Bob Uecker was the voice of the Milwaukee Brewers, his hometown team. After a brief playing career, he earned the nickname “Mr. Baseball”. The baseball commissioner’s offices confirmed that Bob Uecker, who was a Hall of Famer and earned honors for his Hall of Fame Baseball, had died. He was 90.

The Brewers confirmed Uecker’s death on Thursday morning. They called it “one the most difficult days of Milwaukee Brewers History.” Uecker, according to a club statement, had been battling small-cell lung carcinoma since early 2023.

The family stated, “Even in the face of this challenge, his zest for life was never diminished, and he never allowed his spirit to fail.”

Uecker is best known for being a colorful comic and broadcaster. He earned his nickname after one of his many appearances on Johnny Carson’s late-night show.

Uecker was born and raised in Milwaukee. He signed his first contract as a professional with the Milwaukee Braves, in 1956. In 1962, he reached the Major Leagues. Uecker spent six seasons as a backup catcher in the major leagues, where he finished with a .200 batting average and 14 home runs.

He played for Atlanta, Philadelphia, and St. Louis and won a World Series Ring in 1964.

“Career highlights?” He often joked, “I had two, I got a walk from Sandy Koufax, and I was able to get out of the rundown against Mets.”

Uecker was also friends with former Brewers owner Bud Selig and MLB Commissioner Bud Selig who hired him initially as a scout. Selig would make jokes about Uecker’s first scouting reports being stained with gravy and mashed potatoes.

Selig brought Uecker into the broadcast booth. Uecker was the voice of the Brewers for the first two years after the team’s move from Seattle.

Uecker was with the Brewers from then on and became one the most iconic figures of the team. Brewers manager Craig Counsell was born in Milwaukee and remembers summer days spent throwing a ball against the roof, catching it, and listening to Uecker’s broadcasts.

Jeff Levering is a Brewers broadcaster who has been with the team since 2015.

Uecker enjoyed the chance to continue to call games for his fans in his hometown, even as his fame grew across the country.

Uecker said, “To be able to play a game every day during the summer and to talk to people each day at 6:30 pm for a night-time game makes you part of their families. I get mail telling me this. It’s a reward to be here. Just being recognized for the way you speak, describe a game or whatever.”

Uecker received the Ford C. Frick Award in 2003 and spent about 20 minutes making the Cooperstown crowd of 18,000 laughs.

He quipped, “I still – and this is by no means sour grapes — still think that I should have been a player.”

In 1969, “Ueck’s” big break came off the field when he opened for Don Rickles in Al Hirt’s nightclub in Atlanta. Hirt was impressed by his performance, and the musician arranged for him to appear on “The Tonight Show”, with Johnny Carson. He was one of Carson’s most popular guests and made more than 100 guest appearances.

Carson is the one who called Uecker Mr. Baseball.

Uecker was a talented comedian, but that was only a small part of what he could do. Uecker’s warm storytelling style and his delivery made him a natural for the role of color commentator on ABC network television broadcasts during the 1970s. In the 1990s, Uecker teamed up with Bob Costas and Joe Morgan to cover the World Series.

Uecker then became a household name as he appeared in Miller Lite All-Stars commercials, promoting the Milwaukee-based beer brand. Uecker launched his acting career on TV in 1985 with the ABC sitcom ‘Mr. Belvedere’.

Uecker portrayed George Owens in the successful 122-episode run of the six-year series, in which he played the sportswriter and head of a family in a house that brought in a butler who struggled to adapt to an American household.

Uecker played the crass Harry Doyle, an announcer for a Cleveland Indians team that is struggling to make it to the playoffs.

Uecker said to The Associated Press, “I guess I’m a part of American Folklore.” “But I’m no Hollywood guy.” “Battlefield and broadcasting is in my blood.”

His wry description of a badly wayward pitch — “Juuuust a bit outside!” — in the movie is still often repeated by announcers and fans at ballparks all over.

Uecker was often mistaken for a comedian because of his acting, but he made some great observations about the Brewers, especially during tight games. Uecker’s stories about his career, other players in the major league, and his passion for golf and fishing were equally entertaining during games that didn’t go well.

Uecker stated, “I don’t believe anyone wants to listen to someone messing around when they have a good match going. I think when people think of Major League, they think of Harry Doyle. They assume that Bob Uecker is the same. Sometimes I do it, yes. But when I’m playing well, I’m not a mess.”

He took his health seriously in his later years. He swam daily, leading up to the heart surgery he had in April 2010. Uecker was able to walk several miles within a few days of the surgery.

Uecker was determined to return to the booth, and in July began to call games again. He claimed that he had bribed doctors by allowing the toss of the first pitch.

“You mention all that Bob has accomplished, but he didn’t want to leave Milwaukee,” said Selig. Selig said, “He was a fantastic play-by-play broadcaster. He did it. He loves this franchise, and he’s dedicated to it.

Uecker’s material was largely derived from his career. Uecker’s former teammates claimed that Uecker would impersonate other broadcasters on the bus. However, Uecker chose to focus on himself once his playing career ended.

“I signed for $3,000 with the Milwaukee Braves.” “That bothered my father at the time because he did not have that kind of money,” he said. “But he scraped up the money eventually.”

The classic is: “When the opposing team had three men on with two outs and I was up to bat in the ninth inning, I saw that they were already dressed in street clothes.”

Uecker presided also over the stirring ceremonies that closed Milwaukee County Stadium, in 2000. Miller Park, the new Brewers stadium that opened in 2001 as Miller Park, began selling “Uecker seats” in the upper deck of the stadium. These seats were obstructed and high up in the air and cost $1.

Two statues are located in the stadium now called American Family Field. They honor Uecker. A statue is outside the stadium, and another one is in Section 422, a reference to his famous Miller Lite commercial where he said: “I must sit in the front row!” While being taken to the worst seats at the ballpark.