Bob Uecker Dies at 90; MLB, Brewers Broadcasting Legend Was 2003 HOF Honoree

The Milwaukee Brewers announced Thursday that legendary announcer Bob Uecker died at the age of 90.

"Ueck was the light of the Brewers, the soundrack of our summers, the laughter in our hearts, and his passing is a profound loss," the team said 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."

Uecker was the Brewers' radio play-by-play man since 1971. The Baseball Hall of Fame honored him with the Ford C. Frick Award in 2003 to celebrate his contributions from the broadcast booth.

Uecker also spent six seasons as a catcher in MLB, winning a World Series in 1964 with the St. Louis Cardinals.

"Bob became incredibly popular, incredibly recognizable, but his favorite environment was always the clubhouse," Hall of Famer Paul Molitor said, per MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. "He never changed. With everything that came his way, he never forgot his roots."

McCalvy also included some of the self-deprecating comments Uecker made about his nondescript playing career.

"You know, I was once named Minor League Player of the Year," he once said. "Unfortunately, I had been in the majors for two years at the time."

Uecker also quipped that his lifetime .200 batting average "tied me with another sports great averaging 200 or better in a 10-year period," before citing legendary professional bowler Don Carter.

Uecker's reach extended far beyond Milwaukee. His quick wit and sense of humor were regularly showcased on Johnny Carson's late-night television show, and he portrayed play-by-play announcer Harry Doyle in the Major League film franchise. A number of his lines from Major League entered the popular baseball vernacular.

Uecker even managed to carve a special place in wrestling history for himself. He was part of the broadcast for WrestleMania IV and the clip of him being "choked" by André the Giant circulated for years afterward in WrestleMania retrospectives.

"When you spend a lot of time with Ueck, you really wish that you wrote everything down," former Brewers manager Craig Counsell said, per McCalvy. "That's what I always wish. I wish I wrote it all down."