The Loss of Bob Uecker is a Loss to All Baseball Fans

[Michael Trzinski]

Did you ever take someone for granted? Maybe not at first, but as time went along? I’m sure many Milwaukee fans have taken Bob Uecker for granted. Uecker is a legend, not only in the eyes of Brewers fans but also in the eyes of this nation. Uecker passed away today at the age of 90, and now we all must deal with the loss of a person who was a part of our lives in many ways.

Image courtesy of © Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Bob Uecker was born in Milwaukee on January 26, 1934. Uecker served in the Army for two years, and upon his return home in 1956, he signed a contract with the Milwaukee Braves for $3,000. He spent six years in the Braves minor league chain, and despite his claim that he was a terrible player, he had years where he batted .310, .312, and .332. Uecker made his major league debut in 1962, and although he spent the whole season with the Braves, he only played 33 games and had a batting line of .250/.324/.328 across 71 at-bats. Uecker hit his first big league homer in the last game of the season.

In 1963, Uecker played mostly at Triple-A Denver but also had two stints in Milwaukee, where he played in just 13 games. During spring training before the 1964 season, the Braves had four catchers in camp. Uecker told Braves management that he would quit baseball if sent down to the minors, where he had spent seven of the previous eight years. The Braves traded Uecker to the St. Louis Cardinals for outfielder Gary Kolb and catcher Jimmie Coker.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Uecker became the backup to starting catcher Tim McCarver. “Ueck” played in only 40 games and slashed .198/.315/.236 across 106 at-bats. His busiest month was September, when he played in 13 games, starting 11 times to spell McCarver, who played in 143 games that season. Uecker had a pair of two-hit games in the month as the Cardinals came from 7.5 games behind first-place Philadelphia to win the National League pennant on the campaign's final day. Years later, McCarver said he thought that the Cardinals might not have won the pennant without the comedic Uecker to keep the clubhouse loose.

The Cardinals beat the New York Yankees in the World Series in seven games, and although Uecker was on the roster, he did not see any playing time during the Fall Classic. A hilarious Uecker moment was when he found a marching band member’s tuba in the outfield prior to Game 1 and shagged fly balls with the instrument during batting practice.

Uecker spent the 1965 season in St. Louis and then bounced around the next two seasons in Philadelphia and Atlanta. During spring training in 1968, Uecker and two Atlanta teammates were involved in a fight at a nightclub in West Palm Beach, Florida. Uecker was struck by a beer bottle and required 48 stitches to close the wound. After re-aggravating an injury on the field that he had suffered in a motorcycle accident, the Braves released Uecker on April 2.

In 1969, Uecker worked with Ernie Johnson and Milo Hamilton on WSB-TV, doing television work for the Braves. Uecker did an opening act for comedian Don Rickles, appeared nearly 100 times with Johnny Carson, and worked as a scout for the Brewers in the early 70s.

In September 1971, the Brewers announced that Uecker would broadcast games on TV and WTMJ radio and began his long-standing career on the airwaves in Milwaukee and beyond. Uecker also worked on ABC Monday Night Baseball from 1976-1982. During that time, Uecker worked All-Star, League Championship, and World Series games.

We also knew him as the 'Voice of the Brewers,' a man who spent more than five decades painting the pictures of thousands of ballgames on the airwaves from County Stadium, Miller Park, Am Fam Field, and dozens of ballparks across this great country.

Bob Uecker has been a member of our ‘family’ for over 50 years. Everyone has a Uecker story and can recite lines from his movies and commercials. Even though most of us didn’t know him and had never met him, we all ‘knew’ Bob Uecker. He made every Brewers broadcast personal, with him speaking to every one of us. The players on the team loved him, especially his long-time friend Robin Yount. Who can ever forget the scene in the Milwaukee locker room last year after the loss in the NLWC series? Hugs and tears were abundant, with players like Christian Yelich in the middle of it with Uecker. There was love and admiration in that room. That is how all of us feel about Bob Uecker.

Bob Uecker has passed away, and it is a sad day in Milwaukee and the baseball community. There is no doubt in my mind that Bob is sitting in the Front Row in Heaven. May you Rest in Peace, Ueck. We will miss you.

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[jay87shot]

Bob Uecker was my greatest idol growing up. When I 1st was 7 I got a radio and had my radio adjusted perfectly to listen to the Brewers and not alarm my parents. That was 1994 so the teams were bad but Bob Uecker single handedly made years of terrible baseball entertaining for me. Listening to blowouts were as good as close games. 

I know American Family Insurance is paying alot for the naming rights to the Stadium but I whole-hearted believer that they should rename the Stadium Uecker Field/Park/Stadium what ever. 

[Brian]

Watching the round table and LeRoy Butler said: The Brewers are a 1st class organization with the way they handled the Bob Uecker situation the last year or two letting him work when he wanted.  Most franchises would have said to him, time to hang it up and retire. Shout out to the Brewers and we will miss you Bob Uecker. 

[Jim French Stepstool]

5 hours ago, jay87shot said:

 

I know American Family Insurance is paying alot for the naming rights to the Stadium but I whole-hearted believer that they should rename the Stadium Uecker Field/Park/Stadium what ever. 

I'm guessing we see something like they do in many college venues, where the stadium/arena keeps its' name but the playing field/court has a separate moniker. The guy could've lived & worked wherever he wanted, yet stayed in this area. That's immeasurable.