THE APEX TIMES
Brewers’ champagne bottles turn franchise history into a clubhouse celebration
After pushing through the NLDS and sweeping the Dodgers in the NLCS, Milwaukee marked its World Series berth by breaking out custom bottles labeled with key postseason names and Wisconsin city history.
The Milwaukee Brewers celebrated their trip to the World Series not just with champagne, but with a message about where the franchise has been and who got them there. In the clubhouse, the team popped custom bottles after beating the San Diego Padres in the NLDS, using labels that reflected both statewide pride and the Brewers’ postseason history.
According to MLB, the bottle designs included the names of every city officially incorporated within the state of Wisconsin, bringing fans from around the state into the celebration. It was a statewide theme placed directly into the player experience, with the franchise turning geography into a shared party gesture.
The Brewers also used the moment to highlight the people who have shaped their postseason runs across eras. MLB reported that in the NLCS, bottles carried the names of players who appeared in at least one Brewers postseason game, paired with the year(s) they played, creating a timeline that spans from earlier postseason teams to the current roster.
That historical approach connected past and present during the NLCS sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers, which MLB described as a four-game series sweep finished with a 6-4 win at Dodger Stadium. One of the names featured in the bottle storylines was rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt, who was playing his first postseason.
Pratt said during the celebration, “How cool is that, man?” and added that the team was “going to the World Series,” reflecting the shift from remembering the franchise to focusing on the next step.
Brewers captain Christian Yelich framed the purpose behind the display as more than symbolism. MLB reported Yelich said the dream was not only to reach the World Series, but to win it, while also describing the joy of bringing long-time fans and their families along for the ride.
Behind the scenes, the organization credited its clubhouse operations staff, with MLB naming vice president of team travel and clubhouse operations Dan Larrea as the leader of the effort. MLB also tied Larrea’s tenure to creating other clubhouse traditions, including a “win wall” used to build the season, brick by brick and win by win.
Why It Matters
- Clubhouse traditions like these reinforce identity during postseason travel, turning fanbase history into something players can carry into the next round.
- By tying bottle labels to both Wisconsin cities and multiple postseason eras, Milwaukee built a visual bridge between the franchise’s past and its present roster.
- The timing matters: the Brewers connected their NLDS and NLCS momentum to the World Series, using celebration to maintain focus after milestone wins.
- Highlighting a first-postseason player like Cooper Pratt emphasizes how the organization is integrating new talent into its larger postseason narrative.
Key Facts
- The Brewers used custom champagne bottles after defeating the Padres in the NLDS to celebrate their World Series berth.
- The labels included the names of every city officially incorporated within the state of Wisconsin.
- In the NLCS run, the bottles featured names of players who appeared in at least one Brewers postseason game, along with the year(s) they played.
- Milwaukee swept the Dodgers in the NLCS, finishing the series with a 6-4 win at Dodger Stadium.
- Rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt was highlighted among the current postseason heroes featured in the bottle theme.
- Brewers captain Christian Yelich described the goal as winning the World Series, not just reaching it.
- MLB credited vice president of team travel and clubhouse operations Dan Larrea as a key driver of the clubhouse concept and execution.