Pat Murphy, the Brewers manager, had a heart attack hitting fungos during COVID summer camp, then immediately made a “This Is It” tour shirt to poke fun at himself. That’s the kind of baseball lifer we are talking about, a guy who has spent over 44 years in the game, from the minor leagues to college programs, international coaching, and now Major League Baseball. His players say it perfectly: the man can’t be knocked down. He’s tough, and a truly special leader.
Lessons From a Diamond Lifer: No Speeches, Just Stories
You won’t catch Murph giving some long, passionate speech. That’s just not his style. Players describe his lessons popping up in the small, everyday moments, whether it’s a quick comment in the dugout, a word during a mound visit, or even a single sentence after a tough loss. Sometimes, it’s a story that seems to come out of nowhere, completely unrelated, until suddenly, you get it. Ask anyone in the Brewers clubhouse, and they’ll tell you he’s honest to a fault, steady, wise, and always ready to laugh at himself.
One rookie learned this the hard way during his first spring training. He knew Craig Counsell was the manager, but that was about it. He went over to the big-league side for live at-bats, and there’s Murph, telling him he’s the video guy. Our guy bought it for about a week! Then, first spring training game comes around, Murph is managing it, and the rookie is all red-faced. Murph just hit him with, “You need to do your homework on guys.” Classic Murph, especially with new faces.
Unpredictable, Resilient, and Always Authentic
The heart attack story isn’t just a wild anecdote; it’s the defining Murph moment. Hitting fungos one minute, gone the next, turns out he’s had a heart attack. And what does he do? Gets a band-style tour shirt made saying “This Is It” tour, totally making fun of his own scary situation. If that doesn’t scream Pat Murphy, what does? It shows his players everything you need to know about the man: he’s resilient, he’s tough, and he knows how to lead by example, even if that example involves a hospital trip.
Then there’s the time he just sat there eating a pancake during an Apple TV game interview. You gotta love that. He’s pretty unpredictable, that’s for sure, and his players totally get it. This isn’t a coach hiding behind a persona; this is a coach who is genuinely himself.
He Knows How to Push the Right Buttons
Woodruff thinks Murph is uniquely suited for the Brewers, especially with their younger club. He said Murph leads men fantastically and really invests in people, which is a huge part of their success. He knows how to push the right buttons at the right time, and that’s what makes him who he is. For another player, Murph has been massive over the last three seasons. It’s funny because you never really know where you stand with him, which keeps you guessing, but after three years, they’re truly getting to know him.
Pat Murphy’s unique approach to the game, blending decades of experience with an unpredictable, deeply human touch, clearly resonates with his squad. He’s not about grand gestures; he’s about genuine connection and lessons learned in the most Murph-like ways possible.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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