Retro Find: Brewers wins spark 80s free burger craze in Milwaukee
In 1987, George Webb Restaurants fulfilled a decades-old promise when the Brewers won 12 straight games, serving thousands of free burgers to celebrating Milwaukee fans
Updated: 4:49 PM CDT Jul 21, 2025
Two more wins, and Brewers fans might get a taste of history. The team’s current 10-game streak has some reminiscing about 1987, the first time George Webb Restaurants gave out free burgers after the Milwaukee Brewers hit their 12-game winning streak.The initiative dates back to the late 1940s, when George Webb himself promised to give away free hamburgers if a Milwaukee baseball team ever won 12 games in a row. The dream came true in April 1987, when the Brewers went on a 13-game tear. Fans lined up around the block, and George Webb restaurants handed out thousands of free burgers across Milwaukee.“It was unbelievable. People lined up for blocks,” said one fan.The last time the Brewers hit 12 wins in a row was 2018, during their run to the NL Championship Series. With the team just two wins away from repeating history, the city is watching closely and hoping for free burgers once again.WATCH 1987 Brewers streak costs George Webb thousands of free burgersTop HeadlinesMissing 22-year-old La Crosse woman last seen near Mississippi River 1 person killed, 4 hurt, 2 arrested in separate Dane County crashesRescue teams search Milwaukee River near downtownAt least one tornado confirmed in Manitowoc County SaturdayWATCH Two people injured in Oak Creek bar fight involving reportedly 60 people
MILWAUKEE —
Two more wins, and Brewers fans might get a taste of history.
The team’s current 10-game streak has some reminiscing about 1987, the first time George Webb Restaurants gave out free burgers after the Milwaukee Brewers hit their 12-game winning streak.
The initiative dates back to the late 1940s, when George Webb himself promised to give away free hamburgers if a Milwaukee baseball team ever won 12 games in a row.
The dream came true in April 1987, when the Brewers went on a 13-game tear. Fans lined up around the block, and George Webb restaurants handed out thousands of free burgers across Milwaukee.
“It was unbelievable. People lined up for blocks,” said one fan.
The last time the Brewers hit 12 wins in a row was 2018, during their run to the NL Championship Series.
With the team just two wins away from repeating history, the city is watching closely and hoping for free burgers once again.
WATCH 1987 Brewers streak costs George Webb thousands of free burgers
Top Headlines
Missing 22-year-old La Crosse woman last seen near Mississippi River
1 person killed, 4 hurt, 2 arrested in separate Dane County crashes
Rescue teams search Milwaukee River near downtown
At least one tornado confirmed in Manitowoc County Saturday
WATCH Two people injured in Oak Creek bar fight involving reportedly 60 people