MILWAUKEE — It could easily have been the largest public gathering in Wisconsin history Friday when more than 750,000 people descended on downtown Milwaukee for a parade to cheer on the Milwaukee Brewers and their first World Series championship.
Crowds blocked every intersection along the parade route as the players road atop open-air buses to thunderous applause.
The celebration ended at the Summerfest grounds where players and coaches thanked the fans to being part of the historic run.
By evening, the streets remained filled with revelers, and even Brewers’ captain Christian Yelich was spotted with friends walking down Water Street.
Back in 1982, the Milwaukee Brewers’ goal was to make it to the World Series, which they did, but fell 4 games to 3 to the St. Louis Cardinals.
But this season, the goal wasn’t to make it to the World Series. It was to win it.
And the Brew Crew did just that, defeating the American League champion Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 in a game five clincher to claim the club’s first-ever World Series title.
It was vintage Brewers baseball, scoring in multiple innings behind 5-2/3 shutout innings from starter Jacob Misiorowski.
The Brewers won 11 of 14 games, with eight comeback wins, in their three post-season series on their way to the title.
Back in Milwaukee, fans filled American Family Field, flooded the streets and packed their local taverns to celebrate the historic championship as they were just warming up for Friday’s celebration.
