Longtime Brewers Broadcaster Bob Uecker Dies at 90

Milwaukee Brewers radio announcer Bob Uecker throws a ceremonial first pitch before Game One of the Wild Card Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in Milwaukee on Oct. 3, 2023. Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Famed Milwaukee Brewers radio broadcaster Bob Uecker, known as “Mr. Baseball,” died at age 90 on Jan. 16.

The Brewers announced his passing and paid tribute to him via social media on Thursday morning. A Milwaukee native, Uecker played in Milwaukee in the 1960s with the Braves at the time, and he did broadcasts for the Brewers between 1971 and 2024.

“Ueck was the light of the Brewers, the soundtrack of our summers, the laughter in our hearts, and his passing is a profound loss,” the Brewers wrote in a statement. “He was the heart and soul of Wisconsin and a dear friend. Bob loved people; his presence warmed every room, and he had a way of welcoming all of us into his world as if we were lifelong friends.

“Saying goodbye to Bob shakes us all. He was so much more than a Milwaukee Brewers icon. He was a national treasure. Bob entertained us with his words and storytelling, so it is no surprise that his passing now leaves us at a loss for our own words.”

Uecker had the second-longest broadcasting tenure with any MLB team after Kansas City Royals broadcaster Denny Matthews, who began in 1969. In addition, Uecker did national MLB broadcasts on TV with ABC in the 1970s and 1980s.

Uecker became a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame with the Ford C. Frick Award in 2003 as a major contributor to the game with his broadcasting. Also a member of the National Radio Hall of Fame since 2001, he won the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association award for Wisconsin five times and became a member of that Hall of Fame in 2011.

Uecker, who continued broadcasting through numerous medical conditions, had been living with small-cell lung cancer, his family confirmed in a statement. He continued broadcasting in 2024 despite the illness.

“Bob faced a private battle with small cell lung cancer since early 2023, which he met with the same strength and resilience that defined him,” the family said. “Even in the face of this challenge, his enthusiasm for life was always present, never allowing his spirit to falter.

“He brought joy to countless listeners through his wit, charisma, and love for baseball, Milwaukee, and all of Wisconsin, creating a legacy that will forever be cherished. While his contributions to the game are noteworthy, it is his kindness, humility, and love for family and friends that we will hold closest to our hearts.”

Uecker had four children with his first wife, Joyce, who died in 2015. Two of his children, Leann and Steve, preceded him in death in 2022 and 2012 respectively. Uecker is survived by children Sue and Robert Jr.

A former MLB player from 1962 to 1967, Uecker was known to poke fun at his rather undistinguished playing career. Uecker won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964, when he played in 40 games for the team amid a .198 batting average and six RBI. Overall, Uecker had 14 home runs, 74 RBI, and a .200 batting average in 297 career games among the Braves, Cardinals, and Philadelphia Phillies.

“I still, and this is not sour grapes by any means … think I should have gone in as a player,” Uecker said during his 2003 Hall of Fame speech. “The proof is in the pudding.”

Four years after he retired from baseball in 1967, Uecker became the Brewers’ radio broadcaster. The Brewers had just played their first season in Milwaukee in 1970, the year after a move from Seattle as the former Seattle Pilots.

Uecker’s broadcasting moments included calling the team’s lone World Series appearance in 1982 and numerous pennant and playoff chases over five decades. He chronicled the Brewers winning seven division titles and making 10 postseason appearances in his time.

“There is no describing the impact Ueck had on so many, and no words for how much he was loved,” the Brewers statement said. “We are left with a giant void in our hearts, but also remember the laughter and joy he brought to our lives.”