Brewers take notice of South Milwaukee block parties

Hundreds of South Milwaukee baseball fans are cheering on the Milwaukee Brewers in the World Series at block parties and the Brewers have taken notice. James Moran, owner of Moran’s Pub , 912 Milwaukee Ave., has held multiple block parties this year for sporting events such as the World Cup . But he says the turnout for the Brewers has been much bigger and, at times, more passionate. “I think it’s because everyone’s got a story, everybody’s got a connection with family members and their own experiences at Brewers games,” he said. “They all know someone who’s the biggest fan.” That passion caught the attention of the Brewers organization. Moran said he was surprised to receive a call early Oct. 28 from the team asking to send out a media person to take photos and video. “They said they were really excited about what they’d seen on TV; what they heard about the block parties and the fact they’re family-friendly,” he said. “I felt quite honored that the organization had noticed what we were doing here in South Milwaukee.” Originally Moran wasn’t even going to have a block party for the Brewers, thinking it’d be too cold. But after a few calls from fans, he looked into it and got approval from the city. “It’s hectic, it’s crazy, but potentially a once-in-a-lifetime experience and opportunity,” Moran said. “Everybody’s trying to make the most of it and making sacrifices with sleep and maybe I’m not eating as healthy.” Once things calm down, Moran said he plans to design and sell a scarf to commemorate the Brewers block parties. From trying his first hot dog at a Brewers game to ordering hundreds for fans Moran said he is a baseball fan and that he saw the Brewers in person for the first time when visiting America from England in 1987. It was at that game he ate his first hot dog. Now, he’s ordering 700 hot dogs for the Game 5 block party on Oct. 28. He said the previous night they ran out of the 350 they had so he decided to double it this go-around. Moran said he has also traveled around the country to see the Brewers play in other stadiums. In 2008 when the Brewers qualified for the playoffs for the first time in decades, he got to go in the dugout at American Family Field (then Miller Park) with Prince Fielder and C. C. Sabathia celebrating and spraying Miller Lite everywhere. Exclusive: Order NL Championship Book Miller Lite has been everywhere – contained in cans and cups – at the block party as the most popular beer, according to Moran. Fifty cases of Miller Lite were sold during the Oct. 27 game, plus probably another 50 cases worth of other beers combined, he said. “Staffing is a challenge right now,” Moran said, noting much of the summer staff had gone back to college for the fall. Moran said if people are interested in volunteering for the block party, whether it be on Oct. 28 or if Game 6 is needed, to reach out. Fans can start setting up their chairs on Milwaukee Avenue at 5 p.m. Oct. 28 for the Game 5 party. The Brewers won the first three games of the series, but the Rays pulled out a 4-3, 12-inning win in Game 4. Whichever team gets four wins first earns their franchise's first World Series championship. Contact Erik at erik.hanley@jrn.com. Follow his Facebook page, The Redheadliner Erik S. Hanley , and follow him on X @Redheadliner . Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.