Brewers clinch postseason as manager reads touching Bob Uecker letter in clubhouse
Pat Murphy reads a written tribute 'from Ueck' after Milwaukee's 9-8 win over St. Louis, honoring the late broadcaster as the team secures MLB's first playoff berth
The Milwaukee Brewers became the first major league team this season to clinch a postseason berth following a 9-8 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, and manager Pat Murphy marked the moment by reading a written tribute “from Ueck” to the clubhouse.
Murphy told players he had received a letter earlier in the day, which owner Mark Attanasio handed to him. The note was described by the team as a tribute to longtime broadcaster Bob Uecker, leaving unclear whether Uecker himself wrote the words. In a video posted by the Brewers on X, Murphy read the message aloud before raising a glass in the dugout.
The letter opened, “Howdy, boys. Never a doubt you would get this invitation,” and continued: “You did it by believing. Really miss you guys, and I wish I was there. The God Almighty picked me to be on his team up here, albeit I’m the third catcher. 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.”
After reading the note, Murphy said, “Let’s toast to him and our team and what we’ve achieved so far,” and the clubhouse celebrated the clinch with champagne and applause.
The moment carried added significance for Milwaukee, which last celebrated a postseason berth with Uecker present in the clubhouse. Uecker, a Ford C. Frick Award recipient who began broadcasting for the Brewers in 1971 and remained on the air through 2024, died Jan. 16 at age 90 after a battle with lung cancer. The Brewers wore a commemorative patch on their jerseys throughout the season in his honor.
Milwaukee has been one of the National League’s top teams this season, entering the clinch with the best record in baseball at 91-58 and the best road record in the majors. The club has reached the playoffs seven of the last eight seasons but is still seeking its first World Series appearance since 1982.
Manager Murphy’s reading of the tribute was part celebration and part remembrance, blending the team’s present achievement with the long relationship between the franchise and its most recognized voice. Uecker, who also gained broader fame through roles in the “Major League” films and the sitcom “Mr. Belvedere,” had been a fixture at American Family Field for decades and was often present in team celebrations.
With a handful of regular-season games remaining, the Brewers aim to preserve the league’s top record and secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The team’s front office and coaching staff framed the clinch as a milestone on that path, and players emphasized honoring Uecker’s memory while preparing for postseason play.
Milwaukee’s focus now shifts to maintaining its form over the final weeks of the regular season and entering October with momentum. The club’s recent stretch, capped by the walk-off-style atmosphere surrounding the clinch and its acknowledgment of Uecker, underscored both the team’s immediate goals and its ties to a longtime broadcaster who helped shape its public identity.