THE SPORTSLINE – Jen Lepkowski

The Brewers have often found unique ways to celebrate home runs at American Family Field and this year involved the beloved cheesehead hat. This season, the Brewers were using it as part of their celebration after home runs, with the slugger donning the cheese down the dugout after rounding the bases. Cheesehead hats have been a part of Wisconsin’s history and traditions for a very long time. Foam cheesehead hats were created in 1987 and took off in popularity after Brewer’s outfielder Rick Manning was photographed wearing one in the dugout. Manning took to “awarding” a cheesehead to any batter who struck out three times in a game, meaning a hat trick (get it?), and forcing the recipient to wear it around the clubhouse for a day.

The Milwaukee Brewers are known for their unique home run celebrations that have become beloved traditions among fans and this year’s cheesehead home run celebration became one of the best traditions in the MLB this season. Now, perhaps another cheese spree has come to an end. The cheesehead suddenly disappeared a few weeks ago. We’re here to find out why. During a series in Atlanta, where the Brewers faced the powerful Braves, the cheesehead celebrations came to a sudden halt. Tyrone Taylor’s home run in Washington, where he went without being anointed by the foam cheesehead, marked the beginning of the cheesehead’s absence. Traditions have a way of evolving and eventually running their course, which is what Yelich has alluded to. No one will confirm nor deny the official end of the cheesehead. As the Milwaukee Brewers continue their journey towards the playoffs, the fate of the cheesehead remains uncertain.