Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy just pulled off a feat no other manager in MLB history ever has, securing his third straight National League Manager of the Year award. That’s right, three for three. And get this: the 67-year-old took home the hardware from a hospital bed, having just undergone hip replacement surgery. The image of him joining MLB Network from recovery is already legendary.
Making History From the Hospital Room
Winning three straight Manager of the Year awards is absolutely wild. Before Murphy, only Bobby Cox (2004-05) and Kevin Cash (2020-21) had even managed to win it twice in a row. This isn’t just about some hot streak, either. The votes for this award get cast at the end of the regular season, meaning Murphy earned this on the back of an absolutely dominant 2026 campaign where his Brewers set a franchise record with 103 regular season wins. Postseason heroics, including that unbelievable World Series title two weeks prior, didn’t even factor into the voting. Meanwhile, on the American League side, Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable snagged the award for turning things around on the South Side. It’s a testament to Murphy’s impact that before his first season in 2024, no Brewers manager had ever won a Manager of the Year award. This dude completely changed the game in Milwaukee.
The Ultimate Coaching Comeback Story
Murphy’s rise to legend status was far from guaranteed. He took over the Brewers after Craig Counsell, a Wisconsin native and one of the most respected skippers in the game, jetted off to join the division rival Chicago Cubs on a record-breaking deal. Many in Wisconsin were not happy about it. The Brewers opted to promote Murphy, who had been Counsell’s bench coach. His resume before that was a mixed bag: decades in college ball that ended with sanctions at Arizona State, assistant gigs with the Brewers and Padres, and an interim Padres stint that saw the club go 42-54. He even coached Counsell back at Notre Dame. Now, it’s impossible to argue the Brewers didn’t win that “divorce.” Counsell’s final year in 2023 saw Milwaukee win 92 games and get swept in the wild-card round. Under Murphy, despite a ton of roster and front office changes, they won 93 games in 2024, then 97 games and made the NLCS in 2025. And then, 2026? A franchise-record 103 wins and their first World Series title. Murphy clearly deserves massive credit for this renaissance, adapting a small-market team in a constantly evolving league. His roster was built with purpose, boasting a lineup that led MLB in walks and a bullpen always ready to eat innings. They mixed old-school tactics like bunting and stealing with modern approaches like openers and platoons. Murphy made it all click. He obviously succeeded.
This is a guy who just led his team to a World Series, broke an MLB record for Manager of the Year awards, and did it all with a fresh hip. What’s next for Pat Murphy and the Brewers? If history is any guide, they’re probably already cooking up another crazy plan to stay on top. You have to believe they’ll be ready for whatever comes next season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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