Bob Uecker, Light-Hitting Catcher Turned Comic Actor and Broadcaster, Dies at 90

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90-year-old Bob Uecker, who transformed his six rather unimpressive years as a comedic catcher into a successful second career in comedy, most notably through his uproarious roles in the Major League films, on The Tonight Show and in beer advertisements, passed away on Thursday.

A baseball legend, Uecker, who has been the beloved voice behind the commentary for his local team, the Milwaukee Brewers, since 1971, was the one whose passing was announced by the same team.

In the ABC sitcom “Mr. Belvedere,” which ran from 1985 to 1990, Uecker played George Owens, a sportswriter/sportscaster. His character juggles the mischief of his three children (Rob Stone, Tracy Wells, Brice Beckham) and the main character, an elegant English butler named Christopher Hewitt, who was hired to bring order to a suburban Pittsburgh home.

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In the ABC sitcom “Mr. Belvedere,” which aired from 1985 to 1990, Uecker took on the role of George Owens, a sportswriter/sportscaster. His character was tasked with managing the shenanigans of his three kids (Rob Stone, Tracy Wells, Brice Beckham) and the series’ title figure, a refined English butler named Christopher Hewitt, who was employed to bring order to a suburban Pittsburgh household.

In the movie “Major League” (1989), Harry Doyle, an ever-optimistic and tipsy play-by-play commentator for the struggling Cleveland Indians, attempted to find positivity in the poor performance he was observing. When Ricky Vaughn, the spectacled rookie known as “Wild Thing,” pitched a fastball significantly off target, Doyle humorously commented that it was “just a tad away from the plate.

Uecker returned as Harry in Major League II (1994) and Major League: Back to the Minors (1998).

Prior to his current role, Uecker had a stint as a catcher, even serving as backup, in the major leagues. He played with teams such as the Milwaukee Braves (1962-63), St. Louis Cardinals (1964-65), Philadelphia Phillies (1966-67), and Atlanta Braves (1967). His career batting average was a modest .200, and he managed to hit only 14 home runs in 731 times at bat.

In his final season, Uecker had the highest number of passed balls among all National League players – an impressive feat given he played in just 59 games that year. He frequently dealt with Phil Niekro’s unpredictable knuckleball, jokingly claiming that the best strategy for catching such a pitch was to wait for it to come to a halt before picking it up.

He once stated, “Anyone capable has a shot at the major leagues.” However, consistently fooling people as I did, I believe, was an even more remarkable achievement.

Uecker’s unique ability to find humor from his struggling baseball career proved to be his greatest skill. After retiring from playing catcher, he used this talent to entertain crowds as a professional speaker, poking fun at his experiences on the baseball field.

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Uecker found his strongest talent in finding humor from his underwhelming baseball career. Once he retired, he leveraged this skill by entertaining audiences as a paid speaker, jokingly recounting stories from his time on the baseball diamond.

One evening in 1969, jazz trumpeter Al Hirt, who owned a nightclub in Atlanta, persuaded Uecker to perform onstage. His lively demeanor and innate talent for telling jokes endeared him to the crowd, leading Al Hirt to successfully convince Johnny Carson to give Uecker an opportunity.

I remember my debut on The Tonight Show, back in 2016, when I was positioned behind the curtain for the very first time,” Uecker shared on David Feherty’s Golf Channel program. “I had never felt such intense nervousness before then, not because I didn’t think I could be amusing, but simply because it was an entirely new experience.

After stepping out, I hang out with Johnny and we have a blast. He even chuckles. When the performance ends, we all bid farewell. As I’m leaving, I overhear Johnny asking Ed, ‘Did that man truly play baseball?’ To which Ed replies, ‘I believe so.’ Neither of them seemed convinced about my baseball career. Yet, they invited me back! Remarkably, I performed in three shows within a span of six weeks.

During Carson’s tenure on The Tonight Show, Uecker appeared roughly a hundred times and was affectionately called “Mr. Baseball” by the host due to his charm. With his humble demeanor, he entertained viewers with his witty, self-deprecating remarks. Some of his jokes were:

“I knew my career was over in 1965. My baseball card came out with no picture.”

“Sporting goods companies pay me not to endorse their products.”

In the ninth inning, when I was batting with three teammates on base and only two outs left, the opposing team’s players were already dressed casually as if they were off the field.

As a gamer, one moment that stands out in my memory like an epic boss battle is when the legendary Sandy Koufax intentionally let me reach base by walking me during a game.

Robert George Uecker, born on January 26, 1934, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, hails from Swiss immigrant parents. His father was a skilled craftsman who made tools and dies. He studied at Technical High School in the city and often cheered for the minor-league Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association at Borchert Field.

Following his service in the United States Army, he joined the Milwaukee Braves, their main team, for a signing fee of $3,000 in 1956. Six years later, he advanced to the majors. He was part of the Cardinals team that triumphed over the New York Yankees in the 1964 World Series. His teammate, Tim McCarver, attributed him with maintaining a light-hearted atmosphere within the team; before Game 2, Uecker would gather fly balls using a tuba.

In the last year of 1967, Uecker got hurt in a motorcycle crash and also had an altercation at a bar.

During the 1980s, Uecker was part of the Monday Night Baseball team on ABC; he hosted a TV series that displayed funny sports moments, eventually transforming into The Lighter Side of Sports; he served as the host for Saturday Night Live; he made appearances as himself in Who’s the Boss? and Robert Altman’s O.C. and Stiggs (1985); and he participated in numerous World Wrestling Federation events, most notably the major confrontation between Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant.

He also made a splash with his clever 1982 book, Catcher in the Wry.

In 2003, Uecker received the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in recognition of his significant work in baseball broadcasting. One of his notable contributions was his iconic home run call: “Stand up! Stand up! Get outta here! It’s gone!” (Prior to announcing Brewers games, he used to pitch batting practice.)

On October 4th, his final broadcast as an announcer in his 54th season with the Brewers occurred, as the New York Mets overcame Milwaukee in the playoffs, eliminating them in a surprising ninth-inning homer by Pete Alonzo against top reliever Devin Williams. “Let me tell you,” he remarked on the radio, “that one … packed quite a punch.

Among the living are his spouse, Judy, along with their children Bob Junior and Sue Ann. Unfortunately, two other children, Steven and LeeAnn, passed away – Steven in 2012 due to lung disease, and more recently in 2022, Leeann from ALS.

Miller Lite capitalized on the fame of ex-catcher, Bob Uecker, by showcasing him in a series of TV commercials. One particularly well-loved ad from 1984 depicts him shouting, “I’ve got to be in the front row!” after being escorted out of his box seat by a usher. In the final scene, he’s shown in a nearly empty upper deck, passionately arguing with an umpire about a call.

At American Family Field in Milwaukee, the Brewers have placed a statue of Uecker in their final row now. “I can’t imagine a more fitting location,” he remarked. “It’s wonderful for the spectators and even more so for the pigeons.

Mike Barnes contributed to this report.

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2025-01-16 19:25