“Howdy, boys. Never a doubt you would get this invitation,” – that was what Pat Murphy began the letter with, claiming it was from Bob Uecker, when the Brewers qualified for the playoffs in a walk-off win. When the Brewers shared the video of the manager reading the complete letter, it made every Brew Crew fan emotional. However, now those same fans are unhappy with what Murphy has done. Reason? The truth behind the letter “by Bob Uecker” was pretty unsettling.

Bob Uecker, who passed away on January 16, 2025, due to small-cell lung cancer, was the voice of the Brewers baseball team. The Hall of Fame broadcaster, known as “Mr. Baseball,” has been calling Brewers games since 1971. His humor and warmth have entertained generations. So when comments reportedly came from the beloved broadcaster at such a crucial time, they carried the weight. But the recent news shows that such words didn’t belong to him at all.

The truth behind that letter was disclosed by Brewers writer Adam McCalvy, who posted on X. He wrote, “The Brewers sent along clarification today that no, Bob Uecker did not leave behind a letter in the event the team made it back to the postseason. It was written by Pat Murphy in Uecker’s style, meant to honor the man who loved these celebrations so much.” The objective may have been to pay tribute, but for many, the whole thing was awkward, and Pat Murphy was thrown under the bus.

The message that Murphy read was:

“Howdy boys, never a doubt you would get this invitation. You did it by believing. Really miss you guys and I wish I was there. Things are good. The God Almighty picked me to be on this team up here, albeit [as] the third catcher. It’s a great league, no day games after night games. No shadows, but you got all the sticky you need to have up here. Told the big guy about you guys. Play hard every night. Not afraid to play for each other. He’s obviously very interested with the group with this uncommon goodness. I know you guys don’t really need me, but I’ll tell you guys … I’ll be on the headset every night watching. And don’t forget to take it all in, enjoy, and keep it light, believe in each other.”

In the discussion with CBS 58, Pat Murphy shared his thoughts on the idea. He said, “I mean it’s just a way to honor the man, you know? And kinda put together some words that the players could resonate with and, you know, things that he was about because he’s a big part of this thing and I thought it would be a nice gesture to keep him involved. We brought the picture of him celebrating with us and, you know, it was really about honoring him and nobody believed in their right mind that he could produce a letter like that at this time and his spirit is with us.”

Even though there was an explanation, the decision caused a storm. What was supposed to be an homage to Uecker morphed into a discussion on honesty, openness, and how far a tribute should go. Fans reacted strongly on social media!

Pat Murphy’s gesture meets a polarized response

The most scathing opponents didn’t hold back, saying that Murphy’s acts were a betrayal of trust. One very harsh remark showed how angry many people were: “Weirdest, dumbest, c——-, grossest, strangest, stu——, most insane thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life. Murphy should be fired for this!” Many people thought that using Uecker’s name and persona during such a big event crossed the line. Especially since the broadcaster passed in January and fans are still not over it.

The frustration was echoed all over the comment section. “This is really weird. Just awkward all around.” When the Brewers shared the message, it made many emotional because Uecker is no longer with them, plus the team also achieved a great milestone. Suddenly, they discovered it was fake, which became strange.

But not everyone was frustrated; they just let it go. “I give him a pass. We enjoyed it and knew it wasn’t really from Bob. It’s just that we all wanted to believe it too much. Let’s just go win tomorrow night.” Fans are aware of how Uecker used to speak as he broadcast for 54 seasons. Milwaukee will always remember his unique vocal patterns, his self-deprecating wit, and the way he tells stories. All they want from the Brew Crew is some great moments like the one they had in the 10th inning walk-off rally against the Cardinals, as they face LA Angeles next.

Meanwhile, this fan thought there was no need to disclose it. As one observer noted, “I think it should’ve stayed in house and not on the Brewers social media.” It doesn’t take much time for moments to go viral, and when that speech went viral, it captured a number of views. But posting things that aren’t true raises a question like, why post it online when it’s not even authentic?

The next comment asks the very same question. “No idea why anyone thought this was a good idea.” It was Pat Murphy who made the decision, which was based on “a nice gesture to keep him involved.” It may be a good idea for bonding within the clubhouse. However, for the public, definitely not.

As the Brewers sail towards October glory, they will not only have to deal with opposition pitching but also the complicated feelings of fans who have just questioned their intentions.