The Johnsonville Famous Racing Sausages will return to their normal on-field racecourse at American Family Field on Friday.
For the first time since the coronavirus pandemic took hold, the Racing Sausages will compete along a course that starts down the left field line until crossing the finish line in front of the Milwaukee Brewers dugout on the first base side of the field.
This season began with the Sausages still on the outside looking in. As the pandemic eased and people started getting vaccinated against COVID-19, the encased mascot meat group that features Brat, Italian Sausage, Polish Sausage, Hot Dog and Chorizo returned to the field in May, but pandemic protocols limited their route to the outfield warning track instead of their usual course.
Last season, the Racing Sausages were relegated to competing on video at locations away from the ballpark as the pandemic led to an abbreviated baseball season that took place with a complete absence of fans in the stands.
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The return of the Racing Sausages to their traditional on-field track is part of what the team is billing as “Re-Opening Day” as American Family Field returns to 100% capacity as the Milwaukee Brewers clash with the Colorado Rockies.
There also will be many other activities and specials reserved for a traditional season-opener, including:
- $1 hot dogs available all day.
- A free 1980s-style Brewers T-shirt to the first 10,000 fans.
- A special magnet schedule.
- Ceremonial first pitches by Brewers legends Cecil Cooper and Paul Molitor.
- The national anthem performed by Cooper’s daughter, Tori.
- A proclamation from the City of Milwaukee declaring Friday as Milwaukee’s official Re-Opening Day.
There will be bar service from hurler Freddy Peralta from 2-2:30 p.m. The Brewers right-hander will sling drinks instead of fastballs to fans at the First Base Ward Bar on the Field Level concourse.
A T-6A Texan plane out of the 47th Flying Training Wing at Laughlin Air Force Base will fly over before the first pitch. Brookfield native Sarah “Fuego” Fotsch will be among the four people piloting the aircraft. Fotsch was one of the active military members who received Zoom calls from Brewers players – as well as authentic Brewers jerseys – to honor active service members and veterans for Memorial Day this year.
The game will also feature the first on-field color guard of the season with members of the Milwaukee Fire Department.
