Robin Yount and others from Milwaukee's 1982 World Series team hope the Brewers finally win it all

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Hall of Fame shortstop Robin Yount says he feels a different level of anxiety watching the Milwaukee Brewers now than when he was playing for them during their only other World Series run.

“It’s almost like watching your kids play,” said Yount, who was the American League Most Valuable Player when the Brewers reached the 1982 Fall Classic. “You’re a lot more nervous watching your own kids play than when you played yourself. And I kind of feel that way now.”

Yount and the rest of the 1982 Brewers are hoping this year’s Milwaukee team can settle some unfinished business by winning the franchise’s first World Series title.

The 1982 Brewers won the AL pennant and led 3-1 in the sixth inning of Game 7 of the World Series that year before falling 6-3 to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Brewers are finally back on this stage 44 years later.

The Brewers swept the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Championship Series to earn this matchup with the AL champion Tampa Bay Rays. Game 1 is Friday night in Milwaukee.

“In my 80 years on this planet, I have never been more impressed with a team — the way they played against the Dodgers — in my entire life,” said Larry Hisle, who played nine games for the Brewers in 1982 before undergoing shoulder surgery that essentially ended his 14-year major league career.

On the surface, this year’s Brewers don’t have much in common with the 1982 squad.

The 1982 team was known as Harvey’s Wallbangers, a nod to Milwaukee’s drinking culture, Brewers manager Harvey Kuenn and the fact that the Brewers hit an MLB-leading 216 homers that year. This year’s Brewers hit just 154 homers to match the second-lowest total in the majors.

But the two teams do share some traits.

Jerry Augustine, a pitcher on the 1982 team, said that squad “had respect for each other about going out and playing the game the way it’s supposed to be played.”

“This team is exactly the same,” Augustine said. “They respect each other. They go out and play hard. They don’t give up. When you play this team, you’d better be ready to play 27 outs.”

Cecil Cooper, a first baseman on the 1982 team, said he’s appreciated the Brewers’ approach at the plate during this playoff run.

“You watch every at-bat, these guys are grinding,” Cooper said. “They’re not out there just wailing away at the first pitch. They’re grinding at-bat after at-bat. That’s what you do. That’s what winners do.”

That 1982 team’s star-studded roster featured five Hall of Famers in Yount, third baseman Paul Molitor, catcher Ted Simmons and pitchers Rollie Fingers and Don Sutton.

The list of familiar names on that team isn’t limited to the players. Florida Panthers general manager and hockey operations president Bill Zito was a Brewers bat boy and clubhouse attendant that year. He did laundry, rubbed mud on baseballs for better gripping and played catch in right field with outfielders between innings.

Zito brought the Stanley Cup into the Brewers’ clubhouse during the summer of 2024, after the Panthers won their first of two straight NHL championships.

Would his name be on the Stanley Cup twice if he hadn’t been a Brewers bat boy? Zito doesn’t think so.

“I’m guessing maybe some of the guys working there now realize what an unbelievable opportunity it is, to learn and to be around professional sports,” Zito said. “The lessons that you take away, maybe I didn’t understand them at the time. … But now, reflecting back, they were all so important.”

The 1982 squad remains beloved in Milwaukee and was a subject of a documentary, “Just a Bit Outside,” that came out in 2024.

Milwaukee started slowly that year until Kuenn took over and provided a spark after Buck Rodgers was fired in June. The Brewers clinched the AL East title by winning a winner-take-all game at Baltimore on the final day of the regular season. They rallied from two games down to beat the California Angels in the best-of-five ALCS.

Longtime fans still vow Milwaukee would have won the World Series if Fingers hadn’t injured his forearm that September, preventing him from pitching in the postseason.

“We got a parade when we lost the World Series,” Yount said. “How often does that happen?”

Yount, generally regarded as the greatest player in Brewers history, has called that 1982 postseason the greatest time of his career but also the worst because of the way it ended. The pain of losing Game 7 sticks with him.

“Yeah, it stings,” the 71-year-old Yount said. “It hurts. I’m not going to lie, I’ll never get over it until the Brewers win one. So I’m hoping. I hope this happens more often than every 44 years, but I’m pretty excited this year. If it takes another 44, I’m not sure I’m going to be here for that one.”

AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds contributed to this report.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

FILE - Former Milwaukee Brewers Robin Yount throws the ceremonial first pitch before Game 3 of a National League wild card baseball game against the New York Mets on Oct. 3, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)

FILE - Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Robin Yount celebrates winning the American League Championship against the Baltimore Orioles in Baltimore, Oct. 3, 1982. (AP Photo/Ray Stubblebine, File)

FILE - Milwaukee Brewers batter Robin Yount runs for first base as he watches his single drop in the seventh inning of Game 4 of the World Series in Milwaukee, Oct. 16, 1982. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Robin Yount, left, waves to the crowd as they celebrate near the dugout in County Stadium, Milwaukee after Game 5 of the World Series, Oct. 17, 1982. (AP Photo, File)

Kenneth Walker III is going back to Seattle with the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs to face the team he helped lead to the Super Bowl last season.

Walker, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs visit the Seahawks (3-3) on Sunday night.

Walker leads the NFL in rushing with 665 yards despite already taking a bye week while the Seattle has missed the Super Bowl MVP. The Seahawks are 18th in rushing and have averaged 3.9 yards per attempt.

