He was a backup catcher between 1962 and 1967, playing for the Milwaukee Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves before shifting to the broadcast booth and a career in entertainment that included a role on the 1980s sitcom “Mr. Belvedere” and as “Harry Doyle” in the feature film Major League.
Now, baseball fans everywhere are paying tribute to Bob Uecker, who has died at the age of 90.
News of Uecker’s death emerged early Thursday. While nationally famous, he is an icon in Milwaukee, which today is the home of the Brewers. Uecker has been a vital part of the franchise across more than 50 years, serving as the team’s radio play-by-play man across generations.
In a statement shared by WTMJ-AM in Milwaukee, the Good Karma Brands-owned station that serves as the Brewers’ flagship radio station, the Brewers said, “Today, we take on the heaviest of burdens. Today, we say goodbye to our beloved friend, Bob Uecker.”
The team called “Ueck” the light of the Brewers, and the soundtrack of the team’s summers, and “the laughter in our hearts.” Calling his passing a “profound loss,” the Brewers said, “He was the heart and soul of Wisconsin and a dear friend. Bob loved people; his presence warmed every room and he had a way of welcoming all of us into his world as if we were lifelong friends. Saying goodbye to Bob shakes us all. He was so much more than a Milwaukee Brewers icon. He was a national treasure. Bob entertained us with his words and storytelling, so it is no surprise that his passing now leaves us at a loss for our own words. There is no describing the impact Ueck had on so many, and no words for how much he was loved. We are left with a giant void in our hearts, but also remember the laughter and joy he brought to our lives throughout the years.”
Commissioner Emeritus of Major League Baseball and former Brewers owner Allan H. “Bud” Selig also offered comments to WTMJ. “I am heartbroken with the loss of my dear lifelong friend,” he said. “I can’t begin to describe how much he meant to me, let alone what this loss is for Brewers fans, the state of Wisconsin and countless others worldwide. Bob had the easiest way of making others feel at ease, share a laugh and always left people feeling a little better. Nobody was his equal.”
The Brewers will announce details at a later date for a public celebration of Bob Uecker’s life and “unparalleled impact.”
His imprint also extends to Hollywood. He was nicknamed “Mr. Baseball” by Johnny Carson during his tenure as the host of NBC’s “Tonight Show,” and made nearly 100 appearances on late-night television. This helped Uecker develop a comedic and natural on-screen presence, leading Miller Brewing Co. to cast him as the star in several Miller Lite advertising campaigns. He’s also hosted Saturday Night Live for NBC and, interestingly, a WrestleMania event.
Uecker’s second career started in 1971, when the player with a .200 career average joined the Brewers radio broadcast team right after the Major League Baseball team moved from Seattle, where it had a disastrous run as the Pilots. He sat alongside Merle Harmon and Tom Collins.
In 2003, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, a tribute to his accomplishments that involved some on-the-field play, and years of in-the-booth action that won the hearts of millions.
Read more on Bob Uecker from Major League Baseball club reporter Adam McCalvy by clicking here.
Check out the Benztown Audio Tribute to Uecker here:
https://soundcloud.com/benztow
To listen to some of Bob Uecker’s most memorable calls, please click here: https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2025/01/16/the-great-brewers-radio-calls-with-bob-uecker-on-the-microphone/75572662007/?tbref=hp
