy.
1. Bob Uecker
Even though ‘Ueck’ passed away last January, he is top of mind for anybody who is involved with the Brewers, whether cheering in the stands or playing on the field. Bob Uecker wasn’t a great player, but he did play six years in the big leagues. He was a dear friend and guest on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, a key player on the TV show Mr. Belvedere, and a hilarious character in the zany Miller Lite commercials. Uecker’s Harry Doyle lines from the movie Major League are uttered all around the world. ‘Juuuust a bit outside!’
More importantly, Bob Uecker was the beloved voice of the Milwaukee Brewers for over five decades. And he was a close friend to Brewers players, including Robin Yount and Christian Yelich. Brewers fans hoped that the ‘spirit’ of Bob Uecker would send the Brewers to the World Series in 2025, but it just didn’t happen. But how many times did you think, ‘Ueck was looking over the Brewers?’ I know I did, many times.
This Thanksgiving, let’s be thankful for all that Mr. Baseball offered the fans and players of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Be Thankful EVERY Day
Sometimes we fall short of giving thanks on a daily basis. We get together with family and loved ones on the fourth Thursday in November to eat, drink, and make merry. It is a special day, but we should be thankful every day. Going forward, we should all make that effort. And we are thankful for our Milwaukee Brewers. The Crew hasn’t made it to the pinnacle of baseball supremacy, but there is always next year!
Have a Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!
