Baseball fans, we have a new champion! The 2026 World Series is officially in the books, and Milwaukee Brewers fans finally have something they’ve been waiting generations to celebrate.
The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays four games to one, capturing the first World Series championship in franchise history. After years of trying to get over the hump, Milwaukee has finally reached the top of baseball’s mountain.
And while the Brewers made it look relatively comfortable by the end, this series had plenty of drama, big performances, and memorable moments along the way.
Here’s a look back at the 2026 Fall Classic for fans who want to catch up on all the action.
How the 2026 World Series played out
The matchup featured two teams with very different histories but the same goal: bringing home a championship.
- Milwaukee Brewers (National League): Milwaukee entered the series after an outstanding regular season, finishing with an MLB-best 103 wins.
- Tampa Bay Rays (American League): Tampa Bay fought its way through the American League playoffs and earned its place in the Fall Classic.
The Brewers came into the series with home-field advantage and wasted little time putting pressure on Tampa Bay.
World Series results: Game by game
| Game | Date | Final score |
|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Oct. 23 | Brewers 3, Rays 2 |
| Game 2 | Oct. 24 | Brewers 5, Rays 4 |
| Game 3 | Oct. 26 | Brewers 10, Rays 1 |
| Game 4 | Oct. 27 | Rays 4, Brewers 3 (12 innings) |
| Game 5 | Oct. 28 | Brewers 4, Rays 1 |
Final: Brewers win 4–1
Milwaukee jumped out to a commanding 3-0 series lead before Tampa Bay finally broke through in Game 4. The Rays won a dramatic 12-inning game, avoiding a sweep and giving their fans a little more hope.
But Milwaukee wasn’t about to let the championship slip away.
The Brewers responded in Game 5 with a 4-1 victory, officially ending the series on October 28. MLB.com+1
The Brewers’ biggest stars: Who made the difference?
World Series: Milwaukee Brewers v Tampa Bay Rays – Game Five
1. William Contreras – World Series MVP
Contreras delivered when it mattered most. He hit .381 in the series, collected eight hits in 21 at-bats and drove in four runs. His leadership behind the plate was another important part of Milwaukee’s success.
Chicago White Sox v Milwaukee Brewers
2. Jacob Misiorowski – The pitching powerhouse
Misiorowski was outstanding in the championship series. He went 2-0 with a 0.84 ERA and threw 5⅔ scoreless innings in the title-clinching game. His fastball even reached 103.5 mph during the series!
World Series: Milwaukee Brewers v Tampa Bay Rays – Game Five
3. Cooper Pratt – The rookie sensation
Pratt gave Milwaukee a huge boost. The young infielder delivered two RBIs in Game 5 and set a World Series rookie record with six consecutive hits.
World Series: Milwaukee Brewers v Tampa Bay Rays – Game Five
4. Jackson Chourio – A hitting machine
Chourio collected 11 hits in the five-game series, setting a record for the most hits in a five-game World Series.AP News+2
A historic moment for Milwaukee
World Series: Milwaukee Brewers v Tampa Bay Rays – Game Five
World Series: Milwaukee Brewers v Tampa Bay Rays – Game Five
World Series: Milwaukee Brewers v Tampa Bay Rays – Game Five
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This championship means a whole lot more than another trophy for Milwaukee.
The franchise previously appeared in the World Series in 1982, when the Brewers lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. That heartbreaking finish left Milwaukee fans waiting 44 years for another opportunity.
Now the wait is over.
The 2026 championship is the first World Series title in Brewers franchise history. It also marks a tremendous accomplishment for manager Pat Murphy and a team that proved baseball is about more than having the biggest payroll or the most famous superstars.
Milwaukee finished the regular season with 103 victories and went 11-2 in the postseason. That’s a pretty impressive way to finish a baseball season! AP News+1
What about the Tampa Bay Rays?
World Series: Milwaukee Brewers v Tampa Bay Rays – Game Four
Give Tampa Bay some credit. Getting to the World Series is no small accomplishment, and the Rays battled through a tough postseason to earn their shot.
Unfortunately, the championship dream came up short once again.
The Rays have now appeared in three World Series (2008, 2020 and 2026), but they still haven’t captured their first championship.
Game 4 showed that Tampa Bay wasn’t going to simply roll over. Its 12-inning victory gave the team one memorable moment in an otherwise difficult series.
For Rays fans, the challenge now is figuring out how to turn another postseason appearance into that elusive championship. AP News+1
The bottom line: Baseball had a new champion in 2026!
If you didn’t have time to follow every pitch this October, here’s what you need to remember:
- Milwaukee won the World Series for the first time in franchise history.
- Tampa Bay made its third World Series appearance but remains without a title.
- William Contreras took home World Series MVP honors.
- Jacob Misiorowski delivered some of the series’ best pitching.
- Rookie Cooper Pratt and young star Jackson Chourio helped make this a championship team.
The biggest takeaway? You don’t always need a roster full of household names to win it all. Sometimes teamwork, pitching, timely hitting and a little postseason magic are enough.
Congratulations to the Milwaukee Brewers and their fans. Enjoy that championship parade!
And baseball fans, we’ll see you next season!
