MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers announced that Hank “The Ballpark Pup” passed away on Thursday, September 12. Fans have been sending their condolences, the team said Friday.
It all started in February 2014 in Maryvale, Arizona. Hank, a stray, “wandered into the Brewers Arizona complex that spring and warmed up to Brewers players, coaches and staff at first sight.”
“We tried to find his original owners and nobody stepped up,” president of business operations Rick Schlesinger told WTMJ’s Wis. Morning News on Friday. “I remember bringing him on the plane back from Spring Training and the crowd at the airport was incredible.”
Schlesinger said the team has been hearing from Brewers fans mourning the news.
“He was loved.”
When Spring Training ended that year, Hank was officially adopted by the family of Brewers Chief Operating Officer Marti Wronski. For the past 10 years, he lived a comfortable life at his forever home in Wisconsin, cared for by a loving family.
“Hank was truly loved by our family and we are so grateful for the ten years we had with him,” said Marti Wronski. “Hank seemed to know that he was rescued by the entire Brewers family and he never met a fan – or really any human – he didn’t love. We are heartbroken to be without him but are grateful for the joy he brought to so many and the spotlight he helped shine on animal rescue.”
The Brewers and Wronski family encourage donations to the Wisconsin Humane Society or MADACC (Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission) for those who wish to honor the life of Hank.
