It really was no true competition for the National League Manager of the Year. On Tuesday night, Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy won the award for the third straight year, which sets a record that will be hard to beat.

Murphy took the Brewers from being swept in the National League Championship Series in 2025 by the World Series-winning Los Angeles Dodgers to returning the favor to Los Angeles. Milwaukee swept the Dodgers, then beat the Tampa Bay Rays to secure the franchise's first World Series championship.

Throughout the season, Murphy kept his players focused on the bigger goal ahead of them all. He provided a steady hand in the dugout, always making sure that everyone was on the same page.

On the outside, it might appear that Murphy is a grumpy sort of manager, dating back to the days of Earl Weaver and Sparky Anderson. Yet Murphy also has a gentler side, too, willing to crack a joke or two with his coaches and players.

But the Brewers produced a 100-plus-win season, headed into the postseason with a lot of momentum, and never let their foot off the gas pedal.

Here's an interesting note about Murphy's tenure in Milwaukee from USA Today baseball insider Bob Nightengale: In Murphy's three seasons since becoming manager of the Brewers, they have put together an MLB-best 293-193 (.603) regular-season record, won three NL Central Division titles, and one World Series championship.

In the voting itself, Murphy received 20 first-place votes, seven second-place votes, and three third-place votes.

He finished up with 124 total points, outpacing Walt Weiss of the Atlanta Braves. Don Mattingly of the Philadelphia Phillies, Craig Stammen of the San Diego Padres, Dave Roberts of the Dodgers, Craig Counsell of the Chicago Cubs, and Don Kelly of the Pittsburgh Pirates also received votes.

Fire-balling right-hander Jacob Misiorowski anchored the Brewers' pitching staff throughout the regular season. There's little doubt that Milwaukee would not have been in the position to push through postseason play without him.

Catcher William Contreras proved to be a star in the World Series, eventually winning the Most Valuable Player honors after beating the Rays.

Of course, going into next season (whenever that starts), the Brewers probably will have a couple of changes to their 40-man roster. That, though, will not change the course that Murphy will take with his ballclub. It would not be surprising one bit to see Murphy capture a fourth NL Manager of the Year award, too.