February 5, 2025 • 31 mins
Bob Uecker was more than just a baseball legend—he was a cultural icon, a Hall of Fame broadcaster, and one of the most beloved personalities in sports history. In this special tribute episode, MLB Network’s Matt Vasgersian, Hall of Famers Rollie Fingers, Ted Simmons, and Paul Molitor share their favorite Ueck stories. From his playing days to the broadcast booth, and of course, his unforgettable moments in pop culture, this is a celebration of “Mr. Baseball”.
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Episode Transcript
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Bob Uecker (00:00):
I uh did not have a lot of ability as a kid.
My dad wanted me to haveeverything that everybody else
had.
I think the first thing that heever bought me was a football.
And I was very young, and uh hedidn't know a lot about it.
He came from the old country.
And uh I mean we tried to passit and throw it and kick it, and
we couldn't do it, and it wasvery discouraging for him and
(00:21):
for me.
And uh almost we almost quit,and and finally we had a a nice
enough neighbor came over andput some air in it.
And what a what a difference...
that was Bob Uecker's 2003 Hallof Fame speech.
He was the Ford C Frick Awardwinner that year uh and is in
(00:42):
the broadcast wing of the Hallof Fame.
Hi, I'm Mike Koser, and welcometo Lost ball parks.
Today we're remembering one ofthe most beloved figures in
baseball history.
Bob Uecker spent six seasons inthe big leagues, primarily as a
backup catcher from 1962 to1967.
A career .200 hitter.
(01:03):
"Ueck" once joked that thehighlight of his playing career
was getting a walk with thebases loaded, to
drive-in-the-winning run, in aninter-squad game during spring
training.
While his time as a player wasbrief, his career in the
broadcast booth spanned morethan five decades.
For over 50 years, his voicebecame synonymous with Milwaukee
(01:25):
Brewers baseball.
Bob Uecker's impact went farbeyond the booth.
He was a Hall of Famepersonality, a master
storyteller, and a comedicgenius who made over a hundred
appearances on Johnny Carson'sTonight Show.
He starred in his owntelevision series, brought the
unforgettable Harry Doyle tolife in the Major League films,
Vaugh into the windup and hisfirst offering.
(01:47):
Juuust a bit outside...
Mike Koser (01:51):
And was the face of countless Miller Light
commercials.
Bob Uecker (01:53):
You know, one of the best things about being the ex
big leaguer is getting freebiesto the game.
Call the front office, bingo.
And once these fans recognizeme, I probably won't even have
to pay for my lite beer frommiller.
I love them.
These fans know I drink litebecause it's less filling, and
it tastes great.
Good seats,huh? (You're in the wrong seat buddy, c'mon)
Oh, I must be in the front row.
Mike Koser (02:14):
For so many of us, Uecker wasn't just a voice.
He was a connection to the gameand a reason that baseball felt
like home.
It's why his passing is felt soprofoundly.
Today, as we honor hisincredible life and career,
we'll hear stories and memoriesfrom those who knew him best.
Hall of Famers Rollie Fingers,Paul Molitor, and Ted Simmons
will join us, along with MLBNetwork's Matt Vasgersian.
(02:36):
As we look back on Bob Uecker'sremarkable journey, let's take
a minute to laugh and reminisceand honor the legacy of the one
and only Mr.
Baseball.
Welcome to Lost Ball Parks.
MLB Network's Matt Vasgersianbegan his big league broadcast
(03:57):
career in Milwaukee in 1997.
In fact, he was in the TV boothat County Stadium, which was
just a couple of slots over fromthe radio booth where Bob
Uecker called games.
And uh Matt joins us now.
Hey Matt.
Matt Vasgersian (04:09):
Hey Mike.
Mike Koser (04:09):
Thanks for doing this, man.
I appreciate it.
Matt Vasgersian (04:11):
My pleasure.
I love your um your posts.
Your uh your feeds are great.
I I'm not a huge social mediaguy.
Yours is one of my favorites,so thanks for what you do.
Mike Koser (04:20):
Thanks, man.
I appreciate that.
Yeah, so listen, we'll we'lljump into it if you if you're
ready.
Sure.
Yeah, let's do it.
Bob Uecker (04:25):
In 1996, you're calling games for the Tucson
Toros at uh old High CorbettField, and the TV play-by-play
spot becomes available for theMilwaukee Brewers.
Tell me about the moment thatyou find out that you're getting
the job.
Matt Vasgersian (04:39):
Wow, I remember vividly.
Uh I was living in a smallapartment uh up in Tanque Verde
with um one of the one of theother guys that worked for the
Toros, and um I I guess the thebackstory to that moment is that
I had auditioned for the radiospot the previous year, um a job
that went to Jim Powell, and itwas between he and I.
(05:01):
And there was a guy who was adirector of broadcasting for the
Brewers who'd been there along, long time, a really wise
gentleman by the name of BillHaig, who decided that uh maybe
Jim was better suited for thatradio spot, and I was super
disappointed, of course, becausethat was the chair next to
Uecker.
It's the it's the number twogig, so you'd be with Bob all
game long and traveling with Boband a part of the radio uh
(05:23):
attached.
And at the time, uh it wasn'tthat long ago, but radio was
just a bigger medium then.
Um as we know, it was a muchbigger medium uh prior to that.
But radio still was was a very,very significant component of a
team's profile, and I was superdisappointed not to get that
gig.
