Bob Uecker
Bob Uecker
Robert George "Bob" Ueckeris a retired American Major League Baseball player, later a sportscaster, comedian and actor. Uecker was given the title of "Mr. Baseball" by TV talk show host Johnny Carson. Since 1971, Uecker has served as a play-by-play announcer for Milwaukee Brewers radio broadcasts. Uecker was honored by the National Baseball Hall of Fame with its 2003 Ford C. Frick Award for his broadcasting career...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBaseball Player
Date of Birth26 January 1935
CityMilwaukee, WI
CountryUnited States of America
We were on for six years. We were in syndication for a while. It had its run. I still see the people from 'Mr. Belvedere,' too. We stay in touch.
People have asked me a lot of times, because I didn't hit a lot, how long a dozen bats would last me. Depending on the weight and model I was using at that time - I would say eight to 10 cookouts.
People don't know this, but I helped the Cardinals win the pennant. I came down with hepatitis. The trainer injected me with it!
Baseball hasn't forgotten me. I go to a lot of old-timers games and I haven't lost a thing. I sit in the bullpen and let people throw things at me. Just like old times.
On TV the people can see it. On radio you've got to create it.
Anyone with talent can play in the Major Leagues; for someone like me to stay around as long as I did, I think that's a much greater acheivement.
My kids used to do things to aggravate me, too. I'd take them to a game, and they'd want to come home with a different player.
I would order a dozen bats and there were times they'd come back with handles at each end.
Sporting goods companies pay me not to endorse their products.
I was acting when I was playing baseball.
Anybody with ability can play in the big leagues. But to be able to trick people year in and year out the way I did, I think that was a much greater feat.
You throw batting practice, you warm up pitchers, you sit and cheer. You do whatever you have to do to stay on the team.
Sure, women sportswriters look when they're in the clubhouse. Read their stories. How else do you explain a capital letter in the middle of a word?
I think my top salary was maybe in 1966. I made $17,000 and 11 of that came from selling other players' equipment.