Bobbleheads and Heritage

Our third visit to Miller Park came yesterday as Milwaukee celebrated, for the first time, Polish Heritage Day.

That is why the Brewers jerseys today read "Piwowarzy," (pronounced pee-vo-VAHZH-ih) which is Brewers in Polish.

The day honored the contribution of Polish-Americans to baseball.  Al Simmons grew up in Milwaukee - playing with the Philadelphia A's and earning a spot in the Hall of Fame.  The best and most famous Polish-American ball-player would have to be Stan Musial of the Cardinals.  

Milwaukee is a city of many ethnicities, so this day also celebrated some traditions of Poland.  Immigrants from Poland to American played a big part in creating the city we enjoy today.

Polish Dancers danced traditional dances in colorful garb that must have been hot on a day with bright sunshine, ample humidity, and temps hovering near 90.

A Bobblehead give-away was planned - and that always draws a crowd.  This one was no different, with a sell-out showing up for the Bobbling Polish Sausage.

The Polish Sausage didn't win the race after five and a half innings.  The Piwowarzy lost the game, although they mounted a comeback after falling behind by four in the first inning.

But as the songs says, "if they don't win, it's a shame," and it was... but it was still great fun.  The temperature for this game was basically the combined temperature of the first two games (one in April and the other in May) with sunshine.  Enjoying a picnic lunch before the game, strolling the grounds to take pictures of the stadium, basting in the sunshine, and hopes raised with a four run rally... that's a good day.

The Polish Racing Sausage and Polish Dancers stand at attention during the singing of "God Bless America," in the 7th inning stretch.