ST. LOUIS – Bob Uecker, a legendary baseball broadcaster and former St. Louis Cardinal, has died at the age of 90.
Uecker was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as a broadcaster and the recipient of the Ford Frick Award in 2003.
Uecker played six MLB seasons, including two with the Cardinals, which included a 1964 World Series championship. His baseball broadcasting career began in the 1970s and spanned more than 50 years.
Though his career as a baseball player was modest, Uecker’s wit, humor, and storytelling paved the way for a memorable broadcasting career. Along with his longtime work for the Milwaukee Brewers, Uecker was the voice behind many national baseball broadcasts on ABC and NBC in the 1970s and 1980s.
Uecker’s comedic charm shined in the fictional “Major League” film series, where he played Harry Doyle, a broadcaster known for his witty quips and amusing remarks like “Just a bit outside” as he chronicled the antics of a struggling baseball team.
Over the years, Uecker also served as a ring announcer for the World Wrestling Federation and a frequent guest on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” where Uecker earned the nickname “Mr. Baseball.” Uecker also had a starring role in the 1980s sitcom Mr. Belvedere and several Miller Lite commercials.
The Cardinals shared the following statement on Thursday: “We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Hall of Famer and baseball icon Bob Uecker today. Uecker played two seasons in St. Louis and was part of our 1964 World Series team. His wit, humor, and deep love of the game will be dearly missed by baseball fans everywhere.”
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred shared the following statement, in part: “Bob was the genuine item: always the funniest person in any room he was in, and always an outstanding ambassador for our National Pastime. We are grateful for this baseball life like no other, and we will never forget him.” On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest sympathy to Bob’s family, his many friends across the game, Brewers fans, and the countless baseball fans who admired him.”
According to the Milwaukee Brewers, Uecker faced a private battle with small cell lung cancer since 2023. “Saying goobye to Bob shakes us all. He was a national treasure,” said the Brewers in a statement.