Baseball icon Bob Uecker, voice of Milwaukee Brewers, dies at 90

There were, of course, dozens of iconic home run calls in baseball’s history. But his appearances on the “Tonight Show with Johnny Carson,” as an actor in the sitcom, “Mr. Belvedere,” or in commercials for his hometown Miller Brewing, made Bob Uecker famous outside of baseball.

His star turn as Cleveland Indians announcer Harry Doyle in the 1989 movie, “Major League,” was the pinnacle. He proved beyond a doubt that the man known as “Mr. Baseball” was as big a star away from the ballpark as he was behind the microphone.

Uecker, the voice of the Milwaukee Brewers since 1971, died Thursday, Jan. 16. He was 90 years old.

The team announced his death in a statement on social media. They called it “one of the most difficult days in Milwaukee Brewers history.”

The statement read in part, “Bob faced a private battle with small cell lung cancer, which he met with the strength and resilience that defined him.” The statement continued, “It is his kindness, humility, and love for family and friends that we will hold closest to our hearts.”

"It is his kindness, humility, and love for family and friends that we will hold closest to our hearts"

– The Uecker Family pic.twitter.com/lggU2BdOSw

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) January 16, 2025

Uecker spent six seasons in the big leagues as a backup catcher, finishing with a .200 average and 14 homers. He won a World Series ring with St. Louis in 1964 and also played for Atlanta and Philadelphia. Joking about his career was central to his deadpan, self-deprecating humor. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as a broadcaster in 2003.

“The commercials, the films, the television series. I could never wait for everything to get over so I could get back to baseball,” Uecker said during his induction speech. “I still — and this is not sour grapes by any means — still think I should have gone in as a player (laughter). There it is, boys; the proof is in the pudding.”

The former commissioner of Major League Baseball, Bud Selig, is a Milwaukee native himself and a good friend of Uecker. He also posted a statement on social media.

“I am heartbroken with the loss of my dear lifelong friend, Bob Uecker. I can’t begin to describe how much he meant to me, let alone what this loss is for Brewers fans, the state of Wisconsin and countless others worldwide. Bob had the easiest way of making others feel at ease, share a laugh and always left people feeling a little better. Nobody was his equal,” Selig said in a statement on social media.

Commissioner Emeritus Bud Selig on Bob Uecker: pic.twitter.com/G1KzRa0b0s

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) January 16, 2025

For Uecker, baseball was No. 1. He wanted to see the Brewers win a World Series. After their exit from the playoffs in October 2024, star outfielder Christian Yelich was emotional. He knew it could be Uecker’s last run.

“Yeah, it’s special when he’s around; you shouldn’t take it for granted. He’s the man; he means a lot to this place. Anyone who has spent any kind of time here knows how special Bob is,” Yelich said.