Bob Uecker:
“Remember, fans.
This exciting moment is brought to you by Month Old Franks.
The hot dogs with experience.”
From WTMJ4:
MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Brewers and broadcasting legend Bob Uecker passed away Thursday at the age of 90, the Brewers announced.
“Today, we take on the heaviest of burdens. Today, we say goodbye to our beloved friend, Bob Uecker," a statement from the Brewers said.
“Ueck was the light of the Brewers, the soundtrack of our summers, the laughter in our hearts, and his passing is a profound loss. He was the heart and soul of Wisconsin and a dear friend. Bob loved people; his presence warmed every room and he had a way of welcoming all of us into his world as if we were lifelong friends.
“Saying goodbye to Bob shakes us all. He was so much more than a Milwaukee Brewers icon. He was a national treasure. Bob entertained us with his words and storytelling, so it is no surprise that his passing now leaves us at a loss for our own words.
“There is no describing the impact Ueck had on so many, and no words for how much he was loved. We are left with a giant void in our hearts, but also remember the laughter and joy he brought to our lives throughout the years.”
It would have been just a matter of time for “Ueck” to enter the Television Crossover Hall Of Fame; eventually he would have been a lock for an April berth. I’m sorry it was spurred by his passing.
From Wikipedia:
Robert George Uecker (January 26, 1934 – January 16, 2025), better known as Bob Uecker, was an American professional baseball catcher and sportscaster who served as the primary broadcaster for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB) for 54 seasons.
Uecker signed with his hometown Milwaukee Braves in 1956, spending several years in the minor leagues with various affiliate clubs before making his major league debut in 1962.
As a backup catcher, he played for the Milwaukee Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, and Atlanta Braves from 1962 to 1967. He won a World Series with the Cardinals in 1964.
After retiring, Uecker started a broadcasting career and served as a play-by-play announcer for Milwaukee Brewers radio broadcasts from 1971. Uecker became known for his self-deprecating wit and became a regular fixture on late night talk shows in the 1970s and 1980s, facetiously dubbed "Mr. Baseball" by TV talk show host Johnny Carson.
Uecker was honored by the National Baseball Hall of Fame with its 2003 Ford C. Frick Award in recognition of his broadcasting career.
During his Brewers tenure, Uecker mentored Pat Hughes, Jim Powell, Cory Provus and Joe Block, all of whom became primary radio announcers for other MLB teams. For several years he also served as a color commentator for network television broadcasts of Major League Baseball, helping call games for ABC in the 1970s and early 1980s and NBC (teaming with Bob Costas and Joe Morgan) in the 1990s. During that time, he was a commentator for several League Championship Series and World Series. He also called the 1982 World Series locally for the Brewers on WISN in Milwaukee.
Since then, the farthest seats from the action in some arenas and stadiums have been jokingly called "Uecker seats". There is a section of $1 seating called the "Uecker seats" at American Family Field, which is an obstructed-view area in the upper grandstand above home plate where the stadium's roof pivot comes together (in reference to one of his Miller Lite commercials).
Another of Uecker's catchphrases from the aforementioned Miller Lite 'front row' commercial is, "He missed the tag!" which he yells with confidence from his seat in the top row of the upper deck of the stadium, far away from the action.
Here are the shows which qualify Mr. Baseball as a member of the TVXOHOF as a multidimensional League of Themselves member:
According to IMDb, Uecker made at least five appearances in Miller Lite blipverts, which rocketed him to prominence as a League of Themselves member.
[TASTES GREAT, LESS FILLING]
In one of these commercials, Bob got to work with an actor with whom I became friends late in his life, John Finnegan (appearing as the usher. Mr. Finnegan certainly knew how to work those red jackets and caps, as seen in these screencaps from 'McCloud' and 'The Adventures of Ellery Queen' respectively.)
[Goodman's the guy in the red sweater]
- BOB UECKER (1982)
- SOFTBALL GAME (1983)
- FIRST LITE BEER CAMPING TRIP (1985)
- THE FIRST LITE BEER OPEN (1986)
- THE CASE OF THE MISSING CASE (1986)
O’Bservation:
In that last commercial, Rodney Dangerfield peels off his mask to reveal he is really Bob Uecker, who thought he was at a costume party.
(Musical guest – Peter Wolf)
O’Bservation:
As with any episode of ‘Saturday Night Live’, any sketches in which Uecker appeared as fictional characters (The Little League Coach, The Police Officer) became part of Skitlandia. But as himself, as the host of the episode, Uecker adds to his tally for membership.
THE UNNATURAL (1986)
Uecker showed up to watch the game, but he got forced to sit at the top of the stands. He looked for the silver lining though – he said if the field had been moved, he'd be in the front row.
OLLIE NORTH RAISES MONEY WITH “ADOPT-A-CONTRA” SCHEME (1987)
Bob Uecker wanted to run for President.
O’Bservation:
This is not an alternate Toobworld. Puppets are alive. They are spirits which inhabit shells of various forms and they take on qualities of that puppet shell.
PEARCE’S NEW BUDDY (1998)
Ueker to Mike Dukakis:
“Mike, if you don’t want to be considered a loser, I’d 86 the shirt.”
“But hey! What’s wrong with being a loser? It got me a big house.”
A LEELA OF HER OWN (2002)
Trivia from IMDb:
When Bob Uecker is announcing the Red Sox / Mets game, he states "and that's with three E's". The Red Sox famously lost Game Six of the 1986 World Series to the NY Mets on an error when a ground ball went between first baseman Bill Buckner's legs. That play meant the game was concluded with the Red Sox having 3 errors (abbreviated 3 E).
Hank Aaron was reluctant to be in this episode, but agreed when he found out Bob Uecker had agreed.
Bob Uecker says "I've never seen anything this bizarre, and I've seen Mr. Belvedere naked! Woo!" Bob Uecker was an actor in a show called 'Mr. Belvedere'.
PUPPY DOG PALS
TAKE ME OUT TO THE PUG GAME (2017)
O’Bservation:
Uecker was the voice of the announcer at the local ball park who introduces the legendary Teddy Peppercorn to the crowd.
BBRBDAY (2017)
Robin isn't invited to Beast Boy's birthday party, so he decides to throw his own party with special guest Bob Uecker.
THE BORDERLANDS
SPRINGFIELD OF DREAMS:
THE LEGEND OF HOMER SIMPSON (2017)
O’Bservation:
In a dimension straddling the Tooniverse and some live-action Toobworld, this is chronicled.
Bob Uecker died on January 16th. I could have posted this tribute to the Inner Toob at any point since then, even on that day. But as his birthday was just ten days later, I decided to share it today. Everybody deserves to get something for their birthday, even if it is just a little tip of the baseball cap like this “honorific.”
