Bob Uecker: Remembering one of baseball's greatest figures
USA TODAY Sports' Steve Gardner remembers the legacy of Hall of Famer Bob Uecker.
that Milwaukee Brewers The clubhouse was deathly quiet, tears streamed down the players' faces and they hugged each other. Because I knew this loss meant much more than the end of the season.
It was the end of a 54-year era in which the community fell in love with the broadcaster, and he fell in love with this humble, blue-collar town.
The Brewers were 3 outs away from winning the Wild Card Series and advancing to Philadelphia. new york mets first baseman Pete Alonso He capped off his 2024 season with a soul-crushing three-run ninth inning home run in a winner-takes-all game.
defeat They were stunned and heartbroken to see their beloved broadcaster and face of the franchise, Bob Uecker, walk through the door.
No words were needed.
They know what it means.
Brewers outfielder: “That’s why the game was so emotional.” Christian Yelich said. “We knew it would have been the last production Bob would be involved in.''
That was truly Uecker's last game and the last time they saw him. Uecker passed away Thursday morning. At 90 years old.
“This was a widespread belief among those close to him,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy told USA Today Sports. “The way he comforted others, even knowing this was probably his last game, was indicative of who he was. …
“He was in so much pain.”
Euker, who turns 91 in 10 days, has been fighting small cell lung cancer since early 2023, and the pain has become unbearable. But he didn't want any sympathy or spotlight from his beloved Brewers, so he shared his pain with a precious few.
“He didn’t want to talk about it,” Brewers owner Mark Attanasio said. “He was very private about it. Few people knew about it. There were days when I went to the baseball field and played a game that afternoon after receiving radiation treatment.''
That night, Euchre quietly walked through the clubhouse, shaking hands and hugging before spotting Devin Williams, who had given up the game-winning home run, up close. It's not known what he said, but he made Williams laugh.
Those crying when he walked out the door were Yelich, Willy Adames, Murphy and Brewers GM Matt Arnold.
Attanasio waited outside the clubhouse for an hour and a half, maybe two hours, for Uecker, not wanting to disrupt his interaction with the players. He knew it would be Uecker's last time with players who like him.
“I knew where he was,” Attanasio said. “They were all so close to each other. I wanted the players to have their moments. I knew it was important to him. There were a lot of emotions.''
The small group stayed together in the Brewers' clubhouse until 5 a.m., talking about the game, the season, their future, but mostly about Uecker.
He meant that much to the organization, and when news broke Thursday morning of his death, it was no surprise, but the pain still lingered throughout the organization.
“He was at peace with dying for a while,” said Brewers owner Mark Attanasio, who last saw him at his home in November. “He was truly the heart of Milwaukee baseball.”
Uecker loved Milwaukee, and oh, did they ever love him back?
He was Mr. Baseball In this charming, hard-working city, he had his own locker in the Brewers' clubhouse and a statue honoring him outside the ballpark, but he never signed a contract and believed a handshake agreement was enough.
'Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu?? Come outside a little bit!' 6 iconic scenes from Bob Euchre's role as 'Major League' announcer Harry Doyle
He was born in Milwaukee, raised in Milwaukee, and never thought about leaving.
“He had every opportunity to leave the city, leave the state,” Attanasio said. He remembered hearing that George Steinbrenner had tried to hire him when he owned the company. new york yankees. “He could have left for an acting career. He may have left for a comedy career. He was a Wisconsin name. He was true blue for Wisconsin.
“He was one of us.”
In fact, he may have been Milwaukee's greatest ambassador, no one more beloved. His character will forever be embedded in Brewers franchise history.
“To say it’s “one of a kind” is a bit of an understatement,” Murphy said. “He is not a hero, he is a legend. You know what they say about legends.
“They never die.”
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2025-01-17 01:22:21
Bob Uecker's finale against the Brewers was a surprising playoff loss.
