The Milwaukee Brewers are going to quite literally be flying the friendly skies on Sunday morning, Oct. 25, as their United Airlines charter carries them from General Mitchell International Airport to Tampa, Fla., with the World Series shifting to Tropicana Field.
That's because the Boeing-737 flight will be captained by Brewers right-hander Quinn Priester's uncle, GJ, with cousin Alex serving as first officer.
"From my understanding my uncle and cousin were bidding on the trip down to Tampa and they were able to get it," Priester explained prior to Game 2 at American Family Field on Saturday. "They shot me a text maybe 4-5 days ago saying they were first in line for it, then three nights ago they ended up getting the trip.
"So, they're flying us down to Tampa, which should be fun. And bring us some good luck, I hope."
This actually won't be the first time a Priester-flown charter will have transported the Brewers, either.
"They flew us home from the Rangers' place last year when we went to Texas," Priester said. "That was really cool, to be able to have them fly us home and now obviously to a little bit cooler of a game.
"I told a couple people (about the Texas flight). And my cousin Alex, I've always been told we look alike, similar height and build, so a couple people recognized it because they were standing outside the cockpit waiting for me in Texas to say hi and take a couple pictures.
"It was a cool moment for our family to all be together in that way. Super-unique, right?"
Priester, who hails from Glendale Heights, Ill., and graduated from Cary-Grove High School in Cary, Ill., was asked if his uncle and cousin are Brewers fans.
"They are now," he said, laughing. "They're cheering for the Brewers. Growing up in Chicago, typically you're a Chicago sports fan but definitely by blood they've made the switch over and they'll be pulling for us."
Flying is a Priester family business, actually, as his great-grandfather, George J. Priester, founded Priester Aviation which operates of out Chicago Executive Airport in Wheeling, Ill.
"I definitely have a passion for it," Priester said. "I love learning about it. Especially the military aviation stuff is what I really like to learn about. I've flown a couple times with my uncle GJ in a little Cessna and just enjoy learning about it and doing it, but just can't do as much during my career just because there are some contract things that I have to be careful of.
"In high school it was fine. Now, I've got to be careful. But definitely post-career I could see myself learning how to fly. Maybe not as a job, but as a passion."
First things first, though: Priester remains on track to be ready for spring training in 2027 (barring a delay due to a possible lockout) after missing all of this season following surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers pitcher Quinn Priester has family flying team to World Series