Joining the baseball world in saying goodbye to "Mr. Baseball" Bob Uecker

Whether you know him from his broadcasting work in Major League Baseball, through his appearances back in the day on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, as a television actor, for his role in Miller Lite commercials or as Harry Doyle from the movie Major League, you probably know about Bob Uecker.

A former player, a Ford C. Frick winner in the Hall of Fame as broadcaster, accomplished funny man and actor, he was all of that and yet so much more.

One of the wonderful all-time characters in the game, Uecker led a full and amazing life. A life that ended when he passed away yesterday at age 90.

Carson once held up a picture of Uecker drinking out of a bottle during what looked like a victory celebration and ask about what they were celebrating then?

“No, that was me getting ready for a game,” Uecker deadpanned and Carson, as usual, was rolling with laughter. When he first appeared on his show, Carson once asked sidekick Ed McMahon, “did that guy really play?”

Former Brewers player, Hall of Famer Robin Yount, once said as the Brewers traveled from city-to-city clearly Uecker was more popular than any player the team had.

Uecker was born Jan. 26, 1934. So he was just days away from turning 91. What a life he had. What a life in baseball he had for someone that played in the majors for six years between 1962 and 1967 and hit just .200 in 731 career at-bats.

Asked once about catching a knuckleball, Uecker said “the easiest way to catch it is to wait for it to stop rolling and pick it up.”

When he made his Hall of Fame speech in Cooperstown he said, “My kids used to aggravate me sometimes too. I’d take them to a game, and they wanted to go home with a different player.”

Uecker added: “My two boys were just like me. In their championship Little League game, one of them struck out three times. The other one had an error that allowed the winning run to score. They lost the championship. And I couldn’t have been more proud.”

Uecker said his kids used to ask him “why do you talk about yourself that way?” He told them “Because it’s funny and it makes people laugh.”

“Oh, I must be in the front row.”

“Juuusst a bit outside.”

Uecker started broadcasting for the Brewers in 1971. In 2003 he was named winner of the Frick award, an honor shared by the likes of Ernie Harwell, Vin Scully, Jack Buck, Harry Caray, so many others and in 1993, the great Chuck Thompson.

Uecker was known as a funny man, but he was also hired to do national baseball broadcasts. His knowledge and experience were important and respected. Don't be fooled by all the joking. The guy knew the game inside and out. 

For me, no one will ever be greater in a broadcast booth than Chuck Thompson, but Uecker was Milwaukee’s version of such class, longevity and greatness. And the Carson show made him a nationally known figure.

It is hard to think about him and his wonderful career in the game and not smile. Today, yesterday and any day.

Thanks for everything Mr. Uecker and RIP.

Click here, via X, for MLB Network's tribute to Mr. Uecker. Also here with this from MLB and here from the Orioles.