MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers stood on the field late Saturday night, hugging one another, with their eyes glazed, looking into the stands.
There they were, 10,000, maybe 15,000 fans, refusing to leave American Family Field, still cheering with their hoarse voices, screaming into the night, taking pictures, wanting to savor every last euphoric moment.
The 2025 Brewers won more games than any team in franchise history, earning a first-round bye by winning more games than any team in baseball, but their season was on the brink against the team they hate the most, the Chicago Cubs.
Their fans were repulsed by the idea that their season could end Saturday, but at the end of the night, there they were, dancing in the aisles, screaming into the night, celebrating one of the greatest evenings in Milwaukee history.
They slayed the dragon, winning 3-1 in the winner-take-all Game 5 of the National League Division Series, and are finally back in the National League Championship Series for the first time since 2018, where they will play the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, beginning Monday night in Milwaukee.
“It’s almost like we had to win this game because of the lack of postseason success the last handful of years,’’ former Brewers great Ryan Braun told USA TODAY Sports. “So it felt so meaningful. It felt so significant. It’s like getting a big monkey off the back of the organization.’’
The Brewers began the party in the clubhouse, took it on the field, posed for a team picture, and then someone brought out a white flag, with the letter “L.’’
They then began waving the “L,’’ mocking the Cubs, just like the Cubs’ fans who have waved the “W’’ so many times in their face.
“I think this night will be remembered for generations,’’ said Brewers owner Mark Attanasio, with champagne dripping off his body. “It would have been tough if we had lost. There would have been such an empty feeling.
“But winning, beating the Cubs, cements that this is a special season for us.’’
Attanasio had spoken earlier in the day with former commissioner Bud Selig, the Brewers’ former owner, who tried to console him just in case they lost, telling him it still would have been a fabulous season.
“No matter what happens today,’’ Selig told him, “it’s a remarkable season.’’
Sorry, Attanasio told him, but he vehemently disagreed with the premise.
“I told him I really appreciate the support,’’ Attanasio said, “but it’s going to be hard to feel that way until we win. Our fans would have thought this was just another season where we couldn’t get out of the first round. And to lose to the Cubs, that would be tough for our fans to handle.’’
Now, no matter what happens the rest of the way, even if they get wiped out by the powerful Dodgers, they will have this moment to treasure forever.
It was the night they finally beat the Cubs.
“I bet you could have robbed a bank in Wisconsin tonight because everyone’s watching the game,’’ said Brewers GM Matt Arnold, one of baseball’s shrewdest executives. ‘Everyone cares so much about the Brewers in this state, there’s so much pride. Look around, it’s like family here, and celebrating with your family makes it that much special.’’
Andrew Vaughn, who was in the minor leagues in June with the Chicago White Sox, hit the go-ahead home run in the fourth inning, and was now standing alone on the infield, his eyes glazed as he looked around.
“I’m just soaking this in,’’ Vaughn said. “The feeling is incredible. It’s the greatest I’ve ever had in baseball.’
Catcher William Contreras, who hit a first-inning homer, was running around the field, celebrating with anyone and everyone who wanted to slap his hand.
Rookie reliever Jacob Misiorowski, who lost his starting job in September with his struggles, pitched four brilliant innings after giving up a homer to the first batter he faced, Seiya Suzuki. Misiorowski huddled with his family and friends, still trying to grasp the fact he was pitching at Triple-A Nashville until June.
Brewers veteran starter Brandon Woodruff stood with his wife and kids, and teary-eyed, reflected on what they just accomplished.
“We knew the beginning of the year, a lot of people counted us out,’’ Woodruff said. “We were not on anybody’s radar. We started playing some good baseball, but we knew to go where we wanted, we had to get past the Cubs. And we did it.
“This was a big series, and to do it against the Cubs, frees us up now.’’
And there was manager Pat Murphy, 66, the former college coach at Notre Dame and Arizona State who was prepared to follow Craig Counsell to Chicago, only to be offered the Brewers managerial job to replace him, standing almost in a daze.
“I’m a guy who should be really thankful for what has happened to me,’’ Murphy said. “I’m lucky to be in the major leagues. This organization has been great to me for 10 years, and they took a chance on an old guy…
“I’m just grateful, to be honest with you. I’m grateful for the guys we’ve had in the room. They’ve been doubted every year. Everyone.
“There’s no one predicting the Brewers playing the Dodgers in the (league championship) series.’’
The Brewers’ confidence was badly shaken after winning the first two games at American Family Field, but then getting beaten soundly by the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Murphy confided that the team was rattled by the atmosphere. Even with Game 5 at home, there was a genuine fear in the fan base.
Please, please, not again.
So, the Brewers looked to the skies for guidance. Murphy sat on the bench several times and prayed. Arnold pointed towards Bob Uecker’s name high above the rafters on the Brewers’ Hall of Fame wall. Uecker, of course, was their beloved Hall of Fame broadcaster who passed away in January.
“I was talking to Bob Uecker a lot tonight,’’ Arnold said, “I kept pointing up there where his number is retired. I kept saying, ‘We need you. We really need you. We need you more than ever.’ He was a big part of this.’’
Several of the Brewers’ employees, including longtime equipment manager Tony Migliaccio and traveling secretary Dan Larrea, wore plaid wool sports jackets in honor of Uecker. Arnold wore plaid shoes in tribute to Uecker and carried a Uecker coin that was given to him by Uecker’s wife, Judy.
They relied on him more than ever in the eighth inning when the Cubs were mounting one last threat against closer Abner Uribe. He got the first out on a fly ball from pinch-hitter Moises Ballesteros, but then walked Mike Busch on four pitches. Nico Hoerner hit a 105-mph bullet, but right into the glove of third baseman Caleb Durbin.
This brought up Kyle Tucker, who’s expected to be the biggest attraction in free agency this winter, and who reached base seven times in the last two games. Brewers pitching coach Chris Conroy went to the mound, and stayed. He told Uribe that he might be tipping his pitches. The Cubs were hitting him too hard. He needed to relax, come to the same set position each time to prevent sign tipping, and, oh yeah, it was imperative to their fate that he retires the Cubs’ most dangerous hitter.
“He was giving away his pitches,’’ Murphy said. “They were calling his pitches from the third-base box. We saw that and made the adjustment.’’
Uribe quickly fell behind 2-and-0 before Tucker swung and missed at a sinker. He fired another one, this time on the outside corner, Tucker swung, and hit a soft grounder to second baseman Brice Turang.
The threat and inning was over.
And three batters later, so was the game.
They looked to the skies one more time, and man, they swear they could see Uecker smiling and laughing from the heavens.
“We’ve been talking about Ueck all year long,’’ Murphy said. “And it may sound corny to some, but if you lived it the way we did, Ueck’s presence was here. And they didn’t want to let him down, especially this series because (of) being close rivals.
“I’ve got great respect for the Cubs, believe me, but it was important to these guys because it’s the rival to finish the job.
“And they know Ueck is smiling.’
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