MILWAUKEE -- The past two evenings, Bob Koehler did what he has done every day the Brewers have played at home since 1986.
He took a walk.
On Friday, before Game 1 of the World Series, MLB Network walked with him.
Koehler has walked to every Brewers home game since he moved into Milwaukee’s Story Hill neighborhood in 1986, when County Stadium stood a stone’s throw away instead of the Brewers’ current domed home, American Family Field. But he’s been a fan for much longer, way back to the team’s arrival in 1970, and he's been a season ticket holder since the end of 1982 when the Brewers were coming off their first World Series appearance.
Koehler figured there would be many more.
It took 44 years, but now they have a chance to win one.
“That would be just awesome. I think about it daily,” Koehler said.
He pays extra for printed tickets and leaves his home promptly at 6:25 p.m. for 7 p.m. games. He brings his own bottle of soda and never buys more, so he doesn’t have to leave his seat to use the restroom.
He’s so reliable that neighbors, police officers and ushers know his schedule and say hello along the way. Former players like Carlos Gomez, Geoff Jenkins and Ben Sheets got to know Koehler a little bit. Even Jackson Chourio gives him a nod these days.
It’s more than Koehler ever expected when he moved into the neighborhood to be closer to his beloved Brewers.
“As you’re going to see, it’s a 12-minute walk to my seat,” he told MLB Network’s Robert Flores as they began their stroll to Game 1. “I didn’t want to put up with the traffic, I didn't want to put up with anything getting here. So I can save on parking, too. It’s a double-feature that way.”
What if it rains?
“I have a raincoat and a rain hat,” he said. “As a Wisconsin person, the weather doesn’t bother you.”
Not even a badly broken leg in December could stop him. He had not walked down a step until two days before Opening Day, but he made it to his seat with a cane and the help of one of the many ushers he’s come to know. They walked down the 22 steps to his seat next to the Brewers' dugout.
But this weekend is different. This is the World Series.
“It’s brought energy, it’s brought best wishes and it’s kind of helping to get rid of all the talk about 1982,” said Koehler, who loves the Brewers’ first World Series team but also loves the idea of creating new history. “This younger generation, they can identify with the Brewers for the next 40 years like I did with '82. And they’re all going to like baseball. All new fans are going to evolve.”
This is the perfect matchup for that, he believes.
“This could really be something with Tampa Bay and us,” Koehler said. “You’ve got baseball. You’ve got bunting, you’ve got stealing, you’ve got hit-and-runs. The only thing you don't have anymore is a pitcher going nine innings.”
The game changes, but his routine stays the same. Koehler said he’s already paid his invoice for 2027 and will continue going to games as long as he’s physically able.
Where did walking to Game 1 of the World Series rank among his favorite days?
“This is it,” he said. “This is No. 1. This is the top thing. I guess other than being born.”