Welcome to Bob Uecker Mania!The "Mr. Baseball" Tribute Page. |
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March 13, 2003 |
"Congratulations Bob !"
[ Bob in Wikipedia.org] - [ Bob in IMDB.com] - [ Bob's Stats]
Mini Biography
Entering his 37th year behind the mic as a Major League Baseball broadcaster for his hometown team calling play-by-play on WTMJ-Radio and the Brewers Radio Network, Bob Uecker will celebrate his 52nd year in professional baseball in 2007.
Uecker earned the 2003 Ford C. Frick Award and will forever be recognized in Baseball’s Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. On July 27, 2003, he made one of the most memorable speeches in Hall of Fame induction history as he left his audience, including former President George H. Bush, in tears from laughter.
In 2003, Uecker also joined former Brewers general manager, Harry Dalton, as a member of the Brewers Walk of Fame, located near home plate outside of Miller Park. He and Dalton joined Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, Hank Aaron, Rollie Fingers, Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Jim Gantner, Gorman Thomas and Cecil Cooper in receiving this special honor.
Affectionately known across the country as "Mr. Baseball," Uecker has completed 26 seasons as the club's number one announcer. Uecker is highly respected in the industry, having been inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2001, where he joined such baseball broadcasting luminaries as Vince Scully, Mel Allen, Red Barber, Ernie Harwell and Jack Brickhouse as well as other American icons such as Bob Hope, Jack Benny, Edward R. Murrow and Orson Welles.
Uecker has been named Wisconsin Sportscaster of the Year five times during his career and was inducted into the Wisconsin Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.
His big break can be traced to a 1969 visit with Al Hirt, a renowned jazz trumpeter from New Orleans, which would alter Uecker's life forever. Hirt opened a small nightclub in Atlanta and asked Uecker to come on stage. Hirt was so impressed, he arranged an appearance for Uecker on the "Tonight Show," starring Johnny Carson. Uecker became one of Carson's favorite guests, making some 100 appearances before Carson retired in 1992. He also made appearances on the Mike Douglas and Merv Griffin shows, Late Night with David Letterman and as a guest host on Saturday Night Live.
Uecker became a national celebrity and the ABC Network took advantage of his popularity. He made appearances on "The Superstars" and "The Midnight Special," which opened the door for more high-profile appearances.
A versatile talent, Uecker’s credits go far beyond guest appearances and play-by-play. In 1985, Uecker launched a television acting career as one of the stars of ABC's sitcom "Mr. Belvedere," which put 122 episodes into syndication. He also hosted two syndicated television shows, "Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports" and "Bob Uecker's War of the Stars." He was one of the Miller Lite All-Stars in popular commercials for Lite Beer from Miller. Uecker was cast as a radio announcer in the film "Major League," which was filmed at County Stadium, and the sequel, "Major League II."
His experience broadcasting Brewers games both on radio and television gained Uecker national recognition as he went on to serve as play-by-play announcer for ABC Sports coverage of Monday Night Baseball, the League Championship Series and the World Series.
Uecker's accomplishments are not limited to the electronic medium. A former catcher who spent six seasons in the Major Leagues, Bob authored a book entitled "Catcher In the Wry," a humorous look back on the years he spent with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies. One of his career highlights as a player came in 1964, when he was a member of the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals.
Despite his national attention and success, Bob never forgot his roots. His philanthropic efforts benefit several local organizations, including the United Performing Arts Fund, the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer Fund, the Milwaukee Symphony, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. In addition, Uecker is an advocate for organizations that battle cystic fibrosis and heart disease and is involved with the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. He also chairs the popular Bob Uecker Celebrity Fishing Tournament for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
For his efforts, Uecker was inducted into the Wisconsin Performing Artists Hall of Fame in 1993. The Hall of Fame was established in 1983 to honor nationally and internationally known performing artists with Wisconsin ties. In 1994, he was elected to the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame. In January 1995, he earned the "Big B.A.T." Award from the Baseball Assistance Team at a dinner in New York City for his continuing support of former Major League stars who are in need of assistance.
(Bio courtesy of BrewersRadioNetwork.com)
For more than 30 years he has been the voice of the Milwaukee Brewers.
On November 3, 2001, in his 31st season calling Milwaukee Brewers games, Bob became only the 9th Baseball Announcer in history to be elected to the
National Radio Hall of Fame."
Kleven is Black River Falls’ baseball encyclopedia Jackson County Chronicle, WI - "I just like listening to Bob Uecker on the radio, and when I was in the hospital listening to the game, they had to shut the door to my room because the ... |
Uecker is a big fan of Harley-Davidson cycles OnMilwaukee.com, Milwaukee - By Drew Olson If you've listened to Brewers games on the radio over the past three decades, you've undoubtedly heard Bob Uecker talk about some of his ... |
'Sarge' to take part in Wrigley tradition MLB.com - Fellow broadcasters Bob Uecker and Vin Scully have also done it. Former Bears and Eagles quarterback Jim McMahon performed it Thursday. ... |
These Inductees Have a History Washington Post, United States - Nobody younger than 45 even remembers that Vitale coached, both in college and the NBA, in part because he was the Bob Uecker of coaches. ... |
Former KC broadcaster looks back on a lifetime in sports Leavenworth Times, KS - You may have also heard of his broadcast partner starting full-time in 1973, Bob Uecker. Harmon and Uecker were renowned for their wild stories during the ... |
The story of two men and a clicker Pittsburgh Post Gazette, PA - Dean can't stand the TV announcers, and so he mutes the set and listens to Bob Uecker call the game on the radio. That might not sound so bad. ... |
Friday Finishers Aug. 22 Journal Times, WI - That may turn out to be Bob Uecker’s new play-by-play call on home runs now that Major League Baseball and the World Umpire Association have decided to ... |
Local Sports Roundup Baxter Bulletin, AR - 1st-tie-Pete Langan/John Franzen/Wally Koskinen/Jim Barber, Don Harper/Bobby Harris/Paul Shafer/Herman Szonn. 2nd-tie-Vern Robbins/Dick Terranella/Jerry ... |
Physioc, Hudler, Mota up for Frick honor Anaheim Angels - ... Herb Carneal, Joe Garagiola, Ernie Harwell, Jaime Jarrin, Milo Hamilton, Harry Kalas, Felo Ramirez, Vin Scully, Lon Simmons, Bob Uecker and Bob Wolff. ... |
Balloting for Frick Award starts Sept. 1 MLB.com - ... Joe Garagiola, Milo Hamilton, Harry Kalas, Felo Ramirez, Bob Uecker and Bob Wolff, plus historians Ted Patterson and Curt Smith, Bob Costas of NBC, ... |