Pat Murphy’s Brewers are headed to the World Series for the first time in 44 years, and the manager received a call Wednesday morning that landed somewhere beyond baseball: Bruce Springsteen, the artist whose music has long traveled with Murphy through his coaching life, appeared on FaceTime.
A call from the Boss
The number carried a 732 area code, and Murphy answered. On the other end was Springsteen, who opened the conversation by telling the Brewers manager he had heard there was a connection between them.
Springsteen had watched Milwaukee finish off the two-time defending champion Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. After the clincher, Murphy addressed his club with a line tied to Springsteen’s “Last Man Standing,” telling the Brewers they needed to be the one left at the end.
That message reached Springsteen, who had an assistant locate Murphy. The manager said the conversation felt remarkably natural despite the weight of the moment.
“It felt as comfortable as an ordinary conversation,” Murphy said, still sounding struck by the call.
- Springsteen called Murphy on Wednesday morning via FaceTime.
- The musician had seen Murphy’s post-NLCS remarks.
- Milwaukee advanced by defeating the Dodgers, who entered the series as two-time reigning champions.
- The Brewers’ World Series berth is their first in 44 years.
A lifelong soundtrack for Murphy
Murphy’s bond with Springsteen’s work has been visible throughout his career. He has “No Retreat, No Surrender” tattooed on his arm, a phrase associated with Springsteen’s “No Surrender,” and he has regularly given his teams Springsteen-inspired names.
Earlier clubs carried names drawn from “Thunder Road” and “Prove It All Night.” This Milwaukee team has been known as “Last Man Standing,” a fitting label now that it has reached the Fall Classic.
Murphy told reporters during the NLCS that his devotion began when he saw Springsteen during The River Tour in 1980. He had chances to meet Springsteen backstage after concerts, but chose not to take a quick handshake. Murphy wanted a meaningful conversation rather than a passing introduction.
At last, he got it.
“I told him his impact on my life had been enormous,” Murphy said, then laughed that he probably did not address Springsteen as “bro.”
One more chance in October
Springsteen, a Yankees supporter, apparently did not spend the call discussing Milwaukee’s pitching plans or asking about rookie Jacob Misiorowski’s overpowering fastball. Murphy still found a baseball-and-Springsteen way to describe what lies ahead.
“He never asked whether Miz could get that speedball past somebody,” Murphy joked. “But I told him we have one more opportunity to make it real.”
For Murphy and the Brewers, the song title has become more than a clubhouse theme. “Last Man Standing” now serves as the assignment for a club with one final series left to play.
