The Brewers announced Uecker’s death Thursday morning, calling it “one of the toughest days in Milwaukee Brewers history.” In a statement released by the club, Uker’s family said he had been battling non-small cell lung cancer since early 2023.
“Even in the face of this challenge, her zest for life was always there, never letting her spirit weaken,” the family said.
Uecker was best known as a colorful comedian and broadcaster who earned his nickname during one of his many appearances on Johnny Carson’s late-night show.
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Born and raised in Milwaukee, Uecker signed his first professional contract with the Milwaukee Braves in 1956 and reached the majors in 1962. He finished six seasons in the big leagues as a backup catcher with a .200 average and 14 homers.
He won a World Series ring with St. Louis in 1964 and also played for Atlanta and Philadelphia.
“Career highlights? I had two,” he often joked. “I got an intentional walk from Sandy Koufax and I got out of the rundown against the Mets.”
Uecker also befriended former Brewers owner and MLB commissioner. Bud Seligwho initially hired him as a scout. Selig liked to joke about how Uker’s initial scouting report was stained with mashed potatoes and gravy.
Selig eventually brought Uker to the broadcast booth. Uker became the voice of the Brewers in 1971, the second year after the team moved from Seattle.
Uker has remained with the club ever since and has become one of the Brewers’ most indelible figures. Brewers manager Craig Counsell grew up in the Milwaukee area and remembers throwing a baseball against the roof on summer days and catching it while listening to Uker broadcasts.
“There is no single person in the history of this franchise that has been as iconic and important as Bob Uecker,” said Jeff Levering, a member of the Brewers’ broadcast team since 2015.
Even as his celebrity status grew nationwide, Uker seized the opportunity to continue calling games for fans in his hometown.
“To be able to do a game every day in the summer and talk to people at 6:30 every day for a night game, you become part of people’s families,” Uker once said. “I know that because I get mail from people telling me that. That’s part of the reward of being here, just to be recognized for the way you talk, the way you play a game. describe, no matter what.”
Uecker was honored by the Hall of Fame with the Ford C. Frick Award in 2003 and had the crowd of about 18,000 in Cooperstown, New York, in stitches for about 20 minutes.
“I still – and this is by no means sour grapes – still think I should have gone as a player,” he quipped.
“Yuck” got his big break off the field in 1969 when he opened for Don Rickles at Al Hurt’s nightclub in Atlanta. The performance caught Hurt’s attention, and the musician arranged for her to appear on “The Tonight Show.” Johnny Carson. He became one of Carson’s favorite guests, making over 100 appearances.
Carson was the one who called Uecker “Mr. Baseball.” And the name stuck.
But Uker’s comedy was just one part of his talent. His poignant storytelling and delivery made Uecker a natural to become one of the first color commentators on network TV broadcasts in the 1970s with ABC. In the 90s, he teamed with Bob Costas and Joe Morgan for the World Series.
From there, Uecker became a household name as one of the Miller Lite All-Stars in the beer brand’s famous commercials out of Milwaukee, and Uecker later made his TV appearance on the ABC sitcom “Mr. Belvedere” in 1985. Started
Uecker played George Owens, the head of a family and a sportswriter in a house who brings in a butler who adapts to an American family during the successful 122-episode run of the series that ran for six years. Struggles.
In some casting that kept things close to home, Uker starred in the films Major League (1989) and Major League II (1994) for the Cleveland Indians franchise. Featured as cross-announcer Harry Doyle for Finds a way to become a playoff contender.
“I’m part of American folklore, I guess,” Uker told The Associated Press in 2003. “But I’m not a Hollywood guy. Baseball and broadcasting are in my blood.”
His description of a badly run pitch – “Go out a little!” – on film is still often repeated by announcers and fans in ballparks.
Uecker’s acting led some to believe he was more about being funny than a serious baseball announcer, but his tenure with the Brewers and his observations were remarkable, especially when the games were tight. . Just as enjoyable were the games that weren’t, as Uker told stories about other major leaguers, his career and his hobbies as an avid fisherman and golfer.
“I don’t think anybody wants to hear somebody screw up when you’re having a good game,” Uecker said. “I think people watch ‘Major League’ and they think Harry Doll and figure that’s what Bob Uker does. I do that sometimes, I do. But when we have a good game, I Don’t mess around.”
In his later years, he took a serious approach to his health, swimming daily until undergoing heart surgery in April 2010. Shortly after the procedure, doctors said Uker walked several miles back and is on the mend.
Uker pushed to return to the booth and began calling games again in July, saying he bribed the doctors by allowing them to throw out the first pitch.
“You talk about all the things that Bob has done, he never wanted to leave Milwaukee,” Selig said. “Above all, he made himself a great play-by-play announcer. That’s what he did. He’s everything to this franchise and loves every minute of it.”
Uker’s own career provided him with much of his material. His former teammates said Uker would do impressions of other broadcasters on the bus, but Uker turned the spotlight on himself after his playing career ended.
“I signed with the Milwaukee Braves for $3,000. It upset my dad at the time because he didn’t have that kind of dough.” He said. “But eventually he got over it.”
Another classic: “When I came to bat in the ninth with three men on and two outs, I looked into the other team’s dugout and they were already in street clothes.”
Uker also presided over the stirring ceremony that closed Milwaukee County Stadium in 2000. When the Brewers’ new stadium opened as Miller Park in 2001, the team began selling high “Uker Seats” in the upper deck and a $1 barrier.
The stadium, now called American Family Field, has two statues in Uker’s honor. There is a statue outside the stadium and another behind Section 422, a nod to the Miller Lite commercial in which he famously said “I should be in the front row!” While being taken to one of the worst seats in the ballpark.