He is definitely in the conversation as an all-time great announcer. While he is obviously best known for his comedic prowess, he actually was a very good baseball announcer. He could articulate the game, explain it well, etc.
I used to go to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan a lot years ago. When I would drive west, I could pick up the Brewers games on their station, crystal clear.
When I was a young teen, the Brewers were in Detroit playing the Tigers and before the game I (and a bunch of other folks) were trying to get autographs from the Brewers players. Counting Bob, I think I got five Hall-of-Fame signatures. Still have them all.
Great guy.
Everything in Moderation. Including Moderation.
Cool to hear, & no surprise indeed, being a catcher, the captain of the infield, catching the likes of Gibson, Jim Kaat, a young Steve Carlton et al, that he became a great commentator in addition to his renown as a comedian
Don Meredith was like that on MNF games w/Cosell & Gifford, Mr Funnyguy yes, but much better at breaking down the game
RIP & see you in the front roooww, Mr. Bob Uecker
Sad to hear about Bob Uecker's passing. I'm so old I remember Bob as a baseball player. One of the teams I followed closely was the Milwaukee Braves. In the early 1960's I was wild about the Yankees, Giants and the Braves and Bob Uecker was on the Milwaukee Braves team as a back up catcher. Later New York Yankees manager Joe Torre was the starting catcher but Uecker did get some playing time.
Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews, Warren Spahn, Del Crandall, Joe Adcock were some of the fantastic players on the Braves team.
Being a third string catcher for the Braves, it was surprising when Bob became a very good and unique and humorous baseball announcer. He was so funny he would get invited on late night TV shows because he was so naturally funny!!
P. S. The baseball fans here know that Butch Trucks' uncle* was a big time baseball pitcher back in my youth. I remember him playing for the Kansas City Athletics and New York Yankees in the 1950's. A very good pitcher.
His name was Virgil "Fire" Trucks and I looked up Virgil Trucks and he died in 2013 at age 95!!! His brother, Claude H. Trucks, Sr ( Butch's father) died in 2020 at age 101!!!
*Some people have disputed Butch's claim Virgil Trucks was his uncle.
Good post robertdee, esp the mention of all those great players - yep that’s when it was a game alright⚾️may I add one name - Lew Burdette - pitched Braves to 1957 WS title w/three complete games, & the first since Christy Mathewson to have 2 shutouts in a WS
Braves had only relocated to Milwaukee from Boston 4 years earlier too, after the 1952 season
by way of trivia, Lew was the winning pitcher when Harvey Haddix pitched his 12-inning perfect game but lost - Burdette also went the distance, scattering 12 hits
Yes it’s a big loss for baseball, the passing of Bob Uecker
@stephen Oh yes Lew Burdette. I shouldn't have forgotten him. Like mentioning the great players of the Yankees then and forgetting say Ralph Terry. And the Braves beat the Yankees in the World Series in 1957. I was 11 years old but still remember hearing some of the action on the radio.
