Brewers win first World Series title; Yelich honors late broadcaster Bob Uecker

Christian Yelich helped lead the Milwaukee Brewers to their first World Series championship with a 4-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 5 on Wednesday. The win capped a postseason run that finally delivered the franchise its long-sought trophy. Yelich, the team's first captain in franchise history, used the postgame moment to honor Bob Uecker, a longtime Brewers broadcaster who died in January 2025 at age 90.

Uecker called games during the 2023 and 2024 seasons while battling small cell lung cancer. He kept his diagnosis private until his death, sharing the news only with a small circle of people that included Yelich. The broadcaster’s final game came two years ago in an NL Wild Card Series loss to the New York Mets. After Milwaukee lost a 2-0 ninth-inning lead, Uecker called the defeat a moment with some sting before entering a silent locker room to comfort the players.

Yelich recalled that difficult ending in a documentary released this year. He said that speaking with Uecker one on one after the loss was the hardest part of that season. The memory of that night made the current celebration feel more cathartic for the 34-year-old outfielder. He has been with the Brewers since 2018 and was the only player alongside pitcher Brandon Woodruff to be part of every one of the team's eight playoff appearances in the last nine seasons.

On the field, Yelich overcame career lows in on-base percentage and OPS during the regular season to deliver key hits in the postseason. He drove in two runs in Game 2 of the NLCS as Milwaukee swept the Los Angeles Dodgers. In the World Series, he hit an RBI triple in Game 1 and went 2 for 3 with an RBI in Game 3. In the clinching game Wednesday, he scored one of the four runs that secured the title.

Manager Pat Murphy credited Yelich for maintaining belief in the team's ability to win the championship throughout the season. Murphy said Yelich constantly voiced confidence in the group, which helped shift the mindset of his teammates. Hall of Famer Robin Yount, who was the 1982 MVP when the Brewers last appeared in the World Series, also accepted congratulations from Yelich on the field.

Yelich described the team's journey through multiple playoff disappointments as a necessary preparation for this victory. He noted that the low moments built the toughness required to close out the series. The Brewers now hold their first World Series trophy in franchise history.

Yelich said he believes Uecker is smiling from where he is. He expressed a wish that the broadcaster could have been present to see the celebration. The player dedicated the victory to Uecker, noting that the team keeps the late broadcaster close to their hearts.