#Baseball #Bob #Uecker #Passes #WorthPoint
The baseball world lost one of its most colorful personalities on January 16 with the passing of Bob Uecker.
Playfully nicknamed Mr. Baseball, Uecker had brief stints in the Majors, first with his hometown Milwaukee Braves before playing for the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, and Atlanta Braves. His strength was as a catcher, while his batting, by his own admission, was less impressive, including a career .200 batting average.
Where Uecker instead made his name and fame was in the broadcast booth. For decades, Uecker was the voice of the Milwaukee Brewers. His natural wit often made his calls more memorable than the action on the field.
Uecker’s charisma made him desirable in Hollywood. He played off his broadcasting strength in the series of Major League movies and also starred in the 1980s sitcom Mr. Belvedere. Uecker was also a frequent guest on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show and appeared at consecutive WrestleMania events.
Uecker’s popularity also led to being a frequent memorabilia target. Bobbleheads, talking alarm clocks, and other novelties were part of the fodder for his legion of fans.
Uecker was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003 and recognized with the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting.
Jon Waldman is a Winnipeg-based writer. He has written for Beckett, Go GTS, Canadian Sports Collector, and several other hobby outlets over his two decades in the hobby. His experience also includes two books on sports cards and memorabilia. Connect with Jon on Twitter at @jonwaldman.
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