Brewers fans share superstitions, including lucky jerseys, game-day rituals

Lucky jerseys, game-day rituals and a whole lot of nerves filled the air Oct. 15 as Milwaukee Brewers fans gathered to cheer on their team against the Los Angeles Dodgers.The Brewers defeated the Dodgers 6-4, sweeping the National League Championship Series and advancing to the World Series for the first time in 44 years.Fans came together at Kelly's Bleachers, 5218 W. Bluemound Road, and Dugout 54, 5328 W. Bluemound Road, in Milwaukee to watch the historic matchup.We asked fans about their favorite Brewers superstitions and traditions, and here's what we learned:One Brewers fan refuses to wash his lucky jerseyColton Wolter said he hasn't washed his lucky Brewers jersey during the playoffs."As gross as it sounds, I went to game one and two, so I haven't washed it since," Wolter said. "We won with it, so I just kept running with it."Wolter believes his superstition is working because the Brewers were 3-0 in the series before the night's game. He said he has never broken his Brewers superstitions.Sitting with his buddy, Brett Bogganski, and another mutual friend while sharing a pitcher of beer, Wolter said he was sure his superstitions were helping the team."We have not lost with this jersey on," Wolter said proudly.Wolter said he was unsure if he would wash his jersey if the Brewers advanced to the World Series but was adamant that he is a clean person and always wears a clean shirt underneath his jerseys.While his friend Bogganski did not have any superstitions, he said this year's postseason was about revenge after witnessing the Brewers' 5-1 Game 7 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2018 National League Championship Series."Go Brewers," Bogganski said.From a White Sox fan to a superstitious Brewers fanKelly Holley wasn't always a Milwaukee Brewers fan. Growing up in Kenosha, Holley rooted for the Chicago White Sox because her father was a fan of the team.However, after moving to Milwaukee, Holley said she fell in love with the Brewers and developed a game-day superstition involving her clothing.Holley said she has two Brewers shirts that she alternates between games, depending on whether the team wins."I've been alternating them every day they've been winning, and tonight, this is the shirt," Holley said.Holley said her superstitious habits go back to her childhood, when she played volleyball in high school and followed her own game-day rituals. She later carried those habits into adulthood while supporting her four sons at their sporting events."I've been superstitious my whole life," Holley said.Her commitment to the Brewers even influenced her outfit for a friend's birthday celebration. Holley said she originally planned to go somewhere fancier but was determined not to break her shirt rotation."I was gonna wear this shirt under a sweater, so I didn't break my superstition," Holley said.Beyond her superstitions, Holley said one of her favorite Brewers memories this year was taking her mother to a game against the New York Yankees for Mother's Day.On May 9, 2026, the Brewers defeated the Yankees 4-3 in extra innings after William Contreras hit a walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th inning.Holley recalled celebrating the victory, particularly because some Yankees fans sitting nearby had been annoying throughout the game."We had some kind of obnoxious Yankees fans by us and just shut them up in the bottom of the 10th," Holley said. "It was amazing."A lucky jersey gets a second chanceFor Brewers fan John Foley, a loss means putting his jersey away for a few games before giving it another chance.Foley said he stopped wearing his yellow Brewers jersey after the team lost Game 3 in the National League Division Series to the San Diego Padres on Oct. 6. However, he decided to give it another chance, and the Brewers won when he wore it again."When I broke it out again last night, we won while I was wearing it, so now I can wear it again," Foley said.Still, Foley said he plans to skip a few games before wearing the jersey again.When asked about his favorite Brewers memory, Foley recalled Nyjer Morgan, nicknamed "Tony Plush," hitting a game-winning RBI single during the 2011 National League Division Series."I remember exactly where I was while I was watching that," Foley said.As for his favorite Brewers tradition, Foley said he enjoys "Roll Out the Barrel" but hopes another song makes a comeback at American Family Field."'One More Time' needs to be brought back," Foley said, referring to the Daft Punk song.Joining the conversation about Brewers superstitions, Riley Hicks revealed that he had a game-day superstition of his own."I went to the car and put my hat on, then we scored two runs," Hicks said. "It'll stay on my head for the rest of the day."Adrienne Davis is a general assignment and breaking news reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Got any tips or stories to share? Contact Adrienne at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers fans share superstitions, including lucky jerseys, game-day rituals