Brewers Clinch Playoff Spot; Pat Murphy Reads Bob Uecker Tribute
Manager delivers an emotional message attributed to the late Hall of Fame broadcaster after Milwaukee’s walk-off win sealed MLB’s first postseason berth
The Milwaukee Brewers became the first team in Major League Baseball to clinch a playoff berth on Saturday, and manager Pat Murphy read an emotional message attributed to the team’s longtime broadcaster Bob Uecker in the clubhouse after a walk-off win over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Murphy said the letter was handed to him by owner Mark Attanasio and read the passage as a tribute to Uecker. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported the note was described as “a tribute to Uecker,” and the paper said it was unclear whether Uecker himself had written it. Murphy read, in part, “Howdy, boys. Never a doubt you would get this invitation. You did it by believing. Really miss you guys, and I wish I was there,” before raising a champagne glass and adding, “So let’s toast to him and our team and what we’ve achieved so far.”
The victory pushed Milwaukee to an MLB-leading 91-58, securing the franchise’s seventh postseason appearance in eight years. The team has not reached the World Series since 1982.
Murphy read additional lines that referenced both the club’s overall record and its road success. “The God Almighty picked me to be on his team up here, albeit I’m the third catcher,” the note said. “Told the big guy about you guys. You play hard every night. You’re not afraid to play for each other. He’s obviously very interested in the group with this uncommon goodness… The fact that you have the best record in baseball and the best road record in baseball caught his attention. I know you guys really don’t need me, but I’ve got to tell you, I’ll be on the headset every night watching. And don’t forget to take it all in, enjoy it, keep it light and believe in each other. — Bob Uecker.”
The ceremony in the clubhouse came after the Brewers’ walk-off win over the Cardinals on Sept. 13, 2025, which clinched the playoff spot. Murphy’s reading and subsequent toast were part of an emotional celebration that acknowledged Uecker’s long association with the team and his place in Milwaukee sports culture.
Uecker, known as “Mr. Baseball,” served as a broadcaster for the Brewers from 1971 through the 2024 season. He was awarded baseball’s Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting excellence and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 2003. Uecker also had a noted acting career, appearing in the “Major League” film series and as a regular on the television sitcom "Mr. Belvedere." He died Jan. 16, 2025, at age 90 from lung cancer.
The Brewers have honored Uecker throughout the 2025 season with a memorial patch on their uniforms. Owner Mark Attanasio has been involved in team tributes, and his presentation of the letter to Murphy followed the team’s on-field acknowledgment of Uecker earlier in the season.
Milwaukee’s postseason berth continues a stretch of sustained success for the franchise, which has been a regular playoff contender in recent years. The club will now prepare for the postseason with its regular-season finish and seeding still to be determined, while celebrating the latest milestone tied to a figure who was a constant presence in Brewers history.
Manager Murphy’s reading of the message and the team’s salute to Uecker underscored the broadcaster’s lasting impact on the organization and its fans, even after his death earlier this year.