It was Sunday evening. The latest episode of baseball revelry was over, the fans’ celebratory screams had faded, and Brewers owner Mark Attanasio was leaving Miller Park through its rather quiet service tunnel.
This is behind-the-scenes territory, home to batting cages, groundskeeper equipment and team clubhouses. It’s also where Brewers employees – ushers, concessions people, etc. – clock in and out for their various duties. So several workers just happened to be lining the tunnel’s perimeter.
And as Attanasio walked by, those employees erupted into spontaneous applause.
The only thing missing was a director yelling “Cut!”
Yes folks, Miller Park has pretty much become a movie set these days. Which might explain why this has felt less like a playoff series and more like a Disney script.
Of course the Brewers beat the Diamondbacks in the first two games of their best-of-five National League Division Series. Of course Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder hit crucial home runs. Of course John Axford sent everyone to Arizona on a strikeout.
So of course Attanasio can’t walk to his car without hearing ovations. His team is one victory away from winning its first playoff series since 1982, that storied run to the World Series, that year of all Brewers years.
You know what else happened in 1982? The Commodore 64 and the Falklands War. Game 1 of Cal Ripken’s streak and Day 1 of Dwyane Wade. Rocky III’s thrills and Michael Jackson’s Thriller.
Yeah, it’s been awhile.
Most of the workers applauding Attanasio looked plenty old enough remember 1982 and then some. They’d seen all those seasons come and go, all those other baseball teams celebrate all those playoff accomplishments. Now, thanks to the team that Attanasio has bankrolled, they were on the brink of finally unwrapping their own present. That’s worth putting your hands together.
And as I walked farther down the tunnel, there was Lou Montgomery. He’s 89 years old and, in my mind, he’s Press Box Lou, because that’s where most of our conversations take place. He works in the hallways there, checking credentials, guarding broadcast booth doors, that type of thing. But I like to think part of his job is simply talking baseball with us younger guys whenever the need arises.
Like right about now.
Lou’s the friendliest, most personable gentleman you’ll every meet. He’s worked for the Brewers since 1987. He was a fan in the stands for the ’82 World Series. He was a worker at County Stadium for Robin Yount’s 3,000th hit. And if anybody deserves a spot on this movie set, it’s Lou.
“I really think they can do it,” he said in the tunnel.
I told him I thought he was absolutely right.
Lou wants to see the Brewers face the Cardinals in the NLCS. Not because he’s worried about the Phillies or anything. “Then we get home-field advantage.”
Makes sense. Gives him the chance to work an extra day at the job he loves.
And if Milwaukee gets past that series and another one, if this Disney script plays to its proper end, if Lou’s in the box for the final out of that Brewers World Series title, I can’t wait to see his reaction.
Oh, he’ll no doubt be composed. Lou’s a pro’s pro. No cheering in the press box, you know.
But there are no rules against blissful smiles.
Feel free to follow me on Twitter, where I tweet as howiemag. And listen to me chat sports with Mitch Teich once a month on WUWM’s “Lake Effect.”
