Bob Uecker

Marmel · 07-29-2003, 01:34 PM

Uecker was inducted into the HOF and the Milwaukee Walk of Fame just recently. He is one of my favorite baseball personalities. Here are some of his lines from the Walk of Fame ceremony and then a link to some of his most famous quotes:

From The Miami Herald:
The induction took place at Helfaer Field, a little-league stadium the Brewers built just behind Miller Park on the site of old Milwaukee County Stadium.

"I look at this magnificent ballpark, and I wonder 'Could I hit one out of here?,'" Uecker joked about the small field, drawing some of the loudest laughs of his short speech.

For over three decades, Uecker has been one of the few bright spots for a team that has generally had losing seasons. His witty commentary has kept many fans interested in the club even during the worst of times.

``This has always been No. 1--baseball,'' said Uecker, who has broadcast Brewers games since 1971. ``The commercials, the films, the television series, I could never wait for everything to get over to get back to baseball. I still, and this is not sour grapes by any means, still think I should have gone in as a player.''

From The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

On endorsements: "I had a great shoe contract and glove contract with a company who paid me a lot of money never to be seen using their stuff."

"Sitting around all those years," the Milwaukee Brewers announcer said, "with your wife and kids, waiting for the phone, it finally got to the point where I had to say, `Hey, I don't need it.' I can bronze my own glove and hang it on a nail in my garage and build a little grotto out there."

From The Philadelphia Inquier:

"In 1962, I was named minor-league player of the year. It was my second season in the bigs."

"I set records that will never be equaled. In fact, I hope 90 percent of them don't even get printed."

"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?"

For more Uecker quotes check out:
http://www.channel3000.com/sports/2361050/detail.html

Marmel · 07-29-2003, 01:38 PM

Here is more:

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/208/...terous_:.shtml

Butter · 07-29-2003, 01:55 PM

I watched the ceremony, and agree that Uecker was by far the high point. Although being from Dayton, I enjoyed Hal McCoy's brief speech as well. His writing is always top notch, and he pulls no punches in his MANY columns in the Dayton Daily News criticizing Reds ownership for not spending any money for pitching.

Fritz · 07-29-2003, 01:56 PM

anyone have a link to a recording or video of his speech?

Easy Mac · 07-29-2003, 01:56 PM

"just a bit outside"

SplitPersonality1 · 07-29-2003, 02:18 PM

Uecker is a Milwaukee institution and is truly the only bright spot "baseball-wise" in this town. Many people, myself included, will watch the game on TV muted, and listen to Ueck on the radio.

Nice post Marmel. You can't be all bad if you like Uecker.

JeeberD · 07-29-2003, 02:26 PM

Even my girlfriend knows who he is, and she knows NO ONE related to baseball. I don't think she would recognize Barry Bonds or A-Rod.

So you know Uecker's gotta be huge if she recognizes him...

Anrhydeddu · 07-29-2003, 02:28 PM

Well, he was on a TV series for a while. Belvedere, I believe. For most of my life I knew his name because he is one of the few celebrities with the same birth date as mine.

Ksyrup · 07-29-2003, 02:36 PM

I just watched most of an ESPN Classic airing of a June 28, 1976 ABC Monday Night Baseball Game of the Week between the Tigers and Yankees. It was memorable because of Mark Fidrych (which is another topic in and of itself), but I also took note of the announcers.

Uecker was the only one who made any sense, and of course, was funny as well. Warner Wolf and Bob Prince were awful. Prince, in particular, was incoherent. He would screw people's names up, ramble in a mumbling voice, trip over scores, etc. Wolf was not much better, and I was surprised by that, considering I used to love his highlight clips segment that was shown on one of the big 3's morning news show during the 80's. But Uecker was great.

Anrhydeddu · 07-29-2003, 02:39 PM

I remember watching that game live. It was one of the best baseball events in my life.

