Photo Courtesy of Larry Sledge. The end of the of a horrible, awful, rotten day for CatFish
Brewers Feel Good Story Over After A Day
Peter Gammons, New York, March 28, 2025
Yesterday’s opening day clash between the Milwaukee Brewers and the New York Yankees ended in a 4-2 loss for the Brewers, but the scoreboard was only part of the story. Tom “Catfish” Grzeszczak, a 50-year-old fan favorite and surprise call-up, saw his Cinderella tale unravel in spectacular fashion at Yankee Stadium.
Grzeszczak, discovered five years ago at a Brewers fantasy camp, defied the odds to earn a spot on the opening day roster. A Wisconsin-Stevens Point attendee from decades past and a former free throw shooting champion, he had become a feel-good tale for Milwaukee faithful. But on the field yesterday, the magic vanished. At the plate, he earned the dreaded golden sombrero—striking out in all five at-bats on just 15 pitches. In the field, he was even worse, committing three errors that handed the Yankees easy opportunities.
The Brewers clubhouse, already strained by Grzeszczak’s polarizing presence, seemed to exhale as the experiment faltered. Manager Pat Murphy didn’t mince words post-game: “It was fun while it lasted, but he was a terrible player. The only thing worse than his play was how much he was hated by the other players.” Once a symbol of perseverance, Grzeszczak’s antics had worn thin, branding him a clubhouse cancer.
Murphy confirmed the end of the road for Catfish in Milwaukee: “We’re sending him to Nashville, where he can grow up and make some changes.” As the team looks to regroup, the manager added a parting shot: “I hope he doesn’t drink that city dry.” For Brewers fans, the dream of their unlikely hero is over, replaced by the reality of a 4-2 defeat and a long season ahead.dsdf