Milton Ousland
I’ve interviewed players who caught the final out of the World Series. Guys who gave up record-breaking homers. But talking to Milton Ousland? That’s sacred turf. This is a guy who’s been beating his cowbell in the Bronx since ‘84. He didn’t just witness Yankee greatness—he helped build the soundtrack. Alongside fellow Bleacher Creature Marc Chalpin, Milton has lived every inning with love, noise, and just the right amount of profanity. These two don’t just go to games—they are the game. If you want to understand what makes Yankee Stadium holy ground, start here—with the fans who never left.
Robby Incmikoski: Milton, you’ve been a Bleacher Creature for how long?
Milton Ousland: Since 1984. Back then, we weren’t even called Bleacher Creatures. We were just “the regulars”—a small group showing up every game, pouring our love into the Yankees before the playoff years. Once the Yankees started winning, more people came. The family grew.
Robby: How did your love for baseball start?
Milton: In 1981, I turned on the World Series—Yankees vs. Dodgers—and fell in love with the pinstripes. I’m from Brooklyn, love New York, and once Mattingly came? That was it. Done deal.
Robby: So let’s talk about that fifth inning from the World Series—what was it like in the bleachers?
Milton: It was embarrassing. But as a veteran Yankee fan, I get over it quicker than the young fans. I saw 14 years without a playoff game. So yeah, it sucked—but I’ve seen glory. I’ve seen greatness. Now I want the new fans to feel that same heartbreak we used to. It builds character. When we finally win again, it'll be that much sweeter.
Marc Chalpin: That inning was the worst I’ve seen live. But like Milton said, part of this is the journey. I want the younger Creatures to win one—to feel what we’ve felt. There’s nothing like winning it all with people you’ve stood beside for years.
Robby: Let’s talk about what makes Yankee Stadium—and your section—so unique.
Milton: It all started with Tina Lewis, the “queen” of the Bleacher Creatures. I went to my first game in the early ’80s. Tickets were $3. Once I found out, I went to every game I could. Tina reserved the seats. She had security on her side. Then came roll call—it started as a joke: “Do you think the players can hear us?” We chanted their names. They responded. It became magic.
Marc: It’s 100% organic. We don’t get perks. We’re not paid. We go because we love it. And now people travel just to see us. We’re part of the Yankee experience.
Milton: We’ve even had players sit with us—Mickey Rivers, Shane Spencer, David Cone. Cone knows me by name. Bernie Williams still shakes my hand. The players are fans of us, too.
Robby: What do you miss about the old stadium?
Milton: I miss the interaction. I used to stand on the rail with my cowbell. Fans had to pass me on the way to the bathroom—we’d talk, joke, I’d let kids ring the bell. Now, everyone goes upstairs. It’s not the same. But the new stadium? It’s beautiful. Great for casual fans. But the old one? That was raw Bronx energy. You came to kick ass.
Marc: The acoustics were better. And that first walk through the tunnel—like when Dorothy enters Oz—bam, the light, the green grass. Pure magic. And we had chants, jokes, even celebrity lookalike singalongs.
Milton: We even got banned from drinking beer once. Too rowdy. And then—irony—a guy from the upper deck jumps onto the net behind home plate. Not us!
Robby: What would it be like for a visiting fan to experience the Bleacher Creatures?
Milton: I’ll shake their hand and say, “Welcome to Yankee Stadium—welcome to hell.” If they’re respectful, they’ll have a blast. But don’t come in with a Sox hat acting dumb—you’ll get tossed.
Marc: We’ve had fans from all over—Houston, Iowa—come just to sit with us. That’s what makes it special. We’re just fans like them, but what we do means something. And we’re proud of that.
~~~
More from Milton Ousland
NOTE: The above was edited for clarity and length.
You can read the full transcript here.