Miller Park, Milwaukee. This is a very interesting and well constructed park. With its very unique retractable roof, it is perfect for this part of the country.
We have been to some parks that have a tail gating area, and there are a few participants. The most notable example was Philadelphia. But let there be no doubt, for all other parks, the tail gaters were rank amateurs. The real professionals can be found at Miller Park. We attended a night game followed by a day game. Many of the tail gaters who were there before the first game were parked in the same place before the second game. In fact, I could not determine for sure whether these hard core partiers had ever left the parking lot.
And there is no doubt that you are in the land of Scandinavian immigrants. This is only a sample of some of the t-shirts that we saw.
And should there be any doubt, the locals still remember and honor Henry Aaron who played here with the Milwaukee Braves and the Milwaukee Brewers. Not only is there this statue, but there are plaques, record corner stones, and so on.
One other celebrity that is a fixture in Milwaukee is Bob Uecker who has been involved with MLB in one way or another for the last 50 years. As a player, a broadcaster,and sometimes as a comedian, he has been a credit to the game.
This is the "Euk" caught live behind the mike in the press box.
As with all parks, safety has become a mantra in an attempt to avoid income generating litigation. This one however was taking it a bit too far. This sign was on the side of the concession stand.
The first game that we watched was a charity event day for the Boys and Girls Clubs. As a reward for participating in baseball at the Milwaukee area clubs the best players in the 8-12 year old age groups were chosen to stand beside their counterparts for the announcing of the starting line ups and the National anthem. This is a picture of the 1st base winner along side Prince Fielder.
Being Miller Park, you have to sell Miller Beer. On this day, the Miller man was there. He threw out the first pitch and he did the chicken dance after take me out to the ball game during the 7th inning stretch.
The Brewers won the first game and pulled within half a game of the Cubs.
On the second day, while walking around the inside of the park, we found this giant glove. It just looked like the right place for a picture.
The Brewers have an extensive exhibit on the Negro Leagues including many of the great players that transitioned to the Major Leagues once the color barrier was broken. Few people realize that Both Willie Mays and Henry Aaron played in the Negro Leagues. In fact Willie Mays was the only player to play in the Negro League World Series, the Major League World Series, and win both. I realize that because of the glare these are not the best pictures, but by clicking on them you will be able to see much more detail.
The Brewers were blown out during the second game, sending them one and a half games behind the Cubs with a four game Cubs series starting the next day.
Miller Park is a really good park but it does not break into the first division (this does not mean that I would not go back given the opportunity). So, as it now stands, the park ranking is:
First Division
- Wrigley Field
- PNC Park
- Turner Field
Second Division
- Baltimore
- Milwaukee
- Cincinnatti
- Toronto
- Philadelphia
- New York Yankees
- Cleveland
- Washington
- Chicago Wite Sox
- Boston
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