With the recent hot streak by the Brewers along with the heat of the pennant race, our Brewers are no longer a secret. Sports Illustrated took notice of the team and announced this morning that Ryan Braun, Nyjer Morgan and Prince Fielder will grace the cover of the August 29 issue that will hit newsstands today.

Sports Illustrated writer Lee Jenkins visited Milwaukee during the last homestand to write the cover story. A selected quote from closer John Axford in the article describes the colorful Brewers clubhouse: “(Manager) Ron (Roenicke) embraced the youthfulness and craziness of this team. We’re not like most people. You have to cut us loose and let us go.”

This marks the first time in over 24 years that the Brewers have had the honor of the cover to themselves, with Rob Deer having appeared on the cover of the April 27, 1987 issue. (Braun appeared with five other players on the cover of the 2008 Baseball Preview.)

Other covers include:

4/20/1987 (three Brewers featured as part of MLB “What They Make” package)

10/25/1982 ( Robin Yount )

) 10/11/1982 ( Robin Yount )

) 3/16/1981 ( Rollie Fingers )

) 4/30/1979 (manager George Bamberger)

Special thanks go to Lee Jenkins and Chris Tropeano from Sports Illustrated and SIcovers.com for help with all of this.

This is an exciting moment for Brewers fans across the country as now the nation will know a little more about the colorful group that we all love to cheer on each and every game. It makes me proud as a Brewers fan and as an employee of the organization, but we are not done yet. I’m sure I share the same thoughts as many Brewers fans, I would like to see the Brewers on another Sports Illustrated cover in late October!

— JOHN

johnandcait@brewers.com