Categories: News

Bob Uecker, legendary announcer and former Phillies catcher, dies at 90

Legendary Brewers announcer Bob Uecker passed away on Thursday. (Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire)

Bob Uecker, the legendary longtime play-by-play voice of the Milwaukee Brewers and a former major-league catcher who played two years with the Philadelphia Phillies, died on Thursday, the Brewers announced. The 2003 Ford C. Frick Award winner was 90 years old.

“Saying goodbye to Bob shakes us all,” the Brewers said in a statement. “He was so much more than a Milwaukee Brewers icon. He was a national treasure. Bob entertained us with his words and storytelling, so it is no surprise that his passing now leaves us at a loss for our own words.”

Uecker, a Milwaukee native, spent 54 years calling Brewers games as he became a nationally recognized figure, but he began his run in professional baseball with his hometown Braves. He signed with the Milwaukee Braves in 1956 and made his big-league debut with the club in 1962. Uecker spent six seasons as a backup catcher in the majors, including a two-year stint with the Phillies in 1966 and 1967.

“I had a good time in Philadelphia,” Uecker told the Northeast Times in 1998. “We had a good group of guys here. There was Richie (Dick Allen) and Johnny Callison, Cookie Rojas, Tony Taylor, Bill White and Dick Groat. I’ve always had fond memories of Philadelphia, and I enjoy coming back. I’ve been back for some postseason games with the networks, and I came back for an old-timers game a while back.”

Uecker’s playing career ended in 1967, and he began calling Brewers games in 1971, beginning an incredible run that was honored by the Hall of Fame when he was presented with the Frick Award. Known for his humor and charm, Uecker was beloved in Milwaukee and grew into an even larger icon. He made numerous appearances on national television talk shows and was given the nickname “Mr. Baseball” by host Johnny Carson. Uecker also became an actor with roles in the TV series “Mr. Belvedere” and the “Major League” movie trilogy.

“There is no describing the impact Ueck had on so many, and no words for how much he was loved,” the Brewers said. “We are left with a giant void in our hearts, but also remember the laughter and joy he brought to our lives throughout the years.”

The Uecker family said in a statement that the broadcaster had been battling cancer, but that didn’t change the personality that made him such a respected figure.

“Bob faced a private battle with small cell lung cancer since early 2023, which he met with the same strength and resilience that defined him,” the family said. “Even in the face of this challenge, his enthusiasm for life was always present, never allowing his spirit to falter.”

The Brewers will announce plans for a public celebration of Uecker’s life at a later date.