Baseball broadcasting legend and Major League actor dies at 90

Bob Uecker died at the age of 90, the Milwaukee Brewers announced on Thursday, January 16.

The club paid tribute to the Brewers legend in an X post.

“We are heartbroken to announce that Brewers icon & Baseball Hall of Famer Bob Uecker passed away today at the age of 90,” according to their post.

The former baseball player began announcing games for the Milwaukee Brewers in 1971 and quickly established himself as a popular member of both the club and the community. People widely regard him as one of the finest broadcasters of all time. During his broadcasting career, he appeared frequently on Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show and hosted his own sports television shows. He also had an acting career, featuring in the television series Mr. Belvedere and the film series Major League.

Uecker was born and reared in Milwaukee in 1934. He was a catcher who signed a baseball contract with the Milwaukee Braves in 1956. He made his big league debut in 1962. Though he was never a tremendous hitter (he was sometimes referred to as baseball’s most famous .200 hitter), he played excellent defense. During his six-year career, he also played for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Philadelphia Phillies, winning the World Series with the Cardinals. He retired in 1967 and worked as a scout.

He began broadcasting for the Brewers on the radio in 1971 and has not stopped since. Uecker’s broadcasts were usually filled with laughter and enthusiasm. Cory Provus, who worked with Uecker from 2009 to 2011, told The Athletic in 2021, “When I got the job, [previous broadcaster] Pat Hughes told me, ‘Hey, you’ll know when Bob loves you the instant he gets you laughing on the radio, and you have to keep going. So, when that time arrives, pinch yourself and persuade yourself you’re in.

In addition to his antics in the radio booth, Uecker was a frequent visitor on The Tonight Show, where Johnny Carson dubbed him “Mr. Baseball.” From 1985 until 1996, he presented the syndicated series Bob Uecker’s Wacky World of Sports, which included sports bloopers.

In 2002, at the age of 68, he spoke with On Milwaukee about his reasons for continuing to broadcast. “I don’t believe there is any incentive involved. It is baseball.” It’s my job,” he explained. “It’s something I’ve done for a very long time, not only doing the games on the radio but having been a player and being in the clubhouse, on the field, and up here.”

“I’ve been to the bottom, and I’ve been to the top, winning a World Series with the Cardinals in 1964,” said the pitcher. “I believe there is always an added reason to truly appreciate being around baseball. I still like being around baseball and with the guys. I still like doing the games. If I didn’t enjoy it, I wouldn’t do it again. Uecker received the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award in 2003.

In 2014, he reduced the amount of games he broadcasts each season, restricting his appearances on road trips. He previously underwent two cardiac operations in 2010.

Uecker lived with his first wife, Joyce, from 1956 to 1975. They have four children: Leeann, Steve, Sue Ann, and Bob Junior. Steve died in 2012, while Leeann died in 2022. Uecker married his second wife, Judy, in 1976; they divorced in 2001.

Aside from baseball, he gave his commentary services to the World Wrestling Federation’s third and fourth WrestleMania events. From 1985 to 1990, he appeared often on the comedy Mr. Belvedere (which he recorded during baseball’s off-season) and as a fictitious commentator in the Major League film trilogy. He made guest appearances on several television programs, such as Futurama and Monsters at Work.

Sue Ann and Bob Jr., Uecker’s children, survive him.