MILWAUKEE -- The priority, of course, is raising money for good causes. Christian Yelich’s charity concert brought in more than $300,000 for local charities in each of its first two years, and organizers were hoping to match or exceed that total when the Goo Goo Dolls performed at the third annual event on Thursday at the Pabst Theater.
So consider it a welcome side effect, Yelich said, that the night also brings the team and the community together.
“That’s a goal with it,” Yelich said. “Yeah, you want to raise money and do good, but you want people who come to the event to have fun. I don’t want it to be a charity dinner where everybody sits down and listens to speeches. I’ve been to that event. They’re great, everybody is trying to do good, but those can be a little boring at times and it’s like, ‘I have to go to this,’ rather than, ‘I want to go.’
“So the goal behind this was to make sure everybody has a good time while doing some good. Let’s make this something people want to attend.”
Mission accomplished, said the teammates who walked the red carpet on Thursday night. They included longtime teammates like Brandon Woodruff, new ones like Jose Quintana, fellow outfielders Sal Frelick and Garrett Mitchell along with budding Brewers star Jackson Chourio, who is on a trajectory to host his own charity concert some day.
“You’re always expecting something good, and now it’s even better with the Goo Goo Dolls,” Woodruff said. “This is another good team bonding thing. I think some of that can get lost in the game, but that’s super important.”
“‘Yeli’ is such a good teammate to all of us,” said Frelick, “that’s a no-brainer to come out and support this tonight.”
As a bonus, the Brewers could figure out which of their teammates can dance.
“I can promise you that it ain’t going to be me,” Woodruff said.
Tickets went fast this year, Yelich said, boosted by the Grammy Award-nominated Goo Goo Dolls in addition to returning acts like Nicotine Dolls and standup comedian Charlie Berens. There’s also the earlier spot on the schedule. Last year’s event was in July, right around the same time as Summerfest, the Republican National Convention, the Harley-Davidson anniversary and a slew of other summer happenings in Milwaukee.
It was a particularly busy period for Yelich, too, since it was right around the time he was forced to make a hard decision about his back injury.
“I knew I was probably out for the season that morning,” he said. "I remember talking to the surgeon in the morning about how it was probably a wrap, and then I went home, took a shower and put on a suit and did the event.”
He’d done everything he could to play. An MRI scan on the Saturday before the All-Star Game revealed bad news, but Yelich tried medication and anti-inflammatory injections in an effort to push surgery into the offseason. The All-Star Game itself provided a good, low-impact opportunity to test whether the plan could work, especially since it was followed by some days off.
“It basically was like a trial to see if I could do it,” he said.
Despite every effort, Yelich ultimately had to succumb to the injured list. His final game was July 23 in Chicago. Two days later, he put on a happy face and hosted his charity concert.
All of which is to say that this year was infinitely more enjoyable. Funds raised via the concert and silent auction will benefit Brewers Community Foundation, Visit Milwaukee and The Live Like Lou Foundation, which supports families affected by ALS and funds research into curing ALS, otherwise known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
That cause is particularly close to Yelich’s heart this year because it was a major cause for late Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker, who lost his daughter to ALS. Uecker passed away in January after a private battle with small cell lung cancer, which he shared with only a small circle of friends, including Yelich.
As for the entertainment, it was not the first time the Goo Goo Dolls played for the Brewers. Equipment manager Jason Shawger had a connection with the band’s manager, and Yelich and some other veteran players picked up the tab to bring in band leader Johnny Rzeznik for a private show several years ago in what is now the Leinenkugel’s Barrel Yard at American Family Field.
So, Thursday was a reunion.
“When musicians and athletes get together we always have a good time,” said Rzeznik. “That’s always a lot of good vibes. Something cool comes of it, the whole spirit of Major League Baseball. More than any other team sport, there’s just this whole spirit of community. They’re always giving back.”
That’s the idea for Yelich. Did he ever see this event getting so big?
“I think that was everyone’s goal, but you didn’t know if it was going to be possible,” Yelich said. “You didn’t know what kind of acts you would get. But we’ve been pretty fortunate. It’s been great.”