I guarantee if you mention the nameBob Uecker and you will get many different responses when it it come to recalling all the things this man has done and accomplished. From major league catcher to actor, television pitchman, and Hall of Fame baseball announcer, this man has done it all. Uecker once said,
The Player – “Mr. Baseball” has made a career making a mockery of his baseball prowess. The truth is Uecker was a pretty good defensive catcher. His hitting skills were a bit limited, but teams didn’t get much offensive production of of catchers those days. Uecker was a career .200 hitter, but he played six major league seasons for four different teams including the 1964 St. Louis Cardinals. He totaled 14 career home run in part-time catching duties.
The Broadcaster – Uecker is in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown as winner of the Ford C. Frick Award in 2003. Since retiring as a player, Uecker has been the voice of the Milwaukee Brewers for 40 years. The Milwaukee native served as a color-commentator for ABC’s Monday Night Baseball in the 1970’s and for NBC in the 1990’s. He has called playoff and World Series games. Uecker is regarded as one of the best and most popular announcers in baseball. Many people don’t remember that Uecker also called wrestling matches at various WWE events over the years.
Commercials – Uecker has always been a popular product endorser. Over the years he has played himself in dozens of commercials including the famous Miller Lite ads where his made the phrase “This must be the front row”, famous.
The Actor – In the 80’s and 90’s many people knew Bob Uecker best from his television and movie appearances. He was one of Johnny Carson’s favorite guests on The Tonight Show and that let to his role as George Owens on the hit TV show Mr. Belvedere. He hosted two syndicated television shows including Bob Uecker’s Wacky World of Sports. His most famous role may be Harry Doyle, the crazy baseball announcer in the Major League movies. You can’ go to a baseball game today and not hear someone saying his famous line, “Juuuust a bit outside…”
The Man – While Uecker has generously let himself be the but of jokes, he actually does nonstop charity work in and around Milwaukee for the likes of Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer, The Boys and Girls Clubs, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. In addition to being inducted into The Radio Hall of Fame and Wisconsin Sports Hall of Fame, he also has been honored by being put in both the Brewers and Braves rings of honor.
You have to admire a man who took a below average baseball career and turned himself into a pop culture icon. He’s 75 years old and still going strong. If you ever catch Uecker on the radio doing a Brewers game, enjoy his signature home run call, “Get up! Get up! Get outta here! Gone!”I led the league in “Go get ’em next times”, this may be true, but over the years he’s gained the respect of people of all walks of life who have enjoyed his work on the radio, television or in movie theaters all over the world.
