The Milwaukee Brewers might be the best story in baseball.
And now their fans are getting free burgers to celebrate.
At 76-44, the Brewers have the best record in the Major Leagues and have a commanding 7.5-game lead over the Chicago Cubs in the National League Central. They have posted an impressive 37-21 record against teams above .500, and have won 42 of their 62 games at the friendly confines of American Family Field. Manager Pat Murphy is making “pocket pancakes” the latest rage and flame-throwing
Jacob Misiorowski might be the game’s next breakout pitching star.
On Wednesday, the Brewers won their 12th consecutive game, defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates by a final score of 12-5. In the process, they secured free burgers for their fans, courtesy of George Webb Restaurants.
Back in the 1940s, restaurateur George Webb made his initial promise to fans, promising free burgers if the Milwaukee franchise won 17 consecutive games. Back then, the franchise was the Milwaukee Brewers of the minor league American Association. The requirement dropped to 13-straight wins when the Milwaukee Braves made their National League debut in 1953, but the team could not reach that goal before leaving for Atlanta in 1966.
Webb renewed the promise in 1970, when the Seattle Pilots moved to Milwaukee to become the Brewers. Finally, in 1987, the Brewers reached the milestone, making the restaurant fulfill the promise for the first time. On that occasion, Milwaukee won 13 straight games, and George Webb handed out 168,000 free burgers.
The Brewers hit the milestone on one other occasion, during the 2018 regular season and playoffs. George Webb handed out 90,000 free burgers plus 100,000 redeemable vouchers to commemorate those victories.
According to Wednesday’s starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff, the opportunity for free burgers led to some extra pressure on the bump.
“I was nervous,” Woodruff said after the game. “There was a little bit more at stake today. I wanted to win those burgers bad. Who doesn’t want a free burger?”
Exactly.
Now, thanks to Woodruff, the Brewers, and George Webb Restaurants, Milwaukee fans are getting those free burgers.
