2007 NLDS Victory over Rockies

Lore & Background

The Brewers and Cubs have been playing each other in spring training Cactus League games since the Brewers franchise began as the Seattle Pilots in 1969. However, the rivalry did not begin until 1998, when the Brewers moved from the American League (AL) Central Division to the National League Central. Until then, the Brewers had a rivalry with Chicago's AL team, the White Sox. The rivalry between the two cities originated from when the Braves were in Milwaukee from 1953 to 1965. The short-lived rivalry died when the Braves moved to Atlanta in 1966. When the Brewers moved from the AL to the NL in 1998, one of the reasons given for the switch was to rekindle the rivalry the Braves and Cubs had. The Brewers and Cubs met for the first official time on June 13, 1997, in interleague play, a 4–2 Brewers victory at Wrigley Field in Chicago. They met for the first time as division rivals on June 15, 1998, a 6–5 Cubs victory also in Wrigley Field.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Wrigley Field was thick with anticipation as the final out of Game 2 rang out. Fans, many wearing faded jerseys from decades past, knew they were witnessing history in the making. As the bus pulled back into Chicago for the decisive Game 3, the city seemed to hold its breath. The narrative wasn't just about winning a series; it was about breaking a spell that had haunted the South Side since the mid-20th century. Every pitch thrown felt heavier than usual, laden with the weight of history and the desperate hope of a new beginning.

Reader's Guide

The Brewers–Cubs rivalry has been ranked among the best and most competitive in baseball. It is even similar to and fierce as the Bears-Packers rivalry. Conversely, the notion of a rivalry continues to be questioned by Cubs players, who cite the omnipresence of Cubs fans in attendance at games played against the Brewers in Milwaukee. At least 16% of the lift in Milwaukee attendance for Cubs games is attributed to Cubs fans. This is despite the Brewers' efforts to restrict Cubs fans' ability to purchase tickets. In 2018, the teams played a Game 163 to determine the NL Central division championship, which the Brewers won 3–1 at Wrigley Field. In 2023, Craig Counsell left the Brewers to become the Cubs manager. He admitted he may have underestimated the rivalry part of Brewers fans feeling like he just went to 'the other side'. The first postseason meeting between the two teams took place in 2025 in the NLDS, which the Brewers won in five games.

Did You Know?

• The Brewers and Cubs are only 83 miles apart off Interstate 94.
• The rivalry is sometimes called the I-94 Rivalry.
• At least 16% of the lift in Milwaukee attendance for Cubs games is attributed to Cubs fans.
• The first postseason meeting between the two teams was in 2025, won by the Brewers in five games.