Brewers wives work hard behind-the-scenes to help their men succeed

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Whether at home or on the road, the wives of Milwaukee Brewers players are right there for their husbands. In fact, they may be the real MVPs!

Being a Major League ballplayer is every young boy's dream growing up. The wives of MLB players -- those who stand not behind, but beside their hard-working husbands may deserve a great deal of the credit for their success.

Being the wife of a professional baseball player, coach or staffer isn't easy. In fact, it can be challenging at times.

"We first met when we were 19 at UL (University of Louisiana) with the Ragin' Cajuns. He was playing baseball and I was in school for graphic design," Sarah Lucroy, the wife of Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy said.

"He's pretty quiet at home. He's a routine guy. I see a completely different side than you guys," Melissa Kintzler, the wife of Brewers pitcher Brandon Kintzler said.

Patty Iorg says she didn't know what she was getting into when she married Garth Iorg, the Brewers first-base coach.

"I really thought 'I'm going to have really good seats at ballgames,'" Iorg said.

Melissa Kintzler says being a professional baseball wife has its benefits and its challenges. Other Brewers wives agree.

"It's fun. I love to travel and we get to see a lot of places, and you know, it's exciting in those kind of respects -- but there is a difficult side to it too. The distance and the travel is difficult sometimes and moving and packing," Melissa Kintzler said.

"When my kids were younger I raised them by myself half the time so that was really difficult," Patty Iorg said.

"My husband knows how tough it is and I gave up my whole life to move with him," Sarah Lucroy said.

"It's a 24-hour gig, and I think it's difficult because there's a perception about athletes' wives and unfortunately it's nothing like reality, but we have a good support system. The wives here are really great," Tiphany Weeks, the wife of Brewers second-baseman Rickie Weeks said.

"You definitely make some friendships. Sometimes they're short. You know, people get traded," Melissa Kintzler said.

"All of us are in the same situation, so we know what it's like, but both my family and Rickie's family is an amazing support system," Tiphany Weeks said.

"We're kinda like a family. We support each other and we support each other's husbands," Melissa Kintzler said.

"Church helped. The wives. When Garth played and they would leave, we would get together every night with our kids. We'd have dinner and our kids would play. You have to be strong in this because I've seen a lot of girls whose husbands don't make it, and I think a lot of times it's because of them, you know? Because they guy has to be able to leave and know that everything is okay at home. But I've seen a lot. I've been a lot of places and I've had a good life. It's been good. Hard, but good," Patty Iorg said.

So the next time you see a Brewers player come through in the limelight, remember that there's often a wife working hard behind-the-scenes to make it all possible.