Sam Darnold has seven interceptions in slightly more than four games and the Seahawks haven’t made up for Walker’s absence. But they have Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who leads the NFL with 717 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

Walker has provided the Chiefs a balanced attack. They haven’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since Mahomes became the starter in 2018. Walker is on pace for 2,261 yards, which would set a single-season record.

Despite their struggles, the Seahawks are 2 ½-point favorites. Pro Picks likes the home team.

SEAHAWKS: 23-20

Line: Bears minus 3

Drake Maye has led the banged-up Patriots to three straight wins. A.J. Brown returned last week but dropped three passes. Caleb Williams was nearly flawless in his first game back, leading the Bears to 31 points. Chicago plays consecutive primetime games against last season's Super Bowl opponents, starting with the Thursday night matchup.

BEARS: 24-20

Line: Steelers minus 3

Aaron Rodgers led the Steelers back from a 13-point deficit in Tampa Bay, relying on DK Metcalf and rookie Germie Bernard. The Saints got their run game going in a win over the Giants. Both teams are spending the week in Paris before playing the NFL’s first regular-season game there. The Steelers have covered the spread four of the past five games.

STEELERS: 23-18

Line: Ravens minus 2 ½

Joe Burrow and the Bengals are coming off a bye. Their defense had a great start but has struggled against the run in the past three games. The Ravens still might not have Lamar Jackson so Tyler Huntley would start his third straight game. Baltimore is eighth in rushing and relying on Derrick Henry is a smart move if Jackson is out.

BENGALS: 22-17

Line: Browns minus 1 ½

Deshaun Watson led another fourth-quarter game-winning drive for the Browns, but the offense has struggled despite the team’s winning record. Tennessee’s offense is last in the NFL. The Titans beat the Colts for their first win, but Cam Ward had another rough outing.

UPSET SPECIAL: TITANS: 20-17

Line: Vikings minus 6 1/2

The Colts’ struggles cost general manager Chris Ballard his job. Coach Shane Steichen is clearly on the hottest of seats and the team has to find ways to win. The undefeated Vikings are coming off a bye. They’ve been winning on defense and special teams and need Kyler Murray to get the offense going.

VIKINGS: 23-18

Line: Jets minus 4 ½

The Jets haven’t won an AFC East game under coach Aaron Glenn, going 0-7. They have their best chance this week vs. Miami. The winless Dolphins are coming off a bye. QB Malik Willis has the worst passer rating (68.4) among starters.

JETS: 20-17

Line: Texans minus 10 ½

J.J. McCarthy is replacing Jameis Winston, who had a winning record after taking over for Jaxson Dart. McCarthy will face an underachieving defense stacked with talent. C.J. Stroud is playing great football for the Texans, who’ve won two in a row.

TEXANS: 26-17

Line: 49ers minus 3 ½

Christian McCaffrey vs. Bijan Robinson in a matchup of All-Pro backs who are close friends and train together. The undefeated 49ers keep winning despite losing key players because they have Brock Purdy. The Falcons lost two games to start the season, won two in a row and have now lost two straight. Atlanta is 3-2 ATS in past five games against San Francisco.

49ERS: 22-20

Line: Panthers minus 3 ½

Baker Mayfield is aiming to return for the Buccaneers, who have lost 12 of their past 15 games. The Bucs have played tough defense but their offense is among the bottom third. Bryce Young is playing his best football for the Panthers. He has 11 TDs and only two picks.

PANTHERS: 23-20

Line: Broncos minus 4 ½

Bo Nix is taking plenty of heat despite Denver’s winning record. Nix and the offense have to get on track. The Broncos have faced a tough schedule that doesn’t get easier after Arizona. The Cardinals beat the Rams on the road last week and have to carry that momentum into a difficult matchup.

BRONCOS: 24-16

Line: Lions minus 3

The Packers have won three in a row, the defense has been stout and Josh Jacobs is coming back to boost the offense with Micah Parsons working toward his return. The Lions have the league’s worst defense that’s sometimes offset by a prolific offense. This one should be a shootout.

LIONS: 30-26

Line: Rams minus 4 ½

The Rams haven’t played close to Super Bowl favorites. And, injuries are piling up with Davante Adams now going down for several weeks. But they still have Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua and Aaron Donald. The Raiders have lost three in a row but Kirk Cousins is playing well so hold off on Fernando Mendoza. A defense that’s allowed 30-plus points three straight games has been the problem.

BEST BET: RAMS: 31-20

Line: Cowboys minus 4 ½

The Cowboys have an opportunity in a wide-open NFC East, but have had issues on defense and now a dynamic offense has sputtered. The Eagles are reeling and won’t have Jalen Hurts likely for the rest of the season. Tanner McKee makes his second straight start for Philadelphia.

COWBOYS: 24-23

Last week: Straight up: 8-6. Against spread: 7-7.

Overall: Straight up: 55-37-1. Against spread: 45-45-2.

Best Bet: Straight up: 3-3. Against spread: 2-4.

Upset Special: Straight up: 2-4. Against spread: 2-4.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold throws against the Denver Broncos during overtime in an NFL football game in Denver, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) and Kenneth Walker III (9) celebrate a touchdown scored on a rushing play by Walker III during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)