Legendary Broadcaster Bob Uecker has died


That's too bad, but we'll always have his wit and wisdom. I've read his book Catcher in the Wry a couple times; it's so entertaining! Highly recommended.

There's one of his quotes that I use often, especially in my professional life. As a former catcher of a knuckleball pitcher, he was asked once how to catch a knuckleball. He said, "It's simple. Just wait for the ball to stop rolling and pick it up." In life, sometimes you just have to wait for the ball to stop rolling and then pick it up. Rest in peace, Mr. Baseball.
 
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Sad day indeed. So relatable
 


Uecker was honored by the Hall of Fame with the Ford C. Frick award in 2003 and spent nearly 20 minutes keeping the Cooperstown, New York, crowd of about 18,000 in stitches.

"I still -- and this is not sour grapes by any means -- still think I should have gone in as a player," he quipped.
 




Uecker was honored by the Hall of Fame with the Ford C. Frick award in 2003 and spent nearly 20 minutes keeping the Cooperstown, New York, crowd of about 18,000 in stitches.

"I still -- and this is not sour grapes by any means -- still think I should have gone in as a player," he quipped.
That legitimately made me lol, thank you.
 

Sad news, he was a classic. His late night appearances with Johnny Carson were legendary. Still makes me laugh every time I watch Major League. Hell, I even liked him (a little bit) on Mr. Belvedere. RIP Bob.

(Edited to include a link to Bob's induction speech.)

Uecker HOF Speech
 
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There's a few good videos in this article including a few clips from his Cooperstown speech.

 







Reusse: There’s only one Bob Uecker — forever a baseball funnyman
and Milwaukee’s famous ‘cheeser’



EXCERPT/Gopher Great:

Paul Molitor came to the Brewers as a rookie infielder in 1978 and stayed for 15 seasons — for the glory, for the downturn, but always with Uecker being on the field and the clubhouse before a game.

“In those early years, Ueck still was throwing batting practice,” Molitor said. “In spring training in Arizona, he’d be there in uniform at 7:30 in the morning, and always threw the first round of hitting.

“We also flew a lot of commercial flights back then. The team would get on first, then the other passengers came on. It was never, ‘Hey, there’s Rollie Fingers, there’s Robin Yount,’ it was always, ‘There’s Ueck. We love ya, Ueck.’ ”

Molitor said, in his view, Uecker had the best quality a celebrity meeting people could ask for: “He didn’t have to work at being funny. He was naturally comedic.”
 
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On getting released from his team, "They broke it to me gently. The manager came up to me before a game and told me they didn't allow visitors in the clubhouse." - Bob Uecker.
 

Not sure if this was posted before, but amazing that he cracks up both Johnny and Mel Books.

Back when plaid was fashionable 😃

 

Not sure if this was posted before, but amazing that he cracks up both Johnny and Mel Books.

Back when plaid was fashionable 😃

He got a legit spit take out of Mel Brooks!



As much as he was hilarious on his talk show appearances, acting roles and commercials, it really bums me out that I won't get to hear him call Brewer games anymore.

I can remember as far back as Molitor's rookie season in '78 picking up either the River Falls or La Crosse affiliates if I wasn't consumed by a Twins game. The first sports I heard on FM radio were Brewers and Packers games on the RF station, which just felt like a revelation.

Pre-cable to get a baseball non-Twins fix it has to be via the radio besides the NBC Game of the week and a handful of Monday Night Baseball Games (which Uecker was also featured on). Unlike the Pack or Badgers, the Brewers have never been a huge rival for the Twins. Growing up they were in the AL East and after a handful of years together in the Central they switched to the NL, so I've never had any animosity towards the Wisconsin baseball franchise.

A long drive to or from Chicago was made much easier if the Brew Crew happened to be playing. The last few years with SiriusXM if I happened to be working from home and they had a day game (even spring training) I would try catch a few innings. Despite his age, it was still a pleasure to listen to him call a game.

He was the last of the announcing stalwarts that I was able pick up the frequency in Rice County as a kid.

Buck.
Carey.
Carneal.
Harwell.
Uecker.

What a line-up.
 




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