Brewers Fan Legends

[Brian the Automator]

Hey all,

 

So I'm working on the new version of the website, and I'd like to have a portion of the site devoted to fan "legends". We are, after all, brewerfan.net, and die-hard Brewers fans are definitely a subculture of their own. We're fortunate enough to have two users that I would consider "legends" (the Doorman and the Happy Youngster). Other people I can think of, off the top of my head, are "The Maniac" (who I believe does or used to post at the brewers.com message board) and perhaps Freeway. Are there any other legends you can think of that might warrant inclusion into the site?

[bjkrautk]

Wasn't the 'original' rally rabbit some sort of a fan video?

 

About the only other mention that comes to mind would be the guys from the paper company who used donate signs for the buckethead nights....but I don't remember names.

[BrewCrew25]

I would throw in a vote for Freeway for sure. There's a lot of people I know that went to games at County Stadium that know who he is.

[Brian the Automator]

I'm sort of going back and forth on Freeway. I know that he's definitely a recognizable fan, but given his particular mannerisms and why he's famous, I'm not sure I want to list him... Basically, if he has medical or mental conditions, I don't want to appear like we're making fun of that.

[bani1717]

Brewer Bob (Baseball Bob?). Has a single season ticket and sits in the third row right next to the Brewers dugout, right behind Mark Attanasio's seats. Hasn't missed a single game for about 20 years. (According to what I was told by an usher at Miller Park, he literally never even misses a pitch either.)

 

Also, could someone please share with me how the "Happy Youngster" came about? I may be totally making this up, but something tells me it might be a name made by Matt Vasgersian or something like that.

[Brian the Automator]

I think Matt V gave him the original name... Basically, at county stadium, Happy was very proactive about going for home run balls, and I believe it was reaction on camera when he got a ball that earned him the name.

[SeriesFinale]

The Maniac is the big bearded guy who sits up in the club seats, right?

 

The Doorman and his wife are my favorites, jut because I can always spot them (and they've been there for what seems like forever), and their moods and demeanors usually match mine! The Doorman had this look on his face during Sunday night's Cubs' game that was like looking in a mirror!

[GormanHarvey]

If it were up to me I'm not sure if I would include Freeway. Not sure if any of you have ever met him, but he's pretty odd. Reminds me a little of that Woo-woo guy for the Cubs

[hawing]

The Maniac is the big bearded guy who sits up in the club seats, right?

I don't know if he has club seats for every game, but he is often in the club. I also don't know if he's sporting a beard. But he's always wearing a jersey that says THE MANIAC.

 

For the 2005 Fan Fest game vs. the Twins, he sat not far from our Brewerfan group in the field bleachers. He was saying something in what sounded like Japanese to Tomo Ohka as Ohka warmed up. I thought that was neat.

[patrickgpe]

not exactly a brewer fan like the maniac but you got to give it up for the ice man!

 

as for freeway, he is in the bucks fan hall of fame, but i have seen him at miller park twice. Baseball really isn't what he is none for although he is a big fan of rickie weeks.

 

also don't know his name but the trumpeter for the buckethead brigade who still brings his trumpet to the stadium.

[Brian the Automator]

not exactly a brewer fan like the maniac but you got to give it up for the ice man!

elaborate...

[patrickgpe]

the ice man is the beer vendor who usually works the field bleachers area. He is very much into his job and the drinkers in that area love him. He tells his customers that need to wear gloves to drink his beer and such and constantly jokes with the people in his area. Thats why I don't know if its really works in the brewer fan part.

[GormanHarvey]

The Ice Man even goes down to Maryvale for ST - I saw him handing out "shivers" in March. He also told me he will be working the Loge level this season; not that it really matters

[jjkoestler]

I'll definitely throw a vote in for the Ice Man. How about making Steve Bartman an honorary legend?

[berniebrewer4life]

The Ice Man even goes down to Maryvale for ST - I saw him handing out "shivers" in March. He also told me he will be working the Loge level this season; not that it really matters

More years than not he works the loge. Still, i don't buy beer from the vendors, with the exception of the Ice man. Who needs a shiver!!

[patrickgpe]

i hear you too berniebrewer, if i am drinking at the game ill wait in line and pay 750 for the 20 oz rather than pay 675 for the 16 oz bottle. now if the ice man is working our section, even if i am not drinking at the game ill still buy one from him.

[hawing]

If Ice Man is the "HEEEY-ohhhh!" vendor, then I know which guy you mean, and the loge infield has been at least part of his beat both last year and now.

[patrickgpe]

thats him hawing.

[SeriesFinale]

The Iceman rules...didn't know he had a nickname until now though!

 

I wasn't sure if he was a fan legend as a vendor, but the fact that he goes to Maryvale makes me think he really cares about the team and knows and appreciates the "fan experience."

[Brian the Automator]

Yeah, perhaps we should expand it to "Legends" or "Stadium Legends".

[Thurston Fluff]

I'm sort of going back and forth on Freeway. I know that he's definitely a recognizable fan, but given his particular mannerisms and why he's famous, I'm not sure I want to list him... Basically, if he has medical or mental conditions, I don't want to appear like we're making fun of that.

 

I know who you are talking about and think it admirable why you might not want to include him but consider the alternative. Do you want to exclude someone just because if that? Many time people with certain conditions are excluded because of it and many times it is the exact opposite of what they really want from others. Recognition as an unusual fan is not such a bad thing and I really do not think keeping certain people because of some type of disability hidden is all that great for them. I can't speak for everybody but am sensitive to this type of issue. As long as it is done with the usual BF class I for one don't see why Freeway shouldn't be included.

[BrewCrewForever]

"Another satisfied beer drinker!" "Heeeeyyy Oooohhhh!"

 

Ice Man is awesome.

[heresrobin]

The Ice Man is awesome. It's hard not to smile when he comes in to your section. I've even heard him yell, "The Ice Man Cometh!" a few times.

 

Brian, I think you have to decide if you are going to include people who work at Miller Park and/or work for the Brewers. If you are, then you could include:

The Ice Man

Bernie and Bonnie Brewer

The Barrell Man

The racing sausages

any of the radio/TV guys

 

Others:

The Buckethead Brigade - not technically a fan, but a group of fans, and maybe worth mentioning

Bud Selig

Bud Selig's mother - there is an article from when she passed away about how she never missed a game

[Ulice Payne]

Dont forget Milt Mason, the inspiration for Bernie Brewer.

 

From Wikipedia;

 

In late June 1970, when the Brewers were still a new team and having difficulty drawing spectators to their games at Milwaukee County Stadium, Milt Mason, a 69-year-old fan decided to sit atop top the scoreboard until the team could draw a home crowd of 40,000. He was there for about 40 days. To the delight of a Bat Day crowd of 44,387 on August 16, Mason descended from his trailer following the Brewers 4-3 win over the Indians. he slid down a rope from his perch sustaining burns to his hands and legs. After a long illness, Mason died on June 12, 1973 but not before being recognized as the original Bernie Brewer.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Brewer

 

[pitchleague]

uh, the most obvious one is Bob Betts, if you're going to Brewers employees. Man, that guy was great.

 

And the beer vendor back in the 80s that would bellow out, "Pabst, MillerMillerLite, Old Styyyyyllllllleeeeeee!" would have to be in there. (that's not a typo: he said it as one word--MillerMillerLite)