Let's Road Trip Brewers 2025: Trip #3 - Three Cities and 2,500 miles

San Francisco Giants – April 21-24
Oracle Park: Capacity 41,265
2024 Attendance: 2,647,736 (Averaged 33,096, 7th out of 15 NL parks, and 10th overall MLB)

When the Brewers journeyed to San Fransisco Bay to take on the Giants in September of 2024, they needed to win the series, and they did, taking two out of three with a rare Colin Rea blow-up in the middle game. Overall, the West Coast trip to San Francisco hasn't gone well for Milwaukee, as they have a 32-47 record at Oracle Park since it opened in 2000. In an odd twist of statistics, the series that takes place after the middle of July tends to end up in Brewers victories. Can the Brewers break that cycle this April?

Baseball and San Francisco have a long history, but the most recent iteration dates back to 1957, when the New York Giants joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in heading west for new and greener financial grasses. The Dodgers and Giants have kept the rivalry ridiculously strong, and both have seen great success in recent decades.

In 1989, the Giants were preparing to host the Athletics at Candlestick Park for Game 3 of the World Series when the Loma Prieta earthquake struck and tragically shook the series. Barry Bonds infamously broke records into the bay in the 2000s, and championships finally arrived in the 2010s, with three titles in six seasons.

Oracle Park opened in 2000, and people have been raving about it ever since. Whether it’s the temperate and pleasant weather, the majestic views of the San Francisco Bay and McCovey Cove and its baseball-hunting kayakers, or the food and beverage options that are second to none… Oracle Park is a must-see destination. Baseball travelers will find the wharf and its many attractions and seafood restaurants to be fun, while the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz never disappoint.

From San Francisco, the Brewers head due East to the land of the Clydesdales and their NL Central rival Cardinals.

St. Louis Cardinals - April 25-27
Busch Stadium - Capacity 44,383
2024 Attendance: 2,869,783 (Averaged 35,872, ranked 6th out of 15 NL parks, 7th overall MLB)

The Brewers owned the Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 2024 until they didn't. After stealing a 10-inning victory to kick off their April series, the Brew Crew swept those three games and took game one of the August return series. A blown save and extra inning loss turned the tide and they dropped the finale without much of a fight to go 4-2 overall in St. Louis in 2024.  Since the newest iteration of Busch Stadium emerged in 2006, the Brewers have played 163 games against their rivals and have come away from the road trips surprisingly close to all-square with a 79-84 record. The Brewers have come away from St. Louis road trips with more wins than losses each year since fans started filing the stands again in 2021.

St. Louis’s baseball history can be traced back to 1882. Eleven World Series trophies later, the Cardinals remain elite among fan bases and maintain baseball cultural icon status. The current Busch Stadium is the third iteration, providing a scenic view of the downtown skyline and this noble heritage. Built in 2006, it sports a Ballpark Village neighborhood attraction and a Hall of Fame Museum. Brewery tours, trips up to the top of the Arch, BBQ and BBQ and more BBQ, and time spent feasting on baseball in the heartland. What could be better?

The majestic views past the outfield concourse give the stadium its style points. The red seats and Clydesdales provide the ambiance, and the fans provide the support. The Cardinals have benefited from being the only game in town for a region that stretches from Oklahoma to Alabama, Indiana to Colorado. Their radio signal strength established a fan base, and their open wallet and excellent farm system have set them up to be contenders most seasons, so the last two seasons' strife is regarded as an anomaly, and their fan base is hungry for redemption.

From the heart of St. Louis, the Brewers finally get an off day before they continue to face their closest American League neighbor. It’s on to Rate Field (yes, that's its stupid, real name now) for a date with the rival White Sox.

Chicago White Sox - April 29-May 1
Rate Field - Capacity  40,615
2024 Attendance -  1,380,733 (Averaged 17,931, ranked 13th out of 15 AL teams, 27th overall MLB)

The Brewers last took a road trip past Wrigley to the White Sox lair in 2023, which went very well for the Crew. A three-game sweep in mid-August helped them climb the standings, and more hopeful victories await as they travel to Chicago in early 2025 to face a hapless Sox squad. Milwaukee's trips to the South Side haven't been in their best interest, going 24-36 since 1991. While the Brewers have taken the last two series there, the only time they traveled back up I-94 with more wins than losses was in 1997.

The artist formerly known as New Comiskey Park, The “Cell,” and Guaranteed Rate has been around since 1991, but South Side Chicago American League baseball has been cooking since 1901. While the current stadium sits in a residential area, it carries a “big” stadium vibe compared to its North Side counterpart. Sharing an owner allows you also to buy Bulls gear at the ballpark if you are into that sort of thing.

The upper deck leans into the “upper” half of its name, while the bleachers get hot… but probably not in March and early April. In the 2000s, a person could shower on the outfield walkway. I’m not sure who thought that was a great idea, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t try it out one blistering August afternoon.

Lake Michigan, Soldier Field, Museum Campus, Sears Tower, and the Magnificent Mile. The smell of the L-Train platforms wafting in the Lake Shore breeze. The early-season angst of White Sox fans. With the Sox still in full rebuild mode, I’m guessing there should be quite a few good seats available for a cheap rate (pun intended).

From there, the Brewers finally journey home to face their bigger Chicago rival, the pesky Astros. What kind of record will the Brewers take home with them? How do you think this epic road trip will leave the Brewers standing?