MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers home opener is Monday afternoon at American Family Field against the Kansas City Royals.

Home openers in Milwaukee may not be an official holiday, but they certainly have meaning to calendars around here.

Here are three things to watch in that game and in the season ahead.

Cozy indoors

(AP Photo)

Even though the weather sometimes isn’t great for the home opener, it’s a day that reminds us that summer is coming. It’s a fresh start and a clean slate. Playing inside removes the weather being a factor anymore on the game itself, yet pregame tailgate parties are another story. Some of the home openers outside at County Stadium were about survival for the fans and players. Not anymore.

Remembering Uecker

(Courtesy of Milwaukee Brewers)

The Brewers home opener won’t be the same without the legendary Bob Uecker. For all but the first season the Brewers were in Milwaukee, Uecker was a radio broadcaster for the team.

That dates back to 1971. Uecker passed away in January at the age of 90. The Brewers will honor Uecker in a variety of ways this season, including a uniform patch. Still, it will be jarring not to hear his voice.

Special memories

Milwaukee Brewers' Lorenzo Cain. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

 

Home opener memories that come to my mind immediately are the Sixto Lezcano grand slam in 1980 and the Lorenzo Cain game-saving catch against the Cardinals in 2019. It was Jose Martinez against Josh Hader. It’s only one game out of 162, but there’s something about home openers that lingers and seems bigger.

Since moving to Milwaukee from Seattle in 1970, the Brewers are 29-26 in home openers. That includes a 2-0 record in the month of March.