Murphy Guides Brewers to First World Series Title in Five Games

Pat Murphy led the Milwaukee Brewers to their first World Series championship by defeating the Tampa Bay Rays in five games on Wednesday night in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The 67-year-old manager, who is a month shy of turning 68, has guided the team to this title after a career marked by a serious health scare and a college coaching suspension. Murphy was rushed to a hospital in 2020 following a heart attack during a workout at American Family Field. He recalled an ambulance driver asking for his next of kin, a moment he said initially confused him because he believed he was not in danger. That medical event occurred while he served as the Brewers bench coach, a position he held from October 2015 until his promotion in November 2023.

Murphy’s path to the major leagues was interrupted by an NCAA investigation while he was head coach at Arizona State. The organization issued him a one-year penalty in December 2010, citing his failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance. After that period, he managed minor league teams for the San Diego Padres before joining the Brewers staff. He described that time as essential for rebuilding his life while raising his son alone. He has now managed the Brewers for the 2024, 2025, and 2026 seasons, potentially becoming the first manager to win the award in three straight years.

Players and staff describe a manager who balances stern accountability with personal warmth. Outfielder Garrett Mitchell noted that Murphy’s intense approach requires players to accept tough feedback. Owner Mark Attanasio observed that Murphy is effective at delivering difficult messages, such as when he pulled players Cooper Pratt and William Contreras from games this year for not running hard enough. Murphy also instituted a system called The Check Game, where he assigns a check on a whiteboard to anyone, including himself and the team owner, for displaying ego rather than selflessness. He joked that Attanasio earned a check for wearing a large Brewers logo on his private plane.

The manager is known for his informal interactions with the media and his players. He often gathers his youngest children and their friends around him for postgame press conferences. He has discussed topics ranging from the history of neckties to his two Bruce Springsteen tattoos. He refused to shake hands with players during foul-line introductions, calling the tradition happy horse manure, and instead preferred chest bumps. Rays manager Kevin Cash noted that he enjoyed the alternative to the traditional high-five.

Murphy began his career as a pitcher and infielder at Florida Atlantic University before playing for San Francisco and San Diego in the minors. He did not play in a major league game after being released by the Giants due to a shoulder injury. He transitioned to coaching, winning exactly 1,000 college games at Notre Dame and Arizona State. He also managed the Netherlands in the 2000 Olympics. His coaching style has remained consistent, focusing on elevating the people around him and maintaining a continuous state of improvement.

The Brewers are scheduled to return to Milwaukee for the championship parade and a series of media events over the coming weekend. Murphy will lead the team through the offseason evaluation process, with the front office set to review contracts and draft strategy in November. The manager has stated that he views himself as permanently under construction, enjoying the ongoing process of learning and leading.