On Wednesday, Oct. 28, the Milwaukee Brewers won their first World Series title in team history, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays four games to one. The Brew Crew won decisively, outscoring the Rays 25-12 over the five games, a sign of a hot offensive rhythm and clutch pitching from both the starters and the bullpen.
Brewers catcher William Contreras secured World Series MVP honors by putting up four RBIs and eight hits over the course of the Fall Classic. While Contreras was productive at the plate, it was also in his dominant defensive control of the diamond that made him pivotal to the Brewers’ campaign. Contreras threw out four runners on nine attempted steals and successfully challenged 10 of 13 pitches by way of the new Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System, demonstrating the changing nature of what it takes to win it all in October.
“I don’t have words to say how I’m feeling,” Contreras said after Game 5 via a translator. “But I’m just appreciative of my teammates, appreciative of [manager Pat] Murphy and just want to thank all of them.”
Contreras would be right to do so. At age 22, teammate and outfielder Jackson Chourio tied Babe Ruth’s 1928 World Series record of ten hits through the first four games of a World Series, while shortstop Cooper Pratt made history for most consecutive hits by a rookie in a World Series with six.
Besides the Brewers’ consistency and discipline in the batter’s box, it was also their airtight pitching that helped Milwaukee bring home the Commissioner’s Trophy. Presumptive National League Cy Young winner Jacob Misiorowski posted a 0.84 ERA over his two World Series starts, while starting pitcher Robert Gasser allowed no runs over six innings of work in his Game 3 start. In the bullpen, reliever Abner Uribe likewise allowed no runs in 5.1 innings of work, but reliever Aaron Ashby deserves most of the credit here, as he made history by pitching 18 scoreless innings of relief over the course of this year’s playoffs.
The Brewers began their postseason path as the top seed in the National League, earning a first-round bye before facing the San Diego Padres in the National League Division Series, handling them 3 games to 1. The Brewers then faced the formidable Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. The Dodgers swept Milwaukee in the same round last year, but Milwaukee returned the favor this time, winning four games to none. It was Milwaukee’s first time in the World Series since their Game 7 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals back in 1982.
On the American League’s side, the Tampa Bay Rays also earned a first-round bye, lending them a Division Series match-up against the power-hitting New York Yankees. The Rays nonetheless swept New York in three games before facing a competitive Cleveland Guardians roster that fought hard for six games before Tampa Bay punched its ticket to the World Series.
At the outset of the Fall Classic, history was bound to be made. For one thing, neither the Brewers nor the Rays had ever won the World Series, but what was more intriguing was each team’s considerably low payroll. In a league where the average team payroll sat at around $182 million in 2026, the Brewers spent only $146.7 million on this year’s roster, while the Rays ranked No. 28, paying players just $95.62 million. For a sport that may not have a full season next year due to collective bargaining disputes over a potential salary cap, that disparity between player contracts and October outcomes should remind complaining owners of the complex reality of baseball.
Regardless, the Rays and Brewers gave us a series that was ultimately priceless. Opening in Milwaukee at American Family Field, the Brewers won 3-2 in Game 1 and kept the momentum going by taking Game 2 by a score of 5-4 in comeback fashion. When the series moved to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Brewers preserved their seven-game winning streak by dominating the Rays in a blowout, putting up 10 runs to the Rays’ 1. The Rays avoided a sweep by walking off Game 4 in the 12th inning with a score of 4-3, but Milwaukee shut the door on Tampa’s series comeback by winning 4-1 in Game 5. The baseball gods had finally given Milwaukee their ring, and no one was prouder than Brewers manager Pat Murphy.
“I think about the city of Milwaukee, the state of Wisconsin,” Murphy said. “They pushed us through for sure, and this group of guys right here, this 2026 team will be remembered forever. They deserve that, because they were a team, and I couldn’t be more grateful and more proud to be a Milwaukee Brewer.”
After their trophy ceremony, the Brewers took the party back to Milwaukee and kept celebrating their hard work. Brewers players showed face to Packers fans on Lambeau Field during Thursday Night Football against the Carolina Panthers before hosting a gritty parade ceremony the next day in downtown Milwaukee, which even prompted Milwaukee Public Schools to cancel classes. The next night, alongside manager Pat Murphy, Brewers designated hitter and captain Christian Yelich and second baseman Brice Turang appeared on Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update, showcasing their beloved trophy with heartfelt smiles and pride.
Amid all the Brewers’ joy, the neutral fan can only feel for Tampa Bay. Having lost a second World Series in seven years, the Rays have no choice but to keep their chins up and find a way back to October. Rays third baseman and AL MVP candidate Junior Caminero shared his pain in the wake of the team’s loss.
“It’s difficult, right? I think one of the hardest parts was, after the game, everybody hugging each other in here,” Caminero said through his interpreter. “When I started going around hugging the guys, I think that was the most difficult part.”
It’s easy to understand where Caminero is coming from, but in his defense, the Milwaukee Brewers were not a team to be reckoned with this year. They dropped only two games in the playoffs on their path to victory; the Brewers showed a drive to win that few other teams could match. Though their defense and baserunning were not as clean as they had been throughout the regular season, Milwaukee was on a mission, and they will continue to serve as the model for success as they begin their tenure as the reigning champs of Major League Baseball.