The Brewers' First 12-Game Win Streak: A View From the Opposition in 1987

[Tim Muma]

Image courtesy of © Michael Sears / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

You can't talk about the Milwaukee Brewers' 12-game winning streak this season without harkening back to the first club to do it in franchise history: the 1987 "Team Streak" Brewers.

Most fans know the story, as the Brew Crew opened that season with a team-record 13 consecutive victories. But the most memorable game was when they reached one dozen on Easter Sunday at Milwaukee County Stadium. And yes, that was also the first time George Webb would have to make good on its "Free Burgers" promise. But the 12th win itself was the thrilling part, when a three-run home run and a two-run, walkoff homer erased a three-run Texas Rangers' ninth-inning lead in a flash.

That was the perspective I wanted to explore; that of the opponents who were collectively dumbfounded as Dale Sveum's game-winning bomb left the Rangers utterly shocked in the visitor's dugout. Bob Carpenter, the current Washington Nationals TV play-by-play announcer, held the same role for the Rangers that sun-splashed day in 1987. His call of the action was perfectly toned, with dejection in his voice for his own club, but still a hint of excitement in recognizing what the Brewers were doing.

"We were stunned, but I have to admit it was a sight to behold with the crowd going wild and the Brewers jumping around," Carpenter recalled. "Even though it was against my team, in some sort of roundabout way, I did soak in the spectacle and was happy for Milwaukee."

Back then, home teams didn't regularly televise games, so it was up to Carpenter to describe the action for the viewing audience.

"I still hear from people every time I come to Milwaukee about that game, and they seemed to appreciate the call I put on that last home run, showing my disappointment but also my respect for the Brewers. As the ball sailed out to right field, I called it '12 in a row!' - then went quiet while our director/producer Dave Burchett did a great job with the Milwaukee-based crew of capturing the ensuing celebration while I said nothing."

You would have thought the Brewers had won a playoff series the way fans - many of them shirtless and fueled by adult beverages, no doubt -  went absolutely crazy, emitting a deafening drone of sound and camera-shaking dancing. The Brewers, too, were jumping around like the American League pennant returned to the Cream City. In fairness, winning 12 MLB games in a row is rare, so it's understandable.

On the other side of the field, the Rangers were feeling stunned and snakebitten. They came to Milwaukee that weekend on a six-game losing streak, which included a Brewers sweep over them in Texas. Carpenter says that it created an atmospheric duality to open the series.

"There were two buzzes: The Rangers were 1-7 coming into the weekend, so we were desperate to win. The Brewers were 9-0 and were finding ways to win. It was the ultimate 'two teams going in different directions' scenario."

After Milwaukee took the first two games, it looked like the Rangers finally found a way to snap the Crew's streak. Texas pitchers held the Brewers to just one run through eight frames, and as the Rangers' analyst Steve Busby said after the game was over, it was surprising because it seemed that the Brewers "really had no momentum at all coming into the ninth inning."

Though Carpenter didn't say anything during the broadcast, he told me, "It certainly looked like the Brewers were about to be stopped. Again, we were desperate, so it had a pretty good feeling going into the bottom of the ninth."

Those feelings were quickly dashed, but Carpenter, as he has done for more than four decades behind the mic, was all business.

"I pride myself on being a pro, even when the opponent breaks our heart, and I feel I did it that day." You can watch and listen for yourself below.

With the Nationals, Carpenter got to see this year's streaking Brewers twice: Once in the middle of their 11-game run and then again, watching the Brewers sweep Washington for a second time, this time kicking off Milwaukee's 12-gamer. Carpenter acknowledged it was a surprise to see that '87 club have such success considering the preseason prognostications weren't favorable. And while some wold argue that makes this year's team similar, Carpenter recognizes that every year, each team is its own entity.

"This team (2025) has its own personality and I've been so impressed with them and the job Murph (manager Pat Murphy) has done. I don't try to compare teams from different eras, so I haven't thought much about '87 compared to '25."

It's still fascinating to get the "other side's" perspective on being around a red-hot baseball team. You could tell Carpenter felt a little bit of everything, including awe and respect upon witnessing first-hand a team that fought it's way to a win every day for two weeks. And based on what we're seeing at American Family Field and across social media this season, the fans are embracing the same type of passion and spirited fervor captured in 1987. It's important to cherish those special seasons and rare moments, because they are never guaranteed. 

Heck, that day in '87 even sticks with Bob Carpenter, both as a Midwest guy and a broadcaster. And that is despite being on the wrong end of the Brewers' magical performance to start that season.

"I'm from St. Louis and I always wanted the Midwest teams to do well - except the Cubs," Carpenter said with a laugh. "The end of that game remains one of the most striking moments of my 42-year MLB career."

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[Michael Trzinski]

As a huge fan of Milwaukee baseball since April 1970, this is a very nice piece of Brewers history. Well done, @Tim Muma!!

[H-Factor]

I was there that Easter Sunday. The most exciting finish to a game that I personally witnessed since game 5 in the 1982 playoffs against the Angels which sent the Brewers to the world series.

Just a side note for anyone wondering. They did in fact have color photography back in 87. The photo above looks like it's from the 50's or 60's. 

[CheeseheadInQC]

2 hours ago, H-Factor said:

I was there that Easter Sunday. The most exciting finish to a game that I personally witnessed since game 5 in the 1982 playoffs against the Angels which sent the Brewers to the world series.

Just a side note for anyone wondering. They did in fact have color photography back in 87. The photo above looks like it's from the 50's or 60's. 

I could be wrong since I was 5 in 1987, but from my experience looking through a newspaper’s archive room, if the photo was slated for a black and white page, a color version of it might never have been produced.

[Snoebird]

2 hours ago, H-Factor said:

I was there that Easter Sunday. The most exciting finish to a game that I personally witnessed since game 5 in the 1982 playoffs against the Angels which sent the Brewers to the world series.

Just a side note for anyone wondering. They did in fact have color photography back in 87. The photo above looks like it's from the 50's or 60's. 

During the 1980s, color photos in newspapers were reserved for section covers, to save money. This photo wasn't worthy of a section cover and probably ran on an inside "jump" page. The George Webb logo looks 1980s clean, and the guy's shorts in the lower right corner look very 1980s. 

[SF70]

“I never heard such a continuous roar during a regular season game” — Bob Carpenter.

I was also at that game and the crowd was standing and yelling throughout the entire bottom of the 9th. This was something Brewers fans took pride in during the first 20-25 years of the team. Standing and yelling in an attempt to will the team to victory. 

Sorry to say that’s been lost, for whatever reason. Fan enthusiasm (at the games) has waned over the years for whatever reason. Too bad, because it really does get the team fired up and performing better.