THE APEX TIMES
“Last Man Standing”: Pat Murphy answers FaceTime and gets a call from Bruce Springsteen
The Brewers manager says he took a FaceTime call from an unexpected 732 area code and ended up talking with his lifelong idol, Bruce Springsteen, who was watching Milwaukee’s postseason run.
Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy got an unexpected FaceTime call from a number with a 732 area code, and when he answered, he found Bruce Springsteen on the screen.
Murphy said he has been a Springsteen fan for years, with that devotion showing up in his life off the field, including a Springsteen lyric tattooed on his arm. He also has carried Springsteen themes into Brewers seasons, naming his teams after songs, including “Thunder Road,” “Prove It All Night,” and this year’s “Last Man Standing.”
After the Brewers advanced in the postseason, Murphy tied his team’s focus to Springsteen’s “Last Man Standing” during a clubhouse moment, saying Milwaukee needed to be the last team still standing.
In the days after that theme took hold, Springsteen reportedly asked his assistant to locate Murphy, according to Murphy. The call arrived Wednesday morning, and Murphy described it as an easy, real conversation rather than a forced meet-and-greet.
Murphy said Springsteen, a Yankees fan, did not quiz him about baseball. Instead, Murphy told him he believed the Brewers had one last chance to make everything come together.
As Milwaukee’s fall run continued, Murphy framed the moment as proof that he did not have to wait for the kind of opportunity Springsteen sings about, turning a long-held fandom into a direct conversation.
Why It Matters
- It underscores how deeply the Brewers clubhouse culture has leaned into a clear postseason theme, “Last Man Standing,” as Milwaukee fought to keep its season alive.
- The moment adds a high-profile, cross-sports spotlight to the Brewers’ playoff narrative, even though it was not about baseball strategy.
- For Murphy personally, it was a rare, direct interaction with an idol, reflecting how mentorship and motivation can arrive from unexpected places.
Key Facts
- Pat Murphy received a FaceTime call from a 732 area code and it was Bruce Springsteen.
- Murphy has long been a Springsteen fan, including a tattoo tied to a Springsteen song.
- Murphy linked his team’s posture to “Last Man Standing” after Milwaukee’s postseason breakthrough, saying the Brewers had to be the last man standing.
- Murphy said Springsteen asked his assistant to find him, and the call came Wednesday morning.
- Murphy said Springsteen did not ask baseball questions and is a Yankees fan.
- Murphy’s team theme for the season was “Last Man Standing,” continuing his practice of naming squads after Springsteen songs.