It was a "must win" game for the Milwaukee Brewers. The crew was one game out of first place and needed to keep pace with the Chicago Cubs.
The victory over the Detroit Tigers at Miller Park last Friday helped propel the Brewers toward the NL Central Division Title, thanks to two home runs from Ryan Braun.
"It was unbelievable," said Andy Gebhardt. "I can't even describe it to you."
Gebhardt was attending the game with his 14-year-old daughter, Retta.
"She is still on Cloud Nine," he said.
Retta suffers from an inoperable brain tumor, according to her father. She was diagnosed five years ago.
"It's been a real struggle for the family, as you can imagine," he said.
Retta can no longer play sports, but is a huge Brewers fan, and an even bigger Ryan Braun fan.
The teenager has had several surgeries. Her father says every time Retta has an operation, she brings along her Ryan Braun Bobblehead.
"Every time she has a major surgery, a 'Braunie Bobblehead' is always in her room at Children's Hospital," Gebhardt said.
Retta was able to meet Braun during batting practice before last Friday's game with the Detroit Tigers.
"Braun gave her a big hug and told her 'you keep fighting the good fight,'" Gebhardt said. "Just all these words of encouragement. She was extremely emotional. It was a very special moment."
It 'meant the world' to Retta, according to her father.
As Braun was leaving, a friend of Retta's asked the outfielder to hit a home run for her.
Braun laughed, according to Gebhardt, and responded "Of course! I'll hit a home run for Retta."
Later that night, he hit not one home run, but two.
"The look on Retta's face," Gebhardt recalled. "I started to choke up. It was unbelievable."
It was a moment when a favorite baseball player became so much more.
"People look at Braun a certain way. But I see him as an amazing player, a father, a real part of Milwaukee. The way he was with Retta, it was wonderful."
