MILWAUKEE -- While the hunt for October is over for the Brewers, fans are ready for what's next. Dozens were at the team store at the ballpark Thursday morning to pick up gear to "Defend MKE."
"I've been waiting years," Andy Martinez said. "It's here."
Martinez was one of many people excited to grab the 2018 postseason gear. For Brewers' fans, they might as well be collector's items. This is only the fifth time in franchise history they've made it to the postseason.
Hats, t-shirts, sweatshirts and more were at the team store early this morning. They opened up at 8:00 a.m. to make sure fans could get their gear.
"Getting a hat, have some shirts and a sweatshirt," Amy Lodes said. "My older son is in college and coming home next week. He's begging for tickets for the game. We're a pretty big sports family. We love the Bucks, the Packers, the Brewers. So whenever they make it to any postseason, we try to be there."
Lodes son Sam was three years old the last time the Brewers were in the playoffs. So she's making sure to load up on gear for this run because they don't know when it could happen again.
"We were screaming and hollering," Lodes said. "My son away at college was texting us how awesome this is and how excited he is for next weekend."
Doors are open at Miller Park as fans are already coming in to pick up playoff gear! Talked to one family who said they wanted to come in before school to get something to wear! Enter at the Hot Corner! pic.twitter.com/Xb7Q8f2wwH
— Shaun Gallagher (@ShaunGalNews) September 27, 2018
But it's about more than baseball for Duwayne Coleman. She says her son had a stroke earlier this year and getting back to full strength has been difficult at times.
But the Brewers power him forward.
"It affects his right side," Coleman said. "When I hear him cheer them on or stand up and he throws his right arm up, I love seeing that. He has not missed a step in watching a game with the Brewers."
COO Rick Schlesinger says the team store will have extended hours through the weekend but encourages fans to come out as soon as possible because the playoff gear is expected to go quickly.