Ksyrup · 07-29-2003, 02:52 PM

I don't mean to threadjack, but I wasn't kidding when I said it is a topic unto itself. The frenzy surrounding Fidrych, and especially the end of the game - I would have loved to have been there in person. Watching that game felt so different from watching baseball games now - or really, any sporting event nowadays, for that matter - that it's easy to see how people fall into the trap of speaking about the "good ole' days." It really felt like a different "era."

And it wasn't just the big things, either. I noticed the little things that would get analyzed and torn apart on ESPN and all over the internet:

1. The fact that most players would consider him to be "showing them up" by talking to the ball and himself, and pointing and motioning toward the batter/home plate. That wouldn't be tolerated these days.

2. The fact that I don't recall one batter stepping out on him, despite the fact that he was pitching the ball as soon as he got it back. I kept thinking to myself, "If I'm a Yankee hitter, I try to disrupt him by calling time repeatedly." never happened that I saw.

3. The fact that after the game was over, he was running around like Jim Valvano looking for someone to celebrate with, and he shook the hand of one of the umpires. That would have gotten major scrutiny on ESPN, I think.

4. The fact that he was shaking the hands of police officers and people in the crowd after the game. Considering the security issues going on in sports and the world in general these days, we'd be hard-pressed to see such a thing permitted anymore - even a Cal Ripkenesque jog around the field seems out of the question these days.

5. Even the batting averages, HR, and RBI totals were amazing. End of June, and most guys were hitting in the .230's, most HRs I saw was 11 for Nettles, and I don't recall anyone having even 40 RBI. And Fidrych's win that night was his 8th complete game of the season.

Watching that game was just a surreal experience. I wasn't even 5 in June of 1976 - although, coincidentally, that date was 21 years to the day of my wedding anniversary, which my wife pointed out (that was the extent of her interest, aside from the strange guy on the mound).

cuervo72 · 07-29-2003, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Anrhydeddu
Well, he was on a TV series for a while. Belvedere, I believe. For most of my life I knew his name because he is one of the few celebrities with the same birth date as mine.

Wow Arkanoid, I knew you were old, but I didn't know you were born in 1935!!

Craptacular · 08-02-2003, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SplitPersonality1
Uecker is a Milwaukee institution and is truly the only bright spot "baseball-wise" in this town. Many people, myself included, will watch the game on TV muted, and listen to Ueck on the radio.

I did the same thing. It's about time Bob got inducted into the HOF.

07-29-2003, 01:38 PM	#2
Marmel Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Manchester, CT	Here is more: http://www.boston.com/dailynews/208/...terous_:.shtml __________________ 81-78 Cincinnati basketball writer P. Daugherty, "Connor Barwin playing several minutes against Syracuse is like kids with slingshots taking down Caesar's legions."

07-29-2003, 01:55 PM	#3
Butter Coordinator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Dayton, OH	I watched the ceremony, and agree that Uecker was by far the high point. Although being from Dayton, I enjoyed Hal McCoy's brief speech as well. His writing is always top notch, and he pulls no punches in his MANY columns in the Dayton Daily News criticizing Reds ownership for not spending any money for pitching. __________________ My listening habits

07-29-2003, 01:56 PM	#4
Fritz Lethargic Hooligan Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: hello kitty found my wallet at a big tent revival and returned it with all the cash missing	anyone have a link to a recording or video of his speech? __________________ donkey, donkey, walk a little faster

07-29-2003, 02:26 PM	#7
JeeberD General Manager Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Town of Flower Mound	Even my girlfriend knows who he is, and she knows NO ONE related to baseball. I don't think she would recognize Barry Bonds or A-Rod. So you know Uecker's gotta be huge if she recognizes him... __________________ UTEP Miners!!! I solemnly swear to never cheer for TO

