The Milwaukee Brewers are in the World Series, a fact stirring unexpected pride in Seattle where the franchise began life as the Pilots. The Brewers face the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. While the team has long since relocated, Seattle baseball fans are following the Brewers’ postseason run with a nod to their city’s brief MLB past.
The Pilots arrived in Seattle in 1969, the city’s first major league baseball team, awarded an expansion franchise in 1967 with hopes of building a future domed stadium. Their home, Sick’s Stadium, was a minor league ballpark that struggled to meet big-league standards. The stadium was not ready for the opening day; benches were still being installed during the home opener, leaving many fans without seats until the third inning, according to Allie Delyanis, a digital media specialist at Seattle’s Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI).
Plumbing problems added to the woes. The stadium’s water system faltered when crowds hit around 10,000, forcing players to return to hotels for showers due to poor water pressure. “They never wanted to actually shower at the clubhouse,” Delyanis said.
Financial difficulties compounded the stadium issues. The Pilots ran out of money and went bankrupt after just one season. The franchise was sold to a group led by Bud Selig, later MLB’s commissioner, who moved the team to Milwaukee before the 1970 season, rebranding it as the Brewers.
Seattle would not return to major league baseball until the Mariners’ debut in 1977, a franchise that has yet to reach the World Series. “So if you want to look at it that way, then I suppose yes, we’re all Brewers fans today,” Delyanis said, acknowledging the connection for Seattle baseball enthusiasts while stopping short of suggesting a full allegiance shift.
The history offers some perspective on the Brewers’ current position. It’s a story of a “small sort of ragtag team out here in Seattle,” Delyanis said. The Pilots’ single season in the city is often overlooked, but it laid the groundwork for the Brewers’ identity, now competing for baseball’s highest prize.
On Thursday, Oct. 22, the Brewers held a World Series media day in Milwaukee, preparing for the opening game. The players’ workouts and interviews marked a sharp contrast to the Pilots’ troubled debut decades ago.
The Mariners’ fans in Seattle remain loyal to their team, but some are allowing themselves to celebrate the Brewers’ success as a shared chapter in baseball lore. The Brewers’ run in the 2026 World Series brings a spotlight to the franchise’s origins and offers a temporary connection for Seattle’s baseball community as they await their own team’s breakthrough.
According to Yahoo Sports.
