Brewers Claim First World Series Title in 58-Year Franchise History
Milwaukee defeated Tampa Bay 4-1 in Game 5, ending a 44-year wait for a championship and proving small-market teams can compete.
By Jisoo Serrano ·
Major League baseball has long been defined by its massive spending markets, but the 2026 World Series ended with a small-market club on top.
The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, to claim their first World Series championship.
This victory marks a historic turn for a franchise that began as the Seattle Pilots in 1969 and moved to Milwaukee the following year.
Jacob Misiorowski anchored the Brewers' pitching staff in the decisive game.
The 24-year-old right-hander threw five and two-thirds scoreless innings, allowing just two hits before leaving the game with a right calf cramp.
Misiorowski opened the game with 12 consecutive four-seam fastballs, topping out at 103 mph twice among his 86 pitches.
He received a standing ovation from the Brew-Crew fans who occupied the section behind the Milwaukee dugout.
Cooper Pratt provided the offensive spark for the Brewers.
The rookie, who made his major league debut in June, set a Series record with six consecutive hits before sacrificing a fly ball in the sixth inning.
Pratt also scored on a single by David Hamilton in the fifth inning to extend Milwaukee's lead.
William Contreras, named the World Series MVP, hit an RBI double off Garrett Cleavinger in the sixth inning.
Contreras finished the series with a strong performance, capping a run that saw the Brewers go 11-2 in the postseason, including a sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS during the 2026 playoffs, though the source notes the Dodgers sweep in the NLCS context for the 2026 team's run which aligns with the 'sweep of the mighty Dodgers in the NLCS' fact provided for the current team's postseason success description in the source text which says 'including seven comeback wins and a sweep of the mighty Dodgers in the NLCS'. Wait, the source says 'went 11-2 in the postseason, including seven comeback wins and a sweep of the mighty Dodgers in the NLCS.' This implies the 2026 team did this. I will state they swept the Dodgers in the NLCS.
Source: KGOU
