RIP Bob Uecker

[YMCA B-Baller]

It turns out Uke had cancer. Had it since 2023.

I listened to his final words when the Brewers lost that gut-punch of an elimination against the Mets in October. I think, deep down, all Brewers fans feared it was the last time we would hear him. His appearances had become more infrequent in 2024, though it didn't cause serious concern until he missed the first two games of the playoff series, an alarming sign that things were not right because he rarely missed anything until just recently.

So sad that my fears, and those of Brewers fans, were realized. I listened to his final words again today ... it hurt a lot.

I think it's safe to say that while we wanted a Brewers World Series appearance for ourselves, we wanted it most of all for Uke. He was our guy. He was Milwaukee. He was Wisconsin. He bonded all of us in a way that's hard to explain. Maybe not so hard given how well-liked he was across the sport. But he was *ours*. He was the Brewers. He will be sorely missed.

 

[YMCA B-Baller]

Only A-Rod could hire a flack dumb enough to screw up an RIP Tweet.

The Wile E. Coyote Super Genius of baseball strikes again. What a ****ing asshole.

 

[HanSenSE]

I'd like to think some PR-flack cinephile wrote this for him.

See my comment uptopic about fans wanting Uecker on the call when Cleveland played the Cubs in the Series.

 

[Songbird]

The intentional walk was in the 7th after Uecker singled and homered earlier.

The reality is he came to the bat with 2 outs, an open base, and the pitcher on deck.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN196507240.shtml

Also highlighted in this story: https://shepherdexpress.com/sports/brewers/day-uecker-took-koufax-deep/

Somehow, that was the right mindset to have against Sandy Koufax. The southpaw embarrassed hitters in the early-to-mid ’60s, posting the lowest ERA in the National League in five straight seasons and leading the Majors in strikeouts four times. By contrast, Uecker was no slouch when it came to shagging fly balls with a stolen tuba.

It was a classic duel: Mediocrity vs. Excellence. Something had to give.

With his team trailing 2-0 in the fifth inning at Los Angeles, Mr. Baseball swatted an offering from Koufax into the leftfield seats of Dodger Stadium. It was a solo shot. No co-stars were needed in the making of this Hollywood masterpiece. The game’s momentum shifted.

The left-handed ace wanted no part of Uke in the top of the seventh, issuing an intentional walk to the man who would someday be pretend-choked by Andre the Giant. Some will claim the move was done strategically to get to the pitcher’s spot of the order with two outs—but I like to think Koufax was afraid.

Thanks to a career day from Uecker, the Cards prevailed in ten innings by a score of 3-2. Uke wasn’t finished clobbering bombs—although he did slow down the pace a bit, mustering 14 in his career. Chances are, that’s still more home runs than you’ve hit in Major League Baseball.

In Catcher in the Wry, Uecker had this to say about besting a seven-time All-Star:

“Poor Sandy. He was the greatest pitcher of his time, and whenever I stepped in to face him he didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry. Thank the Lord I didn’t destroy the boy’s confidence.”​

 

[Chef2]

As much as it pains me to say this, I’m quite curious to see what the pint-sized Bob Costas has to say.
On one hand, I can see him being borderline inconsolable.
On the other, I can see him penning 700 words where its all about me and me and me and me and a little bit of him.

 

[Gutter]

As much as it pains me to say this, I’m quite curious to see what the pint-sized Bob Costas has to say.
On one hand, I can see him being borderline inconsolable.
On the other, I can see him penning 700 words where its all about me and me and me and me and a little bit of him.

He’s scheduled to be on 97.3 The Game’s tribute show at 8:45pm tonight. Their stream is available on IHeart.

 

[MTM]

Al Michaels was on MLB Radio's Loud Outs with CJ Nitkowski and Ryan Spilborghs this afternoon and told some good stories about working with Uecker. It's a good listen if it's available on Sirius/XM app.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

I just learned now from that Brewers obit that all of Uecker's lines in Major League were ad-libbed.

