Article: From Childhood to Adulthood: Bob Uecker, The Soundtrack of My Summer

[pitchleague]

My wife and I have already made a pact to do as you suggested this season.  Every home game without Brian Anderson in the booth will be a Uecker game for us. Thankfully, mlb.tv allows you to watch the game but choose the radio audio!

[Sean Franken]

The MLB offseason was certainly an interesting one. I’m sure many of us had the same thoughts, “Will there be a season?” “If there is a season, how many games will be played?” As a Brewers fan, one of my big concerns was if the lockout would rob me of listening to a true National Treasure, Bob Uecker. Luckily, all was resolved and Brewer fans will have another season of Mr. Baseball on the radio.

My first Brewers memories are from the early 80s. Living in Green Bay, in a time before Regional Sports Networks, there weren’t many Brewers games on TV so I relied on the radio for my Brewers fix. Bob Uecker was the voice of my childhood. From Harvey’s Wallbangers to Jaime Cocanower starts, from a 13-0 start to a season (Including a Juan Nieves no-hitter, caught by Bill Schroeder) to Paul Molitor’s 39-game hit streak, "Ueck" was there to narrate it all. 

As I grew older, Ueck was always there, every summer, like clockwork. He was there for Robin’s 3000th, the John Jaha home runs, through the lean years of the late 90s and early 2000’s. He’s been there through the Crew’s resurgence and multiple playoff appearances. As a child, then as a teen, and now as an adult, Bob Uecker has been there every summer. 

Here’s the thing though, nothing lasts forever. The reality is, we don’t know how much longer Uecker will be calling baseball games. That’s why last season, I made an effort to listen to more Brewers games via radio. This year I’ll be doing the same.

Baseball, more than any other sport, is conducive to the radio. There are few things better than relaxing outside on a summer evening, burgers on the grill, a cold beverage in hand, and listening to baseball on the radio. We’re able to picture the action as it's narrated to us.

There is is no question that the Brewers TV crew is a talented bunch. Brian Anderson is a National broadcasting star. Rock and Sophia are great, but Mr. Baseball won’t be around forever. As Brewers fans, let’s soak up every second. Turn on the radio instead of the TV.

I can hear it now... "it’s the bottom of the 9th at Am Fam Field. There’s a man on and the Crew is down by one run. Christian Yelich gets a hold of one…then that familiar call, “Get up, get up, get outta here, GONE!”

Do you have any Bob Uecker stories to share? Have you ever had the opportunity to meet him? What are your favorite lines from "Ueck"? Please share in the COMMENTS below. 

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[SeaBass]

My favorite Uecker call is one I can't find anywhere, it's a Sixto Lezcano GS call, I think from opening day in '79 or '80? It might have even been a walk off. I was a little young to have experienced it live, I was 6 or 7 back then, but I have heard clips of it played many times. The awe and excitement in Uek's call is pure baseball goodness. If anyone knows what I'm referring to (like I said not sure of the date or if it was opening day) or has an audio clip that would be amazing.

Edit: I found it.

 

[SeaBass]

My favorite Uecker call is one I can't find anywhere, it's a Sixto Lezcano GS call, I think from opening day in '79 or '80? It might have even been a walk off. I was a little young to have experienced it live, I was 6 or 7 back then, but I have heard clips of it played many times. The awe and excitement in Uek's call is pure baseball goodness. If anyone knows what I'm referring to (like I said not sure of the date or if it was opening day) or has an audio clip that would be amazing.

Edit: I found it.

 

[GAME05]

I became a Bob Uecker fan well before I became a Milwaukee Brewers fan or a fan of baseball in general. I started listening in the dreary days when losing 90 games a year was pretty standard. Oddly enough I tended to enjoy the games when the Brewers were losing badly more than when the game was close, because as he still does, Uecker understood that calling the plays when you're already down 10 runs wouldn't hold the listener, and so he will just start telling baseball stories. He'd go on and on with some funny story with a quick little "line to LF for the second out" between telling you how he created the game "Ugly".

[GAME05]

I became a Bob Uecker fan well before I became a Milwaukee Brewers fan or a fan of baseball in general. I started listening in the dreary days when losing 90 games a year was pretty standard. Oddly enough I tended to enjoy the games when the Brewers were losing badly more than when the game was close, because as he still does, Uecker understood that calling the plays when you're already down 10 runs wouldn't hold the listener, and so he will just start telling baseball stories. He'd go on and on with some funny story with a quick little "line to LF for the second out" between telling you how he created the game "Ugly".

