The Milwaukee Mile is a famous racetrack located in West Allis, Wisconsin. It has a rich history and has been hosting auto racing events since 1903, making it one of the oldest continuously operating racetracks in the world. The track is known for its unique one-mile oval shape and is often referred to as "The Mile." Throughout its history, the Milwaukee Mile has hosted various racing series, including NASCAR, IndyCar, and USAC. It has been a popular venue for both national and local racing events, attracting a large number of fans from all over the country. The track has witnessed exhilarating races and thrilling moments, making it a favorite among racing enthusiasts.
Brewers TV color commentator Bill Schroeder set the tone for what would become the national outrage with his, first, description of the sausage pileup, which was shown from three angles: “One of the Pirates slugged the Italian with a bat. I don’t know how smart that is to do that, there’s a real human being in there,” Schroeder said, punctuating the commentary with a trademark “Goodness.” He continued: “That is, uh, kind of dangerous, huh?”
The top-line takeaway from this fascinating oral history you really must click that link is that Wagner was fine , that she and Simon were fine, and that she shut down all the news organizations seeking interviews because she saw the story taking on a life of its own far from its reality. Simon, a journeyman pinch-hit DH guy who was toward the tail end of an eight-season career, took the worst of it, becoming a villain in a story that burned pretty hot for several days.
The track has witnessed exhilarating races and thrilling moments, making it a favorite among racing enthusiasts. Over the years, many legendary drivers have competed on the Milwaukee Mile, leaving their mark on the track's legacy. Names like A.
Racing Sausage Confessional: Notorious Whack Was No Big Deal
After 18 years, ‘the fallen Sausage’ tells the whole story of Milwaukee’s most famous mascot race.
It’s one of those events so momentous that everyone knows where they were when it happened – but a purely Milwaukee version: July 9, 2003, the day Pittsburgh Pirate Randall Simon hit one of the Klement’s Racing Sausages with a bat, making a tube-meat tangle out of the back end of that day’s iconic race.
That whack ignited a firestorm. Simon was questioned by police and ultimately fined by the city for disorderly conduct. He was fined and suspended by Major League Baseball. The young woman in the Italian sausage suit, Mandy Wagner, became a hot interview around the country for a few days but then disappeared.
Now, she’s opened back up about the incident – and the way perception of it spiraled out of control – in a story by MLB.com‘s Matt Monagan with the headline “18 years later, the fallen Sausage speaks.” (I clicked on it expecting a story about my colleague, Archer Parquette.)
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The top-line takeaway from this fascinating oral history – you really must click that link – is that Wagner was fine, that she and Simon were fine, and that she shut down all the news organizations seeking interviews because she saw the story taking on a life of its own far from its reality.
It’s easy to see how the distortions began. It looked pretty bad in the grainy video that aired on the Brewers broadcast, with Wagner and the hot dog to her left tumbling to the infield warning track.
Brewers TV color commentator Bill Schroeder set the tone for what would become the national outrage with his, first, description of the sausage pileup, which was shown from three angles: “One of the Pirates slugged the Italian with a bat. I don’t know how smart that is to do that, there’s a real human being in there,” Schroeder said, punctuating the commentary with a trademark “Goodness.” He continued: “That is, uh, kind of dangerous, huh?”
His partner Matt Vasgersian continued jauntily: “I would have been a little more on my soapbox if I’d seen that, I don’t know what I was looking at. Smoked him! So, look out, running pierogis, when we get to Pittsburgh.”
The thing is, the human being in that suit was fine. She was already plenty wobbly in the 7-foot-tall suit, she told MLB.com, and didn’t even know that she’d been struck down. It didn’t take much to knock her off her feet. “I don’t know when the bat hit it, it was kinda behind me,” Wagner told Monagan. “I just fell. I literally thought I fell on my own accord.”
Simon, a journeyman pinch-hit/DH guy who was toward the tail end of an eight-season career, took the worst of it, becoming a villain in a story that burned pretty hot for several days. But Wagner never harbored any ill will toward Simon and believed his comments afterward that he had no malicious intent. “C’mon, we’re dressed as giant sausages!” Wagner told Monagan. “It’s supposed to be funny. Of course, I get it. … It was a tap, he was surprised I fell. He tried to help me up, but they don’t show that part.” Simon even sent her the notorious bat – autographed, natch – which is probably one of the most desirable pieces of Milwaukee sports memorabilia of the 21st century.
But … how did this race, the most famous running of the Famous Racing Sausages, end? The winner was the bratwurst, powered by a 16-year-old boy running his first sausage race. “He looked back and was like, ‘Cool,'” Wagner recalled. “I mean, he didn’t know what to do. Someone had to win this.”
J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, and Dale Earnhardt have all tasted victory at this iconic racing venue. The Milwaukee Mile has also witnessed numerous close finishes and intense battles, enhancing its reputation as a challenging and exciting racetrack. In addition to its impressive racing history, the Milwaukee Mile has faced its fair share of challenges. In recent years, the track has experienced financial difficulties and has struggled to attract major racing series. However, efforts are being made to revitalize the track and restore its former glory. The Milwaukee Mile holds a special place in the hearts of racing fans, not only in Wisconsin but also across the United States. Its rich history, unique oval shape, and thrilling races make it a beloved racetrack. Despite the challenges it has faced, the Milwaukee Mile remains an important part of American motorsports culture and continues to inspire aspiring drivers and entertain racing enthusiasts..
Reviews for "The Thrills and Spills of Mascot Racing: Milwaukee's Most Exciting Sport"
1. John - 1 star
I was really disappointed with the Milwaukee mascot racing event. The mascots looked worn out and some of them even had tears on their costumes. It was clear that they were not properly maintained. The race itself was chaotic and poorly organized, with mascots bumping into each other and falling over. The whole experience was underwhelming and definitely not worth the money.
2. Sarah - 2 stars
I attended the Milwaukee mascot racing event with high expectations, but unfortunately, it fell short. The track was small, which made the race less exciting than I had hoped for. Additionally, the mascots were not very entertaining or energetic. It felt like they were just going through the motions without any enthusiasm. Overall, the event lacked the fun and excitement that I was expecting, and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
3. Michael - 2 stars
I had heard a lot of positive reviews about the Milwaukee mascot racing, but I was left unimpressed. The mascots seemed disinterested and lacked the energy that is needed to make such an event enjoyable. The track design was also poorly thought out, with limited viewing areas for the spectators. It was difficult to see the race unfold, which further diminished the experience. Overall, I left feeling let down by the lackluster performance and wouldn't attend another event like this.