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NewsWUSF — Tampa Bay NPR (Local & State)October 29, 2026Hillsborough County

Milwaukee Brewers defeat Tampa Bay Rays to win first World Series championship

Photo: WUSF — Tampa Bay NPR (Local & State)

The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 in Game 5 to win the best-of-seven World Series at Tropicana Field. The victory marks the first championship in the franchise's history.

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Read the full story at WUSF — Tampa Bay NPR (Local & State)

Why It Matters

The outcome concludes the Major League Baseball season, securing Milwaukee's first title and ending the Rays' postseason run.

Key Facts

  • The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 in Game 5 to win the best-of-seven World Series.
  • This championship is the first in the Milwaukee Brewers franchise history.
  • A crowd of 40,489 attended Game 5 at Tropicana Field.
  • William Contreras became the eighth catcher voted World Series MVP, batting .381 and winning 10 of 13 Automated Ball-Strike challenges.
  • Cooper Pratt set a Series rookie record with six straight hits before being retired in the sixth inning.
  • Jackson Chourio set a five-game Series record with 11 hits.
  • The Tampa Bay Rays finished the regular season with the best record in the American League at 98-64 and captured the AL East title.
  • The Rays played their 2025 season at Steinbrenner Field after Tropicana Field was damaged by Hurricane Milton.
  • The Brewers franchise began as the Seattle Pilots in 1969 before moving to Milwaukee the following year.
  • The teams combined to hit just four home runs during the series.

Who's Mentioned

PersonSal Frelick“Brewers player”OrganizationBrooklyn Dodgers“Historical comparison for World Series losses”PersonJackson Chourio“Brewers player”PersonGarrett Mitchell“Brewers player”OrganizationDetroit Tigers“Historical comparison for World Series losses”OrganizationSt. Louis Cardinals“1982 World Series opponent”PersonKevin Kelly“Rays pitcher”locationTropicana Field“Rays' home park where Game 5 was played”otherHurricane Milton“Storm that damaged Tropicana Field”OrganizationMilwaukee Brewers“World Series champion”PersonBen Williamson“Rays player”PersonYandy Diaz“Rays player”PersonCooper Pratt“Brewers player”PersonKevin Cash“Rays manager”OrganizationSeattle Pilots“Former name of the Brewers franchise”PersonJacob Misiorowski“Brewers pitcher”locationSteinbrenner Field“Temporary 2025 home facility for the Rays”OrganizationCleveland Guardians“Championship Series opponent”PersonBrice Turang“Brewers player”OrganizationElias Sports Bureau“Source for baseball statistics and historical records”PersonDrew Rasmussen“Rays pitcher”PersonTrevor Megill“Brewers closer”PersonChandler Simpson“Rays player”PersonRichie Palacios“Rays player”PersonPat Murphy“Brewers manager”PersonJoJo Romero“Brewers pitcher”PersonWilliam Contreras“Brewers catcher and World Series MVP”OrganizationTampa Bay Rays“World Series runner-up”PersonMark Attanasio“Brewers owner”OrganizationNew York Yankees“Divisional Series opponent and spring training facility owner”PersonAbner Uribe“Brewers pitcher”PersonDavid Hamilton“Brewers player”