Bernie Brewer leaves his perch for the first time in 40 days

On August 16, 1970 — At County Stadium, Down 3 – 0 in the 8th, the Brewers scored four runs, three of them on a Danny Walton bases-loaded double, to beat the Indians, 4 – 3. Gus Gil’s single drives in the last run. The biggest crowd of the season, 44,387, is on hand for bat day,

Milt Mason, also known as Bernie Brewer, who in late June had vowed not to leave his team-sponsored trailer on top of the County Stadium scoreboard until the Brewers drew a home crowd of 40,000, ends his 40-day boycott, descending from a 30-foot rope, when 44,387 fans show up for Bat Day.

Before his death in 1973, the retired aviation engineer is recognized by the team as the original Bernie Brewer, and in tribute to the devoted fan, a costumed character with the same name becomes Milwaukee’s official mascot the same year.

 
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