Bernie’s Backstory: The real man behind the Brewers’ mascot

Milt Mason, the original Bernie Brewer (MLB.com)

By Christina Lorey

May 11, 2025

DID YOU KNOW ⚾️ Bernie, the Brewers’ beloved mascot, is based on a real person?

It all started in June of 1970, when the Brewers–still a new team at the time–were having trouble filling Milwaukee County Stadium. Milt Mason, a 69-year-old fan, decided to sit on top of the scoreboard until the team drew a home crowd of 40,000. He was up there for 40 days, when 44,387 fans showed up on August 16 to see the Brewers’ 4–3 win over the Indians.

Mason was so excited, he slid down a rope from his perch, burning his hands and legs. After a long (unrelated) illness, Mason died in 1973, but not before being recognized as the original Bernie Brewer.

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That year, Bernie became the team’s official mascot, appearing as a cheerful man with a big mustache, just like Mason. The team built a beer-barreled chalet (and slide) for him inside the stadium to lead the crowd in cheering. After each home run and Brewers victory, he slid down his slide into the huge beer mug in celebration.

However, in 1984, the Brewers re-built the bleachers, replacing Bernie’s chalet with a sound tower–sending the beloved mascot into early retirement. The fans weren’t happy, and by 1993, Bernie was back… not as just a mustachioed man in lederhosen, but in a full-body, larger-than-life costume of a man with a large foam head. The team built Bernie a new chalet, and the rest is history!

💙 TIP: You can see Bernie Brewer’s original chalet at Milwaukee’s Lakefront Brewery.

Author

Christina Lorey

Christina is an Edward R. Murrow-winning journalist and former producer, reporter, and anchor for TV stations in Madison and Moline. When she’s not writing or asking questions, you can find her volunteering with Girls on the Run, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, and various mental health organizations. Send all story tips to [email protected] and sign up for her newsletter here.

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