MILWAUKEE — For nearly forty years, Bob Koehler has maintained a remarkably consistent routine on game days. Every time the Milwaukee Brewers have played at home since 1986, Koehler has walked from his residence to the ballpark. That lifelong dedication reached a milestone as he made his customary trek to American Family Field for the World Series.
Koehler’s streak began when he moved into Milwaukee’s Story Hill neighborhood in 1986. At the time, the team played at County Stadium, which stood just a short distance away before the franchise transitioned to its current domed home. His fandom, however, stretches back even further to the team’s arrival in the city in 1970. He has held season tickets since late 1982, following the franchise’s first World Series appearance.
At the time, Koehler anticipated that another championship appearance would follow shortly. It took 44 years for the team to return to the Fall Classic, a wait that kept his passion steady through decades of baseball in Wisconsin.
“That would be just awesome. I think about it daily,” Koehler said of the team’s championship prospect.
His game-night preparations are dialed in with precision. Koehler pays extra to receive physical printed tickets and departs his home promptly at 6:25 p.m. for standard 7 p.m. starts. To avoid missing any action, he brings his own bottle of soda and purchases nothing further during the game, eliminating the need to leave his seat for concessions or restrooms.
Over the decades, his unwavering punctuality and presence have made him a familiar figure around the ballpark and the surrounding neighborhood. Local police officers, neighbors, and ushers routinely greet him along his route. Former Brewers players such as Carlos Gomez, Geoff Jenkins, and Ben Sheets came to recognize him over the years, and current outfielder Jackson Chourio now greets him with a nod.
When Koehler originally moved to the neighborhood, his primary goals were simply to stay close to the team, avoid game-day traffic headaches, and save money on parking.
“As you’re going to see, it’s a 12-minute walk to my seat,” Koehler said. “I didn’t want to put up with the traffic, I didn’t want to put up with anything getting here. So I can save on parking, too. It’s a double-feature that way.”
Wisconsin weather has never deterred him from his routine. Equipped with a raincoat and rain hat, he notes that local residents are well-accustomed to handling inclement conditions.
Even a severe injury earlier in the year failed to break his attendance streak. After suffering a badly broken leg in December, Koehler did not walk down a single step until two days before Opening Day. He managed to reach his seat with the assistance of a cane and a familiar usher, navigating the 22 steps down to his location near the Brewers’ dugout.
Reaching the World Series, however, represents an entirely new chapter for the franchise and its supporters.
“It’s brought energy, it’s brought best wishes and it’s kind of helping to get rid of all the talk about 1982,” Koehler said, noting the cultural significance of creating a fresh era of baseball history for younger generations.
As the game has evolved over the decades, Koehler’s routine has remained untouched. He has already paid his invoice for season tickets for the 2027 season and intends to keep walking to games for as long as his physical health allows.
Asked where walking to Game 1 of the World Series ranked among his personal milestones, Koehler was definitive.
“This is it,” he said. “This is No. 1. This is the top thing. I guess other than being born.”
