Brewers–Cubs rivalry
The Brewers–Cubs rivalry, also known as the I-94 Rivalry, is a fierce Major League Baseball matchup between the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs, who play just 83 miles apart and have competed in the NL Central since the Brewers moved from the American League in 1998. Ranked among the best and most competitive in baseball, it is often compared to the Bears-Packers rivalry, though some Cubs players question it due to the heavy presence of Cubs fans at Milwaukee games—at least 16% of the attendance lift—despite Brewers' efforts to restrict ticket sales. The rivalry is notable for its intense fan dynamics, with Cubs fans historically flooding Milwaukee's Miller Park (dubbed "Wrigley North") due to easier ticket access, prompting the Brewers' "Take Back Miller Park" campaign in 2006. The teams have battled for division titles, with the Cubs winning the NL Central in 2007 and 2008, and the Brewers taking a dramatic Game 163 tiebreaker in 2018 to claim the division crown at Wrigley Field. The rivalry's roots trace back to the 1953–1965 Braves–Cubs rivalry when the Braves played in Milwaukee, and it was rekindled when the Brewers switched leagues, with their first official meeting coming in 1997 interleague play. Recent developments include Craig Counsell leaving the Brewers to manage the Cubs in 2023 (admitting he underestimated the rivalry's emotional weight) and the first postseason meeting in 2025, which the Brewers won in five games in the NLDS.
Source: Brewers–Cubs rivalry — Wikipedia · Summary by RollWiki AI · Language: English