07-29-2003, 02:36 PM	#9
Ksyrup This guy has posted so much, his fingers are about to fall off. Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: In Absentia	I just watched most of an ESPN Classic airing of a June 28, 1976 ABC Monday Night Baseball Game of the Week between the Tigers and Yankees. It was memorable because of Mark Fidrych (which is another topic in and of itself), but I also took note of the announcers. Uecker was the only one who made any sense, and of course, was funny as well. Warner Wolf and Bob Prince were awful. Prince, in particular, was incoherent. He would screw people's names up, ramble in a mumbling voice, trip over scores, etc. Wolf was not much better, and I was surprised by that, considering I used to love his highlight clips segment that was shown on one of the big 3's morning news show during the 80's. But Uecker was great. __________________ M's pitcher Miguel Batista: "Now, I feel like I've had everything. I've talked pitching with Sandy Koufax, had Kenny G play for me. Maybe if I could have an interview with God, then I'd be served. I'd be complete."

07-29-2003, 01:56 PM	#5
Easy Mac Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Here	"just a bit outside"

07-29-2003, 02:18 PM	#6
SplitPersonality1 College Benchwarmer Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Grafton, WI	Uecker is a Milwaukee institution and is truly the only bright spot "baseball-wise" in this town. Many people, myself included, will watch the game on TV muted, and listen to Ueck on the radio. Nice post Marmel. You can't be all bad if you like Uecker.

07-29-2003, 02:28 PM	#8
Anrhydeddu Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Oct 2002	Well, he was on a TV series for a while. Belvedere, I believe. For most of my life I knew his name because he is one of the few celebrities with the same birth date as mine.

07-29-2003, 02:39 PM	#10
Anrhydeddu Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Oct 2002	I remember watching that game live. It was one of the best baseball events in my life.

07-29-2003, 02:52 PM	#11
Ksyrup This guy has posted so much, his fingers are about to fall off. Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: In Absentia	I don't mean to threadjack, but I wasn't kidding when I said it is a topic unto itself. The frenzy surrounding Fidrych, and especially the end of the game - I would have loved to have been there in person. Watching that game felt so different from watching baseball games now - or really, any sporting event nowadays, for that matter - that it's easy to see how people fall into the trap of speaking about the "good ole' days." It really felt like a different "era." And it wasn't just the big things, either. I noticed the little things that would get analyzed and torn apart on ESPN and all over the internet: 1. The fact that most players would consider him to be "showing them up" by talking to the ball and himself, and pointing and motioning toward the batter/home plate. That wouldn't be tolerated these days. 2. The fact that I don't recall one batter stepping out on him, despite the fact that he was pitching the ball as soon as he got it back. I kept thinking to myself, "If I'm a Yankee hitter, I try to disrupt him by calling time repeatedly." never happened that I saw. 3. The fact that after the game was over, he was running around like Jim Valvano looking for someone to celebrate with, and he shook the hand of one of the umpires. That would have gotten major scrutiny on ESPN, I think. 4. The fact that he was shaking the hands of police officers and people in the crowd after the game. Considering the security issues going on in sports and the world in general these days, we'd be hard-pressed to see such a thing permitted anymore - even a Cal Ripkenesque jog around the field seems out of the question these days. 5. Even the batting averages, HR, and RBI totals were amazing. End of June, and most guys were hitting in the .230's, most HRs I saw was 11 for Nettles, and I don't recall anyone having even 40 RBI. And Fidrych's win that night was his 8th complete game of the season. Watching that game was just a surreal experience. I wasn't even 5 in June of 1976 - although, coincidentally, that date was 21 years to the day of my wedding anniversary, which my wife pointed out (that was the extent of her interest, aside from the strange guy on the mound). __________________ M's pitcher Miguel Batista: "Now, I feel like I've had everything. I've talked pitching with Sandy Koufax, had Kenny G play for me. Maybe if I could have an interview with God, then I'd be served. I'd be complete." Last edited by Ksyrup : 07-29-2003 at 02:53 PM.

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