The 2026 Milwaukee Brewers are headed to the World Series, setting up a clash with the Rays that has the whole league buzzing, but for some, like Hall of Famer Robin Yount, this isn’t just another series, it’s a chance to finally heal a 44-year-old wound. Yeah, we’re talking about the 1982 team, “Harvey’s Wallbangers,” who led all of Major League Baseball in home runs by a massive margin back in the day. Fast forward to now, and these 2026 Brewers were just two dingers shy of ranking dead last in baseball for homers. Wild, right? The game’s definitely different, but the connection, according to Yount, is all about that relentless drive to win.
Robin Yount Says They’re “Relentless” and It’s a Vibe Check on ’82
Yount, one of several 1982 Brewers who spoke on Wednesday, Oct. 21, ahead of the World Series, flat out said, “These guys are relentless, as we were.” Think about it: 44 years is a lifetime in baseball, and the pitching, the strategy, everything has changed. He admits it’s tough to compare eras, but what he sees in this current squad is that same laser-focused mentality. “There’s no question that the reason they’re playing the game is to win, day in and day out. You can see that clearly,” Yount explained. That’s the heart of it, isn’t it? Showing up every single day ready to scrap for a win. That’s the kind of team Yount himself played on. He’s 71 now, a Brewers luminary who’s thrown out countless ceremonial first pitches for big games, but this one for Game 1 of the World Series? It’s gonna hit different. He even joked he won’t be busting out a motorcycle and riding around the stadium like he did in ’82 for the parade, which, by the way, happened *after* they lost Game 7 in St. Louis. That’s how much the city loved that team, even in heartbreak.
The Sting of ’82 Still Burns for Yount, But Larry Hisle Is Blown Away
The sting of that 1982 loss, getting so close to a World Series title only to fall short in Game 7, is still very real for Yount. “I don’t concentrate on the hurt side,” he said, but then he quickly followed up, “It was also the greatest time of my career, but unfortunately the worst time.” He means it. “When you get that close to achieving a goal you’ve set since you were a little kid to win a World Series, and you get within one game of accomplishing that, yeah it stings, it hurts. I’m not going to lie, I’ll never get over it until the Brewers win one.” That’s real talk, fans. You can feel that fire. He’s ready for it to happen “more often than every 44 years,” especially since he’s not sure he’ll “be here for that one” if it takes another four decades. Larry Hisle, who became the team’s first big-time free-agent signing back in 1978 and still works for the organization, is equally stoked. The 80-year-old said he has “never been more impressed with a team” than how they battled the Dodgers in the NLCS. Hisle expected a seven-game dogfight against L.A.’s experience, superstars, and pitching. But these “young kids came together in a way I never witnessed and they performed in a way that will be remembered as long as the game is being played.” Former Brewers pitcher Jerry Augustine, a Wisconsin native and broadcaster, also noticed the incredible camaraderie.
So, here we go, Game 1 of the World Series is on deck. You know what Yount’s looking forward to, right? That moment when these Brewers finally get it done. The whole franchise, the whole city, is riding on this, and after 44 years, it’s about time.
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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