Sausage Race

Background

The Sausage Race originated as a scoreboard animation in the early 1990s featuring three characters—the Bratwurst, the Polish, and the Italian—running toward Milwaukee County Stadium. In fall 1992, graphic designer Michael Dillon proposed transforming the race into a live event. On June 27, 1993, the first live race occurred when the left field doors opened and the three mascots ran to home plate, with Dillon wearing the Bratwurst costume and winning. Initially, the live race was held only at high-attendance games, but it became a fixture at every home game starting May 29, 1994.

Employees of the Brewers or the stadium typically run the race, wearing 7-foot-tall foam costumes. The race begins between the dugout and third base, proceeds down the warning track, around home plate, and toward first base. On Sunday afternoon home games, the sausages tag off to miniature versions called the Little Weenies, who finish the race. The sausages also appear at charity events, including an annual 5K run/walk benefiting the Brewers Community Foundation, and have a twice-yearly relay race against the Pittsburgh Pirates' Racing Pierogies.

On July 9, 2003, Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Randall Simon tapped the Italian sausage costume with a baseball bat, knocking over the runner and the Hot Dog. Simon was arrested, fined, and suspended for three games. He later apologized, and the runner, Mandy Block, asked for the autographed bat. Simon complied, and Block later received a complimentary trip to Curaçao. The incident spawned T-shirts with the slogan 'Don't whack our wiener!'

Did You Know?

• The chorizo joined the race in the mid-2000s after a one-race tryout in 2006, commemorating Latino contributions to baseball.
• The Italian sausage costume went missing in February 2013 and was returned to a Cedarburg bar by two unidentified men.