Lest We Forget: Bob Uecker

One of the true characters of the game, Bob Uecker, has died at the age of 90.

Here’s his obituary by Richard Sandomir in The New York Times and an article from ESPN.

As a reminder that you’re an ex-player much longer than a player, Uecker turned a poor playing career (.200, 14 homers, 74 RBI in six seasons with the Braves, Cardinals, and Phillies) into gold with his self-deprecating humor that made him a popular guest on The Tonight Show, as well as other shows, including voice work on animated programs.

He had a major role in the TV show Mr. Belvedere (1985-90) as a sportswriter. But he was perhaps best known for playing Harry Doyle in the Major League movies. Signature line? Well, let’s just say it was so famous it was included in a scene from Ted Lasso more than 30 years later. And don’t forget those Miller Lite commercials. And a Saturday Night Live turn.

He was a long-time announcer for his home town Milwaukee Brewers was honored by the Hall of Fame with the Ford C. Frick Award in 2003.

Uecker published a collection of humorous stories in Catcher in the Wry, written with Mickey Hershkowitz, in 1982. The hardcover edition was available on Amazon as of this posting for $159.99 ($99 for the paperback). I’m guessing such a high price will preclude it from appearing on my “Baseball Best-Seller” list tomorrow. I would have thought he wrote other books, but I must be getting him confused with Joe Garagiola, another so-so catcher who became a raconteur and TV host.

I actually have a personal Bob Uekcer story.

Back in the 90s, I was a reporter for STATS Inc., a company that kept track of all the numbers that are so prevalent nowadays. It was a part-time job that had me attending Mets and Yankees games, sitting in the press box (what a treat), and recording all the game activity on a computer back when laptops weighed ten pounds and there was no WiFi.

At one of my games the Mets were playing the Milwaukee Brewers, for whom Uecker was an announcer. It was a hot day at Shea Stadium and the Brewers played very poorly. It just so happened that he and I were alone in an elevator after the game. I was intimidated by his celebrity status, but he put me at ease by complaining loudly — and profanely — about the loss, his annoyance compounded no doubt by the heat.