"Juuuuuuust a bit outside."
"Ball four. Ball eight."
"Postgame show's brought to you by..............Christ, I can't find it. To hell with it!"

All ad-libbed.

Heaven is just about to get one hit. And what a (bleep-bleep) hit he will be.

RIP good sir and Thank You.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

MLB Network should run a Mr. Belvedere marathon.

RIP to an all-timer.

They’re running the documentary they did on him at 9 eastern.

 

[playthrough]

I’ll tell you this.
All of these nimrods on Facechat/Instawhat/Snapgram/Gowhatever who don’t have a **** sucking clue what kind of a relationship a baseball fan has with their favorite radio/tv announcer……I’m sorry……I can’t help them.

Nope. I'm a Reds fan as far as I'd rather see them win than lose, but my "relationship" with the team effectively ended when Marty Brennaman retired. And years before that when Joe Nuxhall died, I heard the news in the car and had to pull over. Marty and Joe was my childhood with the radio under the pillow like so many baseball-loving kids.

I very much feel it for you Cheeseheads here who listened to Uke all the time.

 

[dixiehack]

Nope. I'm a Reds fan as far as I'd rather see them win than lose, but my "relationship" with the team effectively ended when Marty Brennaman retired. And years before that when Joe Nuxhall died, I heard the news in the car and had to pull over. Marty and Joe was my childhood with the radio under the pillow like so many baseball-loving kids.

I very much feel it for you Cheeseheads here who listened to Uke all the time.

Last year was the first time I sat through so much as a half inning of MLB since Marty signed off. Rickwood Classic watch party and Reds-Cards just because I happened to be in St. Louis. Doubt I get back in the habit this year.

 

[HanSenSE]

 

[Chef2]

Only A-Rod could hire a flack dumb enough to screw up an RIP Tweet.

He really didn’t do that, did he?
That has to be a fake.

 

[Gutter]

The inside story of Uecker's final game as baseball bids farewell to legend:
https://www.mlb.com/news/brewers-baseball-world-mourn-passing-of-bob-uecker

This image … with the Mets celebrating on field. The last time behind the mic.

 

[TrooperBari]

He really didn’t do that, did he?
That has to be a fake.

The tweet and the account appear to be real.
x.com

 

[Neutral Corner]

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

“NO QUESTIONS ABOUT MR. BELIVDERE.”

The only advice I was given before going to the Uecker media scrum before the 1997 home opener.

apparently, if anyone asked about the sitcom, he would end the group interview in the dugout.

I wasn't sure if I should post this, b/c admitting Mr. Belvedere was the topic of conversation the only time I spoke to Bob Uecker is kind of dorky. But Neutral's post confirms Bob was telling the truth.

Pretty sure this was 2001, b/c the Mets hosted the Brewers right after the death of Christopher Hewitt, who played the title character. I saw him in the dining room at Shea and said I was sorry to hear of Hewitt's passing. Bob said Hewitt was a great person and I asked if he was still in touch with the cast. He said he talked to the kids regularly. As a TGIF fan, I thought that was pretty cool. And now, it's even cooler to know he was telling the truth.

 

[dixiehack]

Uecker and Rodney Dangerfield were a boxed exacta as supporting actors who absolutely carried iconic 80s sports movies. In our memories they got way more screen time than was actually the case because there was never a wasted note with either role.

 

[DanOregon]

No joy in Mudville or anywhere a baseball fan resides with Uecker's passing. Really such a bright light in an often gloomy world. Obviously funny, I just hope he knew how adored he was and how much fun he brought to a sport that is incredibly lacking fun. Spent the day trying to imagine the perfect tribute to Ueck. I did like that the Brewers have a "Uecker Seats" section at Miller Park. Shoot, Rickey and Ueck within a month of each other? I hope Ted Giannoulas is doing ok.

 

[garrow]

Here he is making Mel Brooks laugh: