Pat Murphy Makes MLB History With Third Straight NL Manager of the Year Award

November 12, 2026 — Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy has accomplished something no other major-league skipper had done: win the Manager of the Year award three seasons in a row. The Baseball Writers' Association of America announced the 2026 National League result on November 10, recognizing the manager of a club that won an MLB-best 103 regular-season games.

Murphy received 20 of 30 first-place votes and finished with 124 voting points, according to MLB's official award report. The distinction is especially notable because the voting is based on the regular season: Milwaukee's subsequent World Series championship strengthened the story of its year, but was not the basis for the award ballot.

What the vote actually recognized

Milwaukee's 103 wins established a franchise regular-season high and gave the Brewers the best record in baseball. That is the central performance benchmark behind Murphy's third consecutive honor. The BBWAA electorate rewarded sustained team performance rather than a single postseason hot streak.

The Brewers won the NL Central for the third consecutive season under Murphy. The fact that the club maintained its divisional position while climbing to a franchise-best win total is what makes the 2026 vote different from a routine repeat award: Murphy did not simply maintain an earlier standard; the regular-season result improved.

The voting margin also offers a useful distinction. Murphy was a clear winner, but not a unanimous first-place selection. Twenty first-place votes out of 30 is a strong consensus, not a sweep of the electorate. The official total of 124 points captures the full ranked ballot, not just the number of voters placing him first.

Why three consecutive awards matter

A Manager of the Year award is an annual assessment of team performance, expectations and leadership, not a direct measurement of a manager's individual wins added. Three straight wins are therefore unusual for two reasons: a team must remain excellent over multiple seasons, and the manager must continue to convince voters that the results merit fresh recognition.

Murphy's three-year run is particularly striking given the normal turnover of MLB rosters and the competitive adjustments opponents make to successful teams. His earlier experience on Craig Counsell's Milwaukee staff supplied continuity before he took over the top job, but the 2026 award recognizes what happened with Murphy in charge.

It is important not to confuse recognition with causal proof. A 103-win record reflects contributions from players, coaches, front-office decisions, health and variance. The award acknowledges the manager's stewardship of that collective outcome; it does not establish that any particular tactical decision caused the entire improvement.

The World Series context — and its limits

Milwaukee went on to win the first World Series championship in franchise history, defeating Tampa Bay after an October run that also included victories over San Diego and Los Angeles. That achievement makes the season historically memorable. But because Manager of the Year ballots were cast before the playoffs, using the championship to explain Murphy's vote total would get the chronology wrong.

The proper interpretation is narrower and stronger: voters had already judged Milwaukee's regular season worthy of a historic managerial award. The championship came afterward and added another achievement to the same season.

What comes next for Milwaukee

The immediate question is whether the Brewers can sustain this level of performance in 2027. Winning 103 games is a demanding baseline, and even strong teams typically face changes in roster availability, player performance and divisional competition.

For Murphy, the new benchmark is not simply another award. It is translating the organization's successful processes into another competitive season without assuming that the same win total is automatic. Three consecutive Manager of the Year awards establish a historical first; they do not guarantee a fourth.

Sources and verification

• MLB.com, November 11, 2026: 2026 Manager of the Year Award winners
• Associated Press via ABC News, November 10, 2026: Murphy's third straight award
• CBS Sports, November 10, 2026: 2026 BBWAA awards and voting context

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