By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-01-16 16:22:15 | Updated at 2025-01-16 18:47:47
2 hours ago
Bob Uecker, the voice of his hometown Milwaukee Brewers who after a short playing career earned the moniker 'Mr. Baseball' and honors from the Hall of Fame, has died at the age of 90.
The team announced Uecker died on Thursday morning, calling it 'one of the most difficult days in Milwaukee Brewers history.' In a statement released by the club, Uecker´s family said he had battled small cell lung cancer since early 2023.
'Even in the face of this challenge, his enthusiasm for life was always present, never allowing his spirit to falter,' the family said.
Uecker was best known as a colorful comedian and broadcaster who earned his nickname during one of his numerous appearances on Johnny Carson´s late night show.
Born and raised in Milwaukee, Uecker signed his first professional contract with the Milwaukee Braves in 1956 and reached the majors in 1962. He'd last six seasons in the big leagues as a backup catcher, finishing 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.
Milwaukee Brewers icon and baseball hall of famer Bob Uecker has died at the age of 90
He won a World Series ring with St. Louis in 1964 and also played for Atlanta and Philadelphia
Uecker also befriended former Brewers owner and MLB commissioner Bud Selig, who initially hired him as a scout.
Selig eventually brought Uecker to the broadcast booth. Uecker became the voice of the Brewers in 1971, in the second year after the team moved from Seattle.
Uecker remained with the club from that point on and became one of the Brewers' most indelible figures.
'There´s no single person in this franchise´s history who has been as iconic and as important as Bob Uecker,' said Jeff Levering, a member of the Brewers´ broadcast team since 2015.
Uecker was honored by the Hall of Fame with the Ford C. Frick award in 2003 and spent nearly 20 minutes keeping the Cooperstown, New York, crowd of about 18,000 in stitches.
'Ueck' got his big break off the field after opening for Don Rickles at Al Hirt´s nightclub in Atlanta in 1969. That performance caught Hirt´s attention, and the musician set him up to appear on 'The Tonight Show' with Johnny Carson. He became one of Carson´s favorite guests, making more than 100 appearances.
Uecker became voice of the Brewers in 1971, the second year after the team departed Seattle
Carson was the one who dubbed Uecker 'Mr. Baseball.' And the name stuck.
Uecker´s warm 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 up with Bob Costas and Joe Morgan for the World Series.
From there, Uecker reached most households as one of the Miller Lite All-Stars in popular commercials for the beer brand based out of Milwaukee and Uecker later launched his TV acting career in 1985 on the ABC sitcom, 'Mr. Belvedere.'
Uecker played George Owens during the successful 122-episode run of the series that lasted six years, as the head of the family and sports writer in a home that brings in a butler who struggles to adapt to an American household.
In a bit of casting that kept things pretty close to home, Uecker also played a prominent role in the movies Major League (1989) and Major League II (1994) as crass announcer Harry Doyle for a down-and-out Cleveland Indians franchise that finds a way to become playoff contenders.
Uecker became one of Johnny Carson's favorite guests, making more than 100 appearances
Uecker later launched his TV acting career in 1985 on the ABC sitcom, 'Mr. Belvedere'
In his later years, he took a serious approach to his health, swimming daily leading up to heart surgery in April 2010. Very soon after the procedures, doctors said Uecker returned to walking several miles and was ahead in recovery.
Uecker 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.
Uecker 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 'Uecker Seats' high in the upper deck and obstructed for a $1.
The stadium, now known as American Family Field, has two statues in Uecker´s honor. There´s a statue outside the stadium and another one in the back of Section 422, a nod to the Miller Lite commercial in which he famously said 'I must be in the front row!' while getting taken to one of the worst seats in the ballpark.
