Joey Votto Says Brewers Fans Are Baseball’s Best — With One Obvious Exception

Former Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto believes Milwaukee’s supporters are the strongest in Major League Baseball — as long as the Reds aren’t part of the conversation.

Speaking on MLB Network’s “MLB Now” on Sept. 4, Votto explained that his admiration for Milwaukee’s fanbase stems from how it behaved during losing stretches. He recalled that when the Brewers struggled through parts of the 2010s, fans kept filling the ballpark, while Cincinnati’s crowds thinned out during the Reds’ own down years. The pregame tailgating culture, he added, is something few cities can match.

“Cincinnati’s my favorite fanbase,” Votto said, “but I actually thought, of all Major League Baseball, that Milwaukee had the best fanbase.”

Votto, who spent his entire 17-year playing career with the Reds before retiring after the 2023 season, now works as an analyst for MLB Network and NBC Sports’ Comcast-affiliated coverage. Over his career, he compiled 2,135 hits, 356 home runs, and 1,144 RBIs, won the 2010 National League MVP award, and made six All-Star teams.

Beyond the fans, Votto also commended Milwaukee’s front office for sustaining a competitive club despite the constraints of a small market. He noted that the Brewers have avoided splashy free-agent signings and long-term retainment of superstars, instead developing talent internally and staying in playoff contention year after year — including holding Major League Baseball’s best record this season. He singled out the organization’s ability to maintain that pedigree even after the departure of former general manager David Stearns.

Votto said he believes the franchise and its supporters are now seeing the payoff for years of steady commitment, and he expressed hope that the Brewers make a deep postseason run.

What to watch

• The Brewers’ final regular-season games will determine whether they finish with MLB’s best record and home-field advantage through the postseason.
• October attendance and ratings figures for Milwaukee’s playoff run could offer a measurable gauge of the fanbase Votto described.
• Upcoming MLB Network and NBC Sports broadcasts, including Comcast’s sports programming, may feature further commentary as the playoffs approach.

Source: original release