Bob Uecker, the iconic voice of the Milwaukee Brewers and affectionately known as “Mr. Baseball,” has passed away at the age of 90. The Brewers announced his death on Thursday morning, calling it “one of the most difficult days in Milwaukee Brewers history.” Uecker had been battling small cell lung cancer since early 2023, according to a statement from his family.
Despite his illness, his family noted that Uecker remained positive and enthusiastic about life until the end. Uecker, who earned his nickname from numerous appearances on Johnny Carson’s late-night show, was widely recognized for his comedic flair and broadcasting talent. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Uecker was a beloved figure in the baseball world and a key figure in Wisconsin’s sports community.
When the Milwaukee Brewers secured the NL Central title in 2024, manager Pat Murphy embraced Bob Uecker in the locker room, pulling him close as the players prepared to douse “Mr. Baseball” in champagne. Murphy, with admiration, declared, “There is no one — absolutely no one — who represents a champion like this man right here,” as the players cheered loudly with chants of “UUUUUECK.” Bob Uecker was praised as an exemplary figure by manager Pat Murphy, who described him as “an example for us to be with every single day.”
Uecker began his professional career with the Milwaukee Braves in 1956 and made it to the major leagues in 1962. He spent six seasons in the big leagues as a backup catcher, posting a .200 batting average and hitting 14 home runs. Uecker won a World Series title with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964 and also played for the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies. He often humorously recounted two memorable career moments: getting an intentional walk from Sandy Koufax and escaping a rundown against the Mets.
Uecker also developed a close friendship with former Brewers owner and MLB commissioner Bud Selig, who had hired him as a scout. Selig liked to joke about how Uecker’s first scouting report had been ruined by mashed potatoes and gravy stains. Bud Selig eventually brought Bob Uecker into the broadcast booth, where Uecker became the voice of the Milwaukee Brewers in 1971, just two years after the team relocated from Seattle. Uecker remained with the team and became one of its most enduring figures. Brewers manager Craig Counsell, who grew up in the Milwaukee area, recalled spending summers throwing a baseball against the roof and catching it while listening to Uecker’s broadcasts. “There’s no single person in this franchise’s history who has been as iconic and as important as Bob Uecker,” said Jeff Levering, a member of the Brewers’ broadcast team since 2015.
Despite his growing celebrity nationwide, Uecker cherished the opportunity to continue broadcasting games for his hometown fans. “To be able to do a game each and every day throughout the summer and talk to people every day at 6:30 for a night game, you become part of people’s families,” Uecker once said. “I know that because I get mail from people that tell me that. That’s part of the reward for being here, just to be recognized by the way you talk, the way you describe a game, whatever.”
Bob Uecker was honored by the Baseball Hall of Fame with the prestigious Ford C. Frick Award in 2003. During his acceptance speech, he entertained the crowd of about 18,000 people in Cooperstown for nearly 20 minutes. “I still — and this is not sour grapes by any means — still think I should have gone in as a player,” Uecker humorously remarked.
Uecker’s rise to fame off the field began in 1969 when he opened for comedian Don Rickles at Al Hirt’s nightclub in Atlanta. The performance caught the attention of Hirt, who helped Uecker land an appearance on Johnny Carson’s “The Tonight Show.” Uecker quickly became one of Carson’s favorite guests, appearing more than 100 times. It was Carson who gave Uecker the nickname “Mr. Baseball,” a moniker that stuck. While Uecker was known for his comedy, his talent extended beyond humor. His natural storytelling ability and engaging delivery made him an ideal choice as one of the first color commentators on network TV broadcasts in the 1970s with ABC. In the 1990s, he teamed up with Bob Costas and Joe Morgan to broadcast the World Series.
Bob Uecker became a household name through his role as one of the Miller Lite All-Stars in a series of popular commercials for the Milwaukee-based beer brand. This exposure helped launch his TV acting career in 1985 when he joined the cast of the ABC sitcom “Mr. Belvedere.” Uecker played the character George Owens, the head of the family and a sports writer, in the show, which ran for 122 episodes over six years. The series centered around a family that hires a butler who struggles to adapt to their American lifestyle.
Uecker’s connection to sports continued in Hollywood when he took on a prominent role as the crass announcer Harry Doyle in the films Major League (1989) and Major League II (1994). In these movies, he portrayed a commentator for the struggling Cleveland Indians as they unexpectedly rise to become playoff contenders. “I’m part of American folklore, I guess,” Uecker remarked in 2003. “But I’m not a Hollywood guy. Baseball and broadcasting are in my blood.”
Bob Uecker’s iconic line “Juuuust a bit outside!” from the Major League movies has become a staple phrase, frequently repeated by announcers and fans at ballparks everywhere. While Uecker’s acting career made him seem like a comedian, his work as a baseball announcer for the Brewers was nothing short of impressive. He had a knack for perfectly capturing the intensity of tight games, but even in less thrilling moments, he entertained fans with amusing stories from his career and personal life, especially his passion for fishing and golf. “I don’t think anyone wants to hear somebody screwing around when you’ve got a good game going,” Uecker explained. “I think people see ‘Major League’ and think that’s all I do. But when we’ve got a good game, I don’t mess around.”
Later in life, Uecker became serious about his health. He swam daily leading up to heart surgery in 2010 and was back on his feet and walking miles shortly after the procedure. He even pushed to return to the broadcast booth and was calling games again by July, humorously claiming he “bribed” his doctors by letting them throw out the first pitch. Former MLB commissioner Bud Selig praised Uecker’s commitment to Milwaukee, saying, “He never wanted to leave Milwaukee. Above all, he made himself into a great play-by-play announcer. He’s everything to this franchise.”
Uecker’s career provided endless material for his storytelling. He humorously recalled his early days in baseball, like signing with the Milwaukee Braves for a modest $3,000, which troubled his father. He also shared moments like coming to bat with the bases loaded and two outs only to find the opposing team already in street clothes, hinting that they were certain he wouldn’t make it to first base. Uecker also played a key role in the closing ceremony of Milwaukee County Stadium in 2000, and when the Brewers moved to Miller Park in 2001, the team began offering “Uecker Seats” for $1, located high up and obstructed.
Now known as American Family Field, the stadium features two statues of Uecker—one outside and another in Section 422, referencing the famous Miller Lite commercial where he quipped, “I must be in the front row!” while being taken to one of the worst seats in the ballpark.
In his final season, after the Brewers were eliminated from the 2024 playoffs, Uecker visited the locker room to offer his support to the players. Outfielder Christian Yelich reflected on Uecker’s importance, saying, “He means a lot. He’s right over there. Just a great guy, a great guy.”
