Hall of Famer drops blunt take on Brewers after historic title run

Hall of Famer Johnny Bench has delivered a blunt verdict on the Milwaukee Brewers after the franchise captured its first World Series championship in 2026.

Bench, a Hall of Fame catcher who won back-to-back titles with the Cincinnati Reds in 1975 and 1976 as part of the Big Red Machine, made the statement on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM.

“Who was the best team in baseball? There's not a question, Milwaukee had it,” Bench said.

The remark came just days after the Brewers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays four games to one in the Fall Classic.

Milwaukee posted a 103-59 record during the regular season, winning the NL Central crown.

The Brewers then eliminated the San Diego Padres in four games during the National League Division Series.

They followed that by sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.

The Dodgers entered that series as the two-time defending World Series champions, carrying MLB's highest payroll and a roster filled with star power.

Milwaukee took the first three games of the World Series against Tampa Bay.

After dropping Game 4, the Brewers closed out the championship in Game 5.

Bench earned his place in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989 after a decorated 17-year career with the Reds.

He is widely regarded as one of the finest catchers of his generation.

Bench also became a familiar face to younger fans as the host of the children's program "The Baseball Bunch."

His endorsement of the Brewers carries weight because he played on teams widely considered among the greatest in baseball history.

The 1975 and 1976 Reds teams won 108 and 102 games respectively, and both won the World Series.

Bench's comment reflects the dominance Milwaukee displayed from April through October.

The Brewers' 103 regular-season wins tied for the best record in the National League.

Their pitching staff posted a 3.41 ERA during the regular season, second-best in the NL.

In the postseason, Milwaukee's staff held opponents to a .218 batting average.

The Brewers outscored their playoff opponents 42-19 across 13 games.

Manager Pat Murphy, in his second season at the helm, guided the team through a postseason that included sweeps of two of the league's most expensive rosters.

The Padres and Dodgers both ranked among the top five in payroll in 2026.

Milwaukee's payroll ranked 18th in MLB, according to data from Spotrac.

The Brewers became the first team since the 2002 Anaheim Angels to win the World Series with a payroll outside the top 15.

Bench's statement also underscores the rarity of a small-market team dominating in the modern era.

Since the start of the wild-card era in 1995, only 12 teams with a payroll outside the top 10 have won the World Series.

Milwaukee's championship run ended a 56-year franchise drought dating back to the team's founding as the Seattle Pilots in 1969.

The franchise moved to Milwaukee in 1970.

Their only previous World Series appearance came in 1982, when they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games.

That 1982 team featured Hall of Famers Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, and Rollie Fingers.

Bench's comment also carries a historical echo: the Big Red Machine was known for its ruthless efficiency and complete dominance.

For a player from that era to say Milwaukee was unquestionably the best team in baseball is a significant validation.

The Brewers' front office, led by President of Baseball Operations Matt Arnold, has already begun facing the consequences of success.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Athletics are hiring Cam Castro, Milwaukee's Senior Vice President of Player Development and Performance, as their new general manager.