The Milwaukee Brewers just made franchise history, clinching their first championship ever, and it was all under the guidance of a man who waited a long, long time for his shot. Pat Murphy, in only his third season as the Brewers’ manager, finally got his first World Series title, putting his name in some truly rare company.
The Grind Pays Off: A Managerial Saga
Murphy’s journey to the top has been a marathon. He officially took over as the Brewers’ manager in 2024, promoted from bench coach, but his managerial experience actually goes back to 2015 when he was the interim manager for the San Diego Padres to finish that season. Now, a full decade later, he’s got a permanent gig and a World Series ring to prove it was worth the wait.
In an era where the league seems to be leaning younger with its managers, Murphy is a total outlier. He snagged his first full-time managerial job when he was over 60, which is pretty wild. What’s even crazier? He’s now one of the very few managers to win their first World Series title deep into their baseball coaching career, not after an early win like so many others. That’s just a testament to his grit, right?
Cracking the Oldest World Series Winners Club
So, where does Murphy stack up among the seasoned skippers who’ve lifted the Commissioner’s Trophy? Before the Brewers won it all, Murphy was already making waves for being the second-oldest manager to even make his World Series debut. At 67 years and 329 days old when the Brewers clinched the NLCS, he trailed only Jack McKeon, who was 73 years and 329 days old when he debuted in the Fall Classic way back in 2003 with the Florida Marlins.
But with Milwaukee’s World Series victory, Murphy officially etched his name in the record books as the third-oldest manager to win his very first World Series. He now sits behind legendary Dusty Baker, who holds the top spot, winning his first title at 73 in 2022 with the Houston Astros after managing for three decades. Baker actually went 20 years between World Series appearances, so that guy knew a thing or two about patience! McKeon, who won in 2003 with the Marlins as an interim manager at 72, is second.
Murphy’s win, at 67, also pushes him past Brian Snitker, who was 66 when he led the Atlanta Braves to a title in 2021. This just keeps this incredible trend going! We’ve seen an older manager win the World Series in four of the last six years. Snitker in 2021, Baker in 2022, Bruce Bochy grabbed his fourth title in 2023 at 68, and now Murphy in 2026. It makes you wonder if experience is truly the secret sauce, especially when you see guys like Dave Roberts winning back-to-back at 52 and 53 years old. But hey, Murphy proved that age is just a number when you finally get your shot at history.
What a moment for Pat Murphy and the Milwaukee Brewers. Their first franchise championship, secured by a manager who literally waited a lifetime for this moment. It’s a story for the ages, and it shows you that in baseball, sometimes the best things truly do come to those who wait.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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