Bob Uecker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bob Uecker |
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Uecker in 1965
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| Catcher / Broadcaster | |||
| Born: January 26, 1934 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
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| Died: January 16, 2025 (aged 90) Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 13, 1962, for the Milwaukee Braves | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 29, 1967, for the Atlanta Braves | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .200 | ||
| Home runs | 14 | ||
| Runs batted in | 74 | ||
| Teams | |||
As player
As broadcaster
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Robert George Uecker (pronounced YOO-ker; January 26, 1934 – January 16, 2025), known as Bob Uecker, was an American baseball player and sportscaster. He was best known as the main radio announcer for the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team for 54 seasons.
Uecker started his career as a professional baseball catcher. He played for several teams in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1962 to 1967. After his playing days, he became famous for his funny comments and acting roles. He was even called "Mr. Baseball" by TV host Johnny Carson.
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Early Life and Army Service
Bob Uecker was born and grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His father, August, came from Switzerland, and his mother, Mary, was from Michigan. He had two younger sisters. As a kid, he loved watching the local minor-league baseball team, the Milwaukee Brewers, play at Borchert Field.
In 1954, Uecker joined the United States Army. He played baseball while serving in the Army, even playing with future major league star Dick Groat.
Playing Baseball
After leaving the Army, Uecker signed a professional contract with his hometown Milwaukee Braves in 1956. He spent several years playing in the minor leagues. He hit 19 home runs in his first season.
Uecker made his major league debut with the Braves in 1962. He was a backup catcher, playing behind stars like Joe Torre. He later played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, and Atlanta Braves. In 1964, he was part of the 1964 World Series champion Cardinals team. His major league playing career ended in 1967.
As a player, Uecker wasn't known for his hitting, with a career batting average of .200. However, he was a good defensive catcher. He often joked about his playing skills, which later became a big part of his humor. For example, he once said the best way to catch a knuckleball (a tricky pitch) was to "wait until it stopped rolling and pick it up."
Broadcasting Career
After retiring as a player, Bob Uecker started a new career as a sports announcer. In 1971, he began calling games for the Milwaukee Brewers on the radio. He became a beloved voice for Brewers fans, staying with the team for 54 seasons!
Uecker was known for his unique and funny style. He also helped many other broadcasters who went on to announce for other MLB teams. Besides the Brewers, he worked on national TV broadcasts for ABC and NBC, even calling some World Series games.
In his later years, Uecker reduced his travel for games due to health reasons. He was famous for his home run call: "Get up! Get up! Get outta here! Gone!"
Beyond Baseball: Other Sports and Wrestling
Uecker's sports knowledge wasn't just about baseball. He hosted TV shows like Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports, which showed funny sports bloopers. This show later became The Lighter Side of Sports.
He also appeared in commercials for the Milwaukee Admirals, a hockey team. In one funny commercial, he designed plaid uniforms for the team, making fun of his own loud jackets from the 1970s and 80s.
In 1987, Uecker was the ring announcer for the main event at World Wrestling Federation's WrestleMania III, a huge wrestling show. He returned the next year for WrestleMania IV as a commentator and interviewer.
His Famous Humor
Bob Uecker was incredibly famous for his humor, especially making fun of his own average baseball career. He appeared on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show about 100 times, always making people laugh.
He often joked about his playing days. For example, he once said that after he hit a grand slam, the opposing manager came out to the pitcher's mound "bringing Herbel's suitcase" (meaning the pitcher was getting pulled from the game). He also quipped that sports companies would pay him not to endorse their products.
Uecker was also known for his Miller Lite beer commercials in the 1980s. In one famous ad, an usher tells him he's in the wrong seat. Uecker proudly says, "I must be in the front row," but the camera then shows he's actually in the very back, highest seats (the "nosebleed section"). Because of this commercial, the cheapest, farthest seats in some stadiums are jokingly called "Uecker seats." The Brewers' stadium, American Family Field, even has a special section of $1 seats called the "Uecker seats."
He also wrote two books, Catcher in the Wry and Catch 222.
Acting Roles
Uecker had a successful acting career. He played George Owens, a sportswriter and father, on the popular TV show Mr. Belvedere from 1985 to 1990.
He also played Harry Doyle, the funny baseball announcer for the Cleveland Indians, in the movie Major League and its two sequels. In 2021, he even voiced a character named "Bob Yucker" in the Disney+ series Monsters at Work.
Honors and Awards
Bob Uecker received many honors for his contributions to sports and entertainment:
- He was named Wisconsin Sportscaster of the Year five times.
- In 2001, he was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame.
- In 2003, he received the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame for his amazing broadcasting career. His acceptance speech was very funny!
- The Milwaukee Brewers honored him by placing a number 50 in their "Ring of Honor" in 2005. His name was also added to the Brewers Wall of Honor in 2009.
- In 2010, he was inducted into the Celebrity Wing of the WWE Hall of Fame for his wrestling appearances.
- In 2012, a statue of Uecker was placed outside American Family Field, joining statues of other Brewers legends.
- In 2021, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers declared September 25 as Bob Uecker Day to celebrate his 50th year broadcasting Brewers games.
Personal Life
Bob Uecker had four children with his first wife, Joyce. He later married Judy in 1976, and they divorced in 2001. He lived in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.
In 2010, Uecker had heart surgery but returned to broadcasting. He passed away in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, on January 16, 2025, at the age of 90.
See also
In Spanish: Bob Uecker para niños
