The Milwaukee Brewers are enjoying their World Series victory. On Friday, they returned home to Milwaukee for a championship parade before throngs of fans.
As the team rode down the street, manager Pat Murphy paid homage to a beloved member of the Brewers family who wasn't there in person but was there in spirit: Bob Uecker, per MLB.com.
Murphy waved to fans, then pointed to a mural of Uecker on a downtown wall.
Calling Uecker beloved is an understatement. He was adored, and even that wasn't enough.
Uecker was a former backup catcher who became one of baseball's most iconic broadcasters. His game knowledge and self-deprecating humor endeared him to the masses, especially in Milwaukee.
In 1971, Uecker, affectionately known as “Mr. Baseball”, became the voice for the Brewers. From there, he served as the franchise's voice for 54 seasons. He was there when the Brewers made the 1982 World Series, losing to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Along the way, Uecker cultivated relationships with the players. In 2018, the franchise granted Uecker a full player's share of $123,000 after reaching the NLCS.
Uecker also broadcast for national outlets such as ABC and NBC. He also became a beloved presence on Johnny Carson and Major League.
In January 2025, Uecker passed away at 90.
As the Brewers made their run to the World Series, people still spoke of Uecker. From the players to Murphy to the fans, no one forgot him.
In that sense, his absence is bittersweet, but sweet nonetheless because, in truth, Mr. Baseball will always be here.