MILWAUKEE, WI — An iconic voice of the Milwaukee Brewers for over 50 years passed away Thursday morning, Jan. 16, at the age of 90.
Bob “Mr. Baseball” Uecker was a backup catcher for 4 MLB teams, including the Brewers, before transitioning his love for the game into a broadcasting career.
The Brewers confirmed his death in a statement, stating that Uecker had been fighting small cell lung cancer since early 2023.
“Even in the face of this challenge, his enthusiasm for life was always present, never allowing his spirit to falter,” the Uecker family said in a statement.
Uecker's baseball career spanned 6 seasons as a backup catcher for the Milwaukee Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, and Atlanta Braves. Although his career batting average was around .200, his personality made him a staple in Milwaukee.
After retiring from playing, Uecker found a second career as a broadcaster. He began calling Milwaukee Brewers games in 1971 and continued for 5 decades, making him one of the longest-serving announcers in MLB history.
Besides baseball, Uecker’s comedic talents also made him a household name. He became a regular on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, where his nickname was “Mr. Baseball.”
His humor also landed him roles in commercials, the TV show Mr. Belvedere, and famously said the iconic "Juuust a bit outside" quote from the Major League movie series.
Uecker even authored two books and hosted major events like Saturday Night Live and WrestleMania.
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