Cigarettes before the game? The Brewers’ strange ritual on their way to the World Series
Christian Yelich revealed the unusual tradition Milwaukee’s hitters shared during a season that ended with a championship after 57 years of waiting.
Every team seems to have its own superstitions for dealing with high-pressure moments. Some players follow very specific routines before taking the field, while others rely on small objects or habits to feel ready to compete. In baseball, where superstitions are part of the game’s culture, the Milwaukee Brewers took that idea to another level with a ritual that caught people's attention during their run to the World Series .
The tradition took place before games and was so unusual that Christian Yelich, the team’s captain, decided to reveal what it was like inside the clubhouse. What might seem unthinkable to others eventually became a familiar sight for members of the Milwaukee squad.
The Brewers’ strange pregame ritual
Milwaukee’s hitters would light cigarettes inside the batting cage, which they called rally heaters. The idea behind the tradition was summed up in a phrase that accompanied the ritual: “If we smoke heaters in the cage, we will smoke heaters in the game” .
Yelich described the scene with a comment that gives a glimpse of the atmosphere inside the team’s facilities: “You walk by the cage and see the cigs lit, and you’re like, the boys are ready to rock” .
The sight of lit cigarettes inside the batting cage eventually became associated with the team's preparation. It wasn't a baseball strategy or a guarantee of victory, but rather a shared superstition that became part of the conversations surrounding the Brewers throughout October.
How did their run to the World Series unfold?
The team posted an 11-2 record during October and went on to win the World Series, ending a 57-year wait for its fans .
The road to the championship was not without its challenges. Milwaukee opened the playoffs against San Diego, defeating the Padres 3-1 in the National League Division Series . Jackson Chourio delivered a walk-off single in Game 2, while Garrett Mitchell made a crucial defensive catch in Game 4.
Next came the matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Brewers swept the series 4-0, eliminating a team that had been looking to capture a third consecutive championship. Brice Turang set the tone with a home run in the opener, while Milwaukee also had to respond to difficult moments, including deficits it overcame in Game 2.
The World Series against Tampa Bay represented the final challenge. Milwaukee won the series 4-1, with its offense producing 25 runs across five games. Even after losing Game 4 in 12 innings, the team bounced back to close out the series. In Game 5, Jacob Misiorowski pitched 5.2 scoreless innings, delivering a performance that helped set the stage for the championship celebration.