[Seth Stohs]

I first liked Uecker because of Mr. Belvedere. I had heard he played baseball and obviously saw his commercials in the '80s... But as I got older, I did more reading and researching... I bought and read Catcher in the Wry. I started listening to him call games. I love his self-deprecation humor, and no, he wasn't great, but he played on some great teams and caught some great pitchers. I plan to listen too. 

[Seth Stohs]

I first liked Uecker because of Mr. Belvedere. I had heard he played baseball and obviously saw his commercials in the '80s... But as I got older, I did more reading and researching... I bought and read Catcher in the Wry. I started listening to him call games. I love his self-deprecation humor, and no, he wasn't great, but he played on some great teams and caught some great pitchers. I plan to listen too. 

[pitchleague]

I commented on this article yesterday (before it must have been pulled?) so I'll repeat my comment:

 

My wife and I have already made a pact to listen to more Uecker this season: every home game in which Brian Anderson is not on the call will be a "Uecker" game for us.  Thankfully, we can change the audio on the MLB.TV app on our Roku to make this seamless.

[pitchleague]

I commented on this article yesterday (before it must have been pulled?) so I'll repeat my comment:

 

My wife and I have already made a pact to listen to more Uecker this season: every home game in which Brian Anderson is not on the call will be a "Uecker" game for us.  Thankfully, we can change the audio on the MLB.TV app on our Roku to make this seamless.

[Dragonbait]

My wife and I, we haven't heard any other PbP man besides Uecker... he's been our guy for our whole lives. We are not looking forward to the day he signs off for the last time.  It will feel like loosing a part of summer.

 

There is no one better, especially when the game is a blow out, like in Pittsburgh; "looks like he's calling to get someone ready in the bullpen, and the guys are climbing the fence to get out so their number isnt going to get called." (Or something like that) 

[Dragonbait]

My wife and I, we haven't heard any other PbP man besides Uecker... he's been our guy for our whole lives. We are not looking forward to the day he signs off for the last time.  It will feel like loosing a part of summer.

 

There is no one better, especially when the game is a blow out, like in Pittsburgh; "looks like he's calling to get someone ready in the bullpen, and the guys are climbing the fence to get out so their number isnt going to get called." (Or something like that) 

[CheezWizHed]

On 3/26/2022 at 8:41 AM, pitchleague said:

My wife and I have already made a pact to do as you suggested this season.  Every home game without Brian Anderson in the booth will be a Uecker game for us. Thankfully, mlb.tv allows you to watch the game but choose the radio audio!

I have somehow missed this!  Good to know.  I will certainly be listening to Bob every chance I get.  He isn't what he was, but still excellent.  He was a treasure in my childhood...we were as far away in the state as you can get, so we never got them on TV.  But I listened to hundreds of games on the radio.

Thank you George Owens!

[CheezWizHed]

On 3/26/2022 at 8:41 AM, pitchleague said:

My wife and I have already made a pact to do as you suggested this season.  Every home game without Brian Anderson in the booth will be a Uecker game for us. Thankfully, mlb.tv allows you to watch the game but choose the radio audio!

I have somehow missed this!  Good to know.  I will certainly be listening to Bob every chance I get.  He isn't what he was, but still excellent.  He was a treasure in my childhood...we were as far away in the state as you can get, so we never got them on TV.  But I listened to hundreds of games on the radio.

Thank you George Owens!

[CheezWizHed]

On 3/26/2022 at 8:41 AM, pitchleague said:

My wife and I have already made a pact to do as you suggested this season.  Every home game without Brian Anderson in the booth will be a Uecker game for us. Thankfully, mlb.tv allows you to watch the game but choose the radio audio!

I have somehow missed this!  Good to know.  I will certainly be listening to Bob every chance I get.  He isn't what he was, but still excellent.  He was a treasure in my childhood...we were as far away in the state as you can get, so we never got them on TV.  But I listened to hundreds of games on the radio.

Thank you George Owens!

[CheezWizHed]

On 3/26/2022 at 8:41 AM, pitchleague said:

My wife and I have already made a pact to do as you suggested this season.  Every home game without Brian Anderson in the booth will be a Uecker game for us. Thankfully, mlb.tv allows you to watch the game but choose the radio audio!

I have somehow missed this!  Good to know.  I will certainly be listening to Bob every chance I get.  He isn't what he was, but still excellent.  He was a treasure in my childhood...we were as far away in the state as you can get, so we never got them on TV.  But I listened to hundreds of games on the radio.

Thank you George Owens!