Brewers Fans Unleash Loud Boo Birds During Craig Counsell Tribute

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Craig Counsell played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball, including two stints with the Milwaukee Brewers, and he retired with the Brewers in 2011. Counsell joined the Brewers front office immediately following his retirement and eventually became the team's manager in 2015.

He spent the next nine seasons managing Milwaukee, reaching the playoffs in five of his final six seasons. Though the Brewers reached the postseason five times and won three NL Central crowns, they won just one playoff series. 

After spending 13 years with the Brewers as a player, then front office executive, then manager, Counsell bolted for the vacant Chicago Cubs managerial position shortly after the conclusion of last season. 

Counsell's contract with Milwaukee expired at the end of the 2023 season and the Brewers offered him a lucrative deal to remain with the team. However, according to MLB.com, the Cubs made a higher offer and Counsell took it. Chicago fired David Ross to bring Counsell on board. 

Brewers fans loudly booed Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell during a video tribute to the former Milwaukee manager.

Brewers fans loudly booed Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell during a video tribute to the former Milwaukee manager. 

(Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Despite giving Milwaukee a large chunk of his MLB career, Brewers fans were not happy that he left for a job with the NL Central rival Chicago Cubs. One fan vandalized a park sign bearing the former manager's name one day after the Cubs announcement in November. 

Craig Counsell returned to Milwaukee and Brewers fans weren't happy to see him. 

On Monday, the Brewers hosted the Cubs for the first time since Counsell's departure. As is customary, the team prepared a video tribute to Counsell's time with the franchise. 

Fans, though, were not in the mood to pay tribute to Counsell. Quite the opposite, in fact. Milwaukee fans rained boos on their former manager. 

Many times, in these situations, the reaction is mixed. This reaction was not mixed. The boos are about as clear as you'll ever hear. 

The Brewers got the last laugh in the game, too. The teams entered the 8th inning in a scoreless pitcher's duel, but Milwaukee hung a five-spot on the Cubs in the bottom of the inning. 

Willy Adames had the game-winner, a three-run homer on a 3-0 pitch that gave Milwaukee a 4-0 lead. They added another run, the Cubs scored once in the top of the ninth, and the Brewers captured the 5-1 victory. 

So far, the Brewers haven't missed Counsell. The win over the Cubs extended Milwaukee's lead over Chicago to 4.5 games in the NL Central. 

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Dan began his sports media career at ESPN, where he survived for nearly a decade. Once the Stockholm Syndrome cleared, he made his way to OutKick. He is secure enough in his masculinity to admit he is a cat-enthusiast with three cats, one of which is named "Brady" because his wife wishes she were married to Tom instead of him.