Longtime Milwaukee Brewers radio announcer and Baseball Hall of Fame member Bob Uecker has died at the age of 90, the team announced Thursday morning.
“Today, we take on the heaviest of burdens. Today, we say goodbye to our beloved friend, Bob Uecker,” the team said in a statement. “Ueck was the light of the Brewers, the soundtrack of our summers, the laughter in our hearts, and his passing is a profound loss. 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.”
Uecker had been the voice of the Brewers for 54 years and, along the way, gained national notoriety for his appearances on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, his starring role in the 1980s sitcom Mr. Belvedere, and his role as Cleveland Indians radio announcer Harry Doyle in the 1989 film Major League.
He’d battled numerous health issues over the years, including two heart surgeries, but was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer in early 2023, according to a statement released by his family.
“He brought joy to countless listeners through his wit, charisma, and love for baseball, Milwaukee, and all of Wisconsin, creating a legacy that will forever be cherished,” the family said. “While his contributions to the game are noteworthy, it is his kindness, humility, and love for family and friends that we will hold closest to our hearts. “We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support during this difficult time as we grieve and celebrate the man we were so lucky to call ours.”
For all his national exposure, Uecker was a Milwaukeean at heart and never strayed too far from the city in which he was born and raised.
After graduating from Boys Tech High School in 1956, he became the first local player to sign a contract with the Milwaukee Braves who brought him to the big leagues six years later.
Uecker spent six seasons in the major leagues, compiling unimpressive numbers, but won a World Series ring with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964.
His career took off, though, after retirement when legendary Jazz musician Al Hirt had Uecker open for him at a club Hirt owned in Atlanta.
That led to the first of more than 100 appearances with Carson and, eventually, into the Brewers’ broadcast booth after a short-lived stint as a scout under then-owner Bud Selig.
“I am heartbroken with the loss of my dear lifelong friend, Bob Uecker. 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,” Bud Selig, commissioner emritus of Major League Baseball and former Brewers owner, said in a statement. “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. “I am so grateful that Bob’s friendship was a constant presence throughout most of my life. For over fifty years, rarely did a day pass where we missed a conversation, a sharing of stories, and countless laughs. That cannot be replaced and is a giant loss, but I am lucky to have experienced that kind of enduring friendship. “Sue and I are thinking of Judy, Bob’s children Sue Ann and Bob Jr., and all of Bob’s family during what is a difficult time for all of us.”
A franchise icon alongside legends like Robin Yount and Paul Molitor, he joined the two in Cooperstown in 2003, was added to the Brewers Ring of Honor in 2005, and was honored with a statue outside American Family Field in 2012.
Uecker is survived by his wife, Judy, daughter Sue Ann, and son Steve Jr.
Main Photo Credits: Rick Wood / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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