| ThirdOfFive |
01-18-2025 08:58 AM |
R.I.P., Mr. Baseball
Bob Uecker, AKA "Mr. Baseball" died this week one week before his 91st. Birthday.
Bob was many things throughout his long life: play-by-play caller for Milwaukee (Braves and Brewers) baseball games as well as many nationally-televised games, a guest on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson something like 100 times, Movie actor (If you saw his hilarious performance as play-by-play broadcaster Harry Doyle in the late 80's cult classic "Major League" you'll gain an appreciation for his talent in that area), public speaker. Incidentally, he was also a major league ballplayer: he bounced around the majors for six years accumulating the amazing batting average of .200 with as I recall 18 home runs.
Bob was best-known for his sense of humor. He had a talent for effortlessly making people laugh. There was a rumor that a couple of the clubs he played with kept him on not for his skill with a bat but because he was so good at defusing tense clubhouse situation with his unfailing sense of humor. The best part was that a lot of it was spontaneous: he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003 and spoke for 20 minutes with absolutely no notes: the speech is available online and is hilarious: a classic. He remained active throughout his life, calling Milwaukee Brewers home games on WTMJ as late as last year, well past his 90th birthday.
Bob represented what is good in what is unofficially recognized as America's national game. He will be missed.
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