We’ve got ourselves a classic baseball character running the show in Milwaukee—and I don’t mean “character” like a cartoon; I mean Pat Murphy, the manager who might just be the most no-nonsense, handshake-skipping, birthday-song-hating, hard-nosed traditionalist in Major League Baseball. And somehow… somehow… that crusty charm is working like magic for the Brewers.
From Bench Coach to NL Manager of the Year
When Craig Counsell left Milwaukee to take the reins of the rival Chicago Cubs (yeah, that still stings a little), the Brewers didn’t panic. They promoted from within, handing the keys to Pat Murphy—longtime bench coach, former interim manager in San Diego, and, oh yeah, Counsell’s old college coach at Notre Dame.
In 2024, Murphy leads the Brew Crew to a 96-win season, grabs an NL Central title, and snags NL Manager of the Year honors. Not bad for a guy who once had to wrangle college kids through 6 a.m. practices and cafeteria meals. And here we are in 2025, and the Brewers are even better: 97 wins, a franchise record, and another playoff berth—this time with the baseball world fully tuned in to not just their winning streaks, but their wildly unique skipper.
A Tradition… Rejected
And just when you think you’ve seen every tradition in the postseason playbook… Murphy decides to skip one. Picture it: Game 1 of the NLDS, Brewers vs. Cubs. Everyone lines up along the chalk, cameras rolling, announcers rattling off names. The players extend their hands… and Murphy? Nah. No time for that. Eyes straight ahead, full stride, not a shake in sight. Cold? Maybe. Intentional? Absolutely.
You’d think it was a snub—until Murphy explained it: “It’s happy horse manure.” (Okay, he cleaned it up for the cameras, but you know what he meant.) In his view, why go through the motions twice—once on the baseline, then again in the dugout with all the handshakes, fist bumps, and signature player rituals? Murphy says, “Let’s play the game.” And you know what? He’s not wrong.
Even funnier, he’s been doing this for ten years. Just ask Christian Yelich, who apparently knows to brace for impact when Murphy walks by. Meanwhile, poor Andrew Vaughn, new to the team, went for the handshake like a well-mannered gentleman… only to get stonewalled. That’s vintage Murphy.
No Cake, No Clapping, Just Focus
And it doesn’t stop at handshakes. Earlier this year, he scolded his own team—during a game—for singing “Happy Birthday” to a reporter in the dugout. His verdict? “Unprofessional.” Delivered with a grin, of course, but make no mistake: the man has rules, and he sticks to them.
But here’s the kicker: this isn’t about being grumpy or anti-fun. It’s about identity. Murphy has created a clubhouse culture that’s loose but focused, respectful but no-frills. In a sport loaded with rituals and traditions, he’s quietly (or not so quietly) tossing a few of them aside in favor of grit and results. And the players? They’re buying in.
So next time you watch the Brewers take the field, keep an eye out for their manager. No handshakes. No balloons. No nonsense. Just baseball—and under Murphy’s watch, winning baseball at that.
