Bob Uecker, 'Mr. Baseball' and Brewers Broadcaster for 54 Years, Dies of Cancer at 90

Jan 16, 2025, 04:39 PM

Bob Uecker, the legendary voice of the Milwaukee Brewers and a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, has died at the age of 90 after a battle with small-cell lung cancer. Uecker, affectionately known as "Mr. Baseball," had a six-year playing career as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1962 to 1967 with the Milwaukee Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, and Philadelphia Phillies, and was part of the Cardinals' 1964 World Series championship team. In 1971, he began his broadcasting career with the Brewers, becoming a beloved figure over his 54-year tenure behind the microphone. Beyond his work in baseball, Uecker was a celebrated comedian and actor, gaining national fame through appearances on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson and starring as announcer Harry Doyle in the "Major League" film series, where he coined the famous line "Juuust a bit outside." He also starred in the television sitcom "Mr. Belvedere" and appeared in numerous Miller Lite beer commercials. Uecker was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003 as the recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting excellence and was honored in the American Family Field Walk of Fame the same year. The Milwaukee Brewers confirmed his passing on Thursday, calling it "one of the most difficult days in Milwaukee Brewers history." MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, a longtime friend, remarked on Uecker's enduring connection with fans, saying, "He was their voice every day. He was their guy, he was their link. A Milwaukee guy. And that never changed." Uecker's death marks the end of an era for Brewers fans and the baseball community at large, who considered him a national treasure.