Bob Uecker, a former baseball catcher, actor and longtime Milwaukee Brewers broadcaster, died Thursday, the Brewers announced. He was 90.
Uecker had small-cell lung cancer and was diagnosed in 2023, his family said.
“He brought joy to countless listeners through his wit, charisma, and love for baseball, Milwaukee, and all of Wisconsin, creating a legacy that will forever be cherished,” the Uecker family said in a statement.
Uecker, often known as “Ueck,” was born January 26, 1934, in Milwaukee, Wis. Starting in 1962, he played two seasons as a catcher with the Milwaukee Braves. He also played for the St. Louis Cardinals, the Philadelphia Phillies and again with the Braves after they became an Atlanta team.
He started working as a radio announcer for the Brewers in 1971, becoming an iconic voice associated with the team.
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“Ueck was the light of the Brewers, the soundtrack of our summers, the laughter in our hearts, and his passing is a profound loss,” the Brewers said in a statement. “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.”
Uecker’s impact extended beyond baseball, as he brought his presence into film and television. He became a regular guest on the “Tonight Show” and earned the moniker “Mr. Baseball” from host Johnny Carson. He also appeared in multiple 1980s Miller Lite commercials.
Uecker played the character George Owens in the ABC sitcom, “Mr. Belvedere,” which ran from 1985 to 1990. He also channelled his own profession into a performance, portraying the baseball announcer character Harry Doyle in 1989’s “Major League” as well as its sequels, “Major League II” and “Major League: Back to the Minors.”
Uecker won several accolades, including the top baseball broadcast recognition, the Ford C. Frick Award, in 2003.