The members of the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers team are proud of who they are and what they accomplished.

The reminiscing and the reunions, however, were getting old.

The franchise had one big memory to hang its hat on, and they were it. They went to the World Series 26 years ago and have talked about it ever since. The adoration has been nice, but they were starting to wonder if a memory, no matter how happy, has a statute of limitations.

It was time to step aside.

That's why those '82 Brewers, middle-aged now and losing the spring in their step — not to mention the hair on their heads — are so happy the team at long last has made it back to the post-season. They're happy for the players, the organization, the city of Milwaukee and the long-suffering fans.

And they're happy to finally have some company.

"It's definitely time, you know what I mean?" said Jim Gantner, the scrappy second baseman on the 1982 American League championship team. "I want to forget about the '82 team and focus on these guys. They deserve it."

Robin Yount, the hero of the '82 team and the AL most valuable player that year, had a front-row seat Sunday when the Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs, 3-1, and clinched the National League wild-card berth.

He had joined the team two weeks earlier as bench coach, summoned by his old friend Dale Sveum, who replaced manager Ned Yost (another '82 Brewer) on Sept. 15.

On Sunday, his hair matted from champagne and his T-shirt soaking wet, Yount couldn't stop smiling.

"This is pretty exciting but it's a lot different, let me tell you, when you're watching instead of playing," Yount said. "It's more nerve-wracking watching than it is when you feel you have something to contribute.

"I just brought my pompoms and my cheerleading skirt and I tried to do the best I could. It was fun to watch those guys go out and perform."

Jerry Augustine, a pitcher on the '82 team, watched the game at home.

"I did not go to the game because I'm not good in that situation," he said. "I tend to pace. I felt confident with CC (Sabathia) pitching and the way the ball club had been playing the last week. It was pretty nerve-wracking but very exciting."

When Ryan Braun hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Brewers a 3-1 lead, Augustine jumped out of his chair.

"I found out that I could still jump higher than a few inches off the floor," he said. "I was jumping up and down with my fists up in the air. I knew it was gone the moment he hit it. He's got that magical quality in his bat; the ball just jumps off it."