Bob Uecker
From BR Bullpen
Robert George Uecker
"Mr. Baseball"
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 1", Weight 190 lb.
- Debut April 13, 1962
- Final Game September 29, 1967
- Born January 26, 1935 in Milwaukee, WI USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Bob Uecker was a catcher who later became better known as an actor and broadcaster.
He was born Robert George Uecker in Milwaukee, WI on January 26, 1935. Uecker played in the minors for seven seasons, showing good power with a slugging percentage of .475.
He made his major league debut in 1962 as a catcher. In a career that lasted 6 seasons, Uecker compiled a batting average of .200 with 14 HRs and 74 RBIs in 297 games.
Uecker was never his club's primary catcher at the major league level. The closest he came was on the 1966 Phillies, where he had 237 at-bats backing up Clay Dalrymple who had 404 at-bats. Among the other catchers he backed up were Joe Torre and Tim McCarver. Other teammates included Warren Spahn, Bob Gibson, Hank Aaron, Jim Bunning, Eddie Mathews and Dick Allen.
After his playing career ended in 1967 (with the Atlanta Braves), he worked for the Braves in their media department before becoming a broadcaster with his hometown Milwaukee Brewers in 1970. He has been the "Voice of the Brewers" since the early 1980s as well as doing games for ABC's Monday Night Game of the Week and (later) NBC's playoff coverage.
Outside of his playing and broadcasting career, Uecker is known as "Mr. Baseball", someone who is quick to make fun of his own career to get laughs. For example, Uecker hit a grand slam home run on June 21st, 1967 off pitcher Ron Herbel of the San Francisco Giants. Uecker's standard joke is that after he hit his grand slam, the manager of the Giants came out to the mound to take Herbel out and with him was Herbel's suitcase.
Bob also became well known for doing commercials in the 1970s and for his line "I must be in the front row!", which led to him actually being moved to the highest part in the stadium. Currently, the Brewers have obstructed view seats at Miller Park called "Uecker seats" to honor Uecker.
Bob starred as George Owens in the television series Mr. Belvedere from 1985-90, appearing in 117 episodes. He has also been in the movies Fatal Instinct and Homeward Bound II among other roles, as well as appearing as himself numerous times on shows such as Letterman, Leno and Carson's late night shows, Saturday Night Live and The New Hollywood Squares.
Uecker received the Ford Frick Award in 2003. Upon his induction he deadpaned to the audience " I should have gone in as a player."
[edit] Notable Achievements
- Won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964 (he did not play in the World Series)
