MILWAUKEE (CN) - Hundreds of thousands of fans lined the street for the Milwaukee Brewers' victory parade on Friday to celebrate the team's first World Series win in the franchise's 57-year history.

The Brewers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 5-1 on Saturday to clinch the championship in just five games.

The team from the MLB's smallest media market was not a favorite to win it all, or even to make it to the World Series. Nevertheless, the Brewers swept the Los Angeles Dodgers for the National League crown and almost swept the Rays, too.

There wasn't a bar in town without a television turned to the Brewers, and every seat held a disbelieving but ecstatic fan.

It was the first time since 1982 the Brewers made it to the World Series, and many say it was simply Milwaukee's turn.

"I think it's heart, it's sheer grit," said Michael Gomez, 42. "We are what grit is made of."

Gomez brought his wife and their two children to the parade, all decked out in blue and gold. As a lifelong fan, he's been waiting for this moment for decades.

He's been a fan so long that he recalled when the Milwaukee County stadium - the Brewers' first home - was torn down in 2001 and replaced by Miller Park, later renamed American Family Field.

"The countdown to tear down the stadium was synced up with when I was getting my driver's license. I'll never forget it," Gomez said over the roar of the parade.

Marching bands, fire trucks and police officers on motorcycles crept along Wisconsin Avenue, which cuts right through downtown toward Lake Michigan.

When the team came by, every phone shot into the air to record. If the tall white bus carrying the players was playing music, no one could hear it over the joyous screaming and chanting of "let's go Brewers."

The players wore matching white hoodies and hats adorned with "champion" and the Brewers' signature logo. Some held Miller Lites, the unofficial beer of Milwaukee, while others sprayed Champagne bottles on the crowd.

Putting on the biggest show were team captain Christian Yelich, ace pitcher Jacob "the Miz" Misiorowski, right fielder Sal Frelick and first baseman Jake Bauers.

As the team bus drove by, pausing every 100 yards to give everyone a good look, many sprinted to the next block over to catch them again. One group ran with a Brewers flag as if running into battle, screaming "charge."

Anton Banner was dressed as Gru of "Despicable Me" fame for a work event but ended up at the parade in costume along with several minions in gold and blue.

"We left work to check out the parade, and the costume colors just kind of worked so we kept them on," said Kinga Postolowicz, wearing a blue tutu, a Brewers sweater and a yellow hat with minion goggles.

Before noon, Banner said he was on his eighth beer. That's nothing compared to his estimated 75 or 80 beers over the course of the last five games.

Gru and his minions agreed most of the credit for the Brewers' success has to go to manager Pat Murphy.

"Murphy brought the vibe," Postolowicz said. "The team had the right energy."

The Brewers didn't come out of nowhere: They led the MLB with 103 wins in the regular season and the highest run differential in the league. It was the first 100-win season in franchise history.

In the postseason, they didn't allow more than four runs in any of their 13 games thanks to their stellar bullpen.  

Aaron Ashby, one of the team's star pitchers, threw 18 scoreless innings in relief. At 22 years old, left fielder Jackson Chourio became the youngest to tally four hits in a World Series game since 1946. Shortstop Cooper Pratt recorded six consecutive hits, the longest streak by a rookie in the Fall Classic.

William "Wild Bill" Contreras became the eighth catcher to earn World Series MVP honors. The star catcher seemed to be able to see the strike zone in the air, constantly tapping his helmet to challenge balls under the league's new rules.

In the end, every single player was on top of his game - except in Game 4 of the World Series, a 12-inning heartbreaker featuring a costly error that no fan would comment on.

Source: Courthouse News Service