Heartbreaking news emerged from the world of baseball on Thursday as the Milwaukee Brewers announced the passing of their radio announcer and baseball icon Bob Uecker. He was 90 years old.
Uecker was a fixture in baseball for decades. He would admit that he wasn’t the best Major Leaguer in the world, although he did play six seasons in the big leagues, even winning a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964.
However, his greatest impact came after his playing days were over. Bob Uecker was a multi-generational personality for his broadcast work, his acting and comedy, and his larger than life persona as “Mr. Baseball” that spanned decades.
We are heartbroken to announce that Brewers icon & Baseball Hall of Famer Bob Uecker passed away today at the age of 90 pic.twitter.com/EJRBC8Cjj4
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) January 16, 2025
Uecker began broadcasting with the Brewers all the way back in 1971 and was still active all the way through the 2024 season, when his beloved team made the playoffs once again. He even celebrated with the team after they clinched a playoff berth and reflected on his time around the team over the years in an emotional interview.
The legend, Bob Uecker!!#ThisIsMyCrew | @SophiaMinnaert pic.twitter.com/BMiJ5R7vn0
— FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin (@FanDuelSN_WI) September 19, 2024
Uecker also worked national baseball broadcasts, most prominently with NBC where he called multiple World Series in the 1990s alongside Bob Costas and Joe Morgan. His career in broadcasting was honored with a call to Cooperstown and the Baseball Hall of Fame as the Ford C. Frick recipient in 2003.
While Brewers fans were fortunate to call Bob Uecker their own for over 50 years, he also shared his incredible sense of humor with the masses too.
He first came to national prominence thanks to dozens of appearances with Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show throughout the 1970s and 1980s. As he began to take on his Mr. Baseball persona, Uecker was featured in historically great Miller Lite commercials. He then went into acting where he took a leading role on television in Mr. Belvedere and his incredible role as Harry Doyle in the Major League movie franchise.
Bob Uecker did it all. He called baseball games, did comedy, hosted his own specials, and who could forget his WWE cameo with Andre the Giant at WrestleMania IV? The sports world and the entire fabric of American culture is much richer for having been blessed with his presence for so long. There will be only one Bob Uecker. Only one Mr. Baseball.