So fast forward to the timedate stamp you're talking about.
(05:45):
A year later, the TV gig opensup.
There were some other guys whowere involved in that, and um
they were world more experiencedthan I was, and fortunately the
financial parameters of thatjob uh almost made it impossible
for a guy who was alreadyestablished to take that gig.
So it I it was perfect place,perfect time for me.
(06:09):
First call I made was to mydad, who's been super supportive
of my minor league career andspent six years working in the
minors, and yeah, I remember itpretty well.
And among the things I was mostexcited about, the Brewers had
a double-A team in El Paso,Texas, that I had worked in for
two years.
And they were my most fondyears in the miners.
So there were a lot of guysthat played in El Paso in the
(06:29):
early 90s that were now in bigleague Milwaukee, and I had some
some built-in friends, somebuilt-in relationships.
In fact, one of whom actuallywent to bat for me with the
front office when he heard I wasup for the job.
So it was a perfect place tostart my career.
Mike Koser (06:44):
Yeah, so spring training 1997, you're in the I
think the lunchroom at theCompadre stadium complex in
Chandler, Arizona.
When you meet "Ueck" for thefirst time, tell me about that
experience for you.
Matt Vasgersian (06:56):
Well, it wasn't, it didn't go as I wanted
it to.
Um yeah, you know, when youmeet somebody, you're you're
anticipating meeting this personso much.
And I had been, as we all were,such a fan of Bob's and and so
kind of in awe of him.
I was excited, I wasapprehensive, I was all those
(07:16):
things.
And one of the things I had inmy mind was I can't give this
guy anything but a really goodfirm handshake when I meet him.
Because you know, whatsometimes when you meet somebody
for the first time and youdon't try to, but your thumbs
don't lock on the handshake andit comes off a little dead
fishy, and then you have to youhave to go back in, and it's
just awkward, weird.
(07:37):
So I had in my mind, meet Bob,firm handshake, get the thumbs
locked.
Well, nobody had told me when Igave him that rigorous
handshake in the lunchroom atspring training that the day
before he had laid down hismotorcycle and he broke bones in
his hand.
Mike Koser (07:53):
Oh no.
Matt Vasgersian (07:54):
And I give him this firm uh, you know, uh, to
quote uh blazing saddles, Laureland Hardy handshake, and I see
his eyes narrow and he winces.
He didn't want to let on that Ihad, you know, given him a
little stinger.
That's how I met Bob.
I I I don't think he held itagainst me.
(08:15):
I'm not sure, but I I don'tthink he did, and I I never
apologized for it because it wasso awkward.
Probably one of those things Ishould have circled back on with
him at some point.
Mike Koser (08:25):
That year, by the way, the Brewers faced the Texas
Rangers in the home opener atCounty Stadium.
I want you to walk me throughyour trip to the press box at
County Stadium that first game.
The catwalks would take youacross to the mezzanine diamond
box broadcast level at CountyStadium.
Is that right?
Like you were a hundred feetabove the lower bowl.
Matt Vasgersian (08:42):
Yeah, man.
Uh those at the at the time,those were not very great days.
It's super cold, sparselyattended.
Um you know, you're you therewas no it was one functioning
elevator in the entire building,and it was way down in the
corner, and it really wasn'tused for access to the press
box.
So we'd walk up the ramps andacross the catwalk, as you as
(09:05):
you mentioned.
I remember getting off the busfrom spring training because I
had spent the entire monthessentially in Arizona trying to
get to know the players andreally, you know, immersing
myself in the culture of what Iwas about to uh undertake.
And I remember Cal Eldred, uh,who was one of their just kind
of senior starters at the time,turning around, and I forget who
(09:28):
he was talking to, but he said,um, we just went from 89
degrees and warm to this.
Any question why it blew out?
Because he had hurt his elbowthe year before.
And I thought, wow, that whatan what a kind of line that is
preparing me for these Arcticspring days in Milwaukee.
That was the only thing Ireally remember was how doggone
(09:50):
cold it was and how old thatballpark was at the time.
It was in its final years.
Uh I I actually consider myselflucky to have spent most of my
time as a brewers broadcaster atCounty Stadium.
As much as Miller Park and nowAmerican Family Field is a great
spot.
It really is one of the bestplaces in the big leagues.
There was something about thatold broken down bucket of bolts
(10:13):
that um was endearing, and Ialmost feel like you you've kind
of earned your stripes havingendured it for a while.
Mike Koser (10:20):
I went back and looked at that home opener.
It was 39 degrees at game time.
And didn't a water main breakthat day of all things?
Matt Vasgersian (10:27):
Man, you're on it.
You're on it, man.
Yes, it did.
There was a huge water mainthat broke over it.
The water main in question herewas under the second deck.
So people that were uhunfortunate enough to have been
seated, and I think it was downthe third baseline in that one
or two section area, they gotyou know completely soaked with
(10:50):
frigid water on a frigid day,and I'm not sure anybody was
sober enough to even realize it.
So it I think it worked outfine.
Mike Koser (10:58):
You get to the booth, and now now is is
Uecker's booth, was it rightnext to the TV booth, the radio
booth?
Matt Vasgersian (11:03):
There was kind of a little uh like a little
flight of stairs.
They were, you know, you itkind of went up and down a
little bit, but it was on thesame level, so it was certainly
adjacent enough.
Uh the booth to our left in theTV booth in the county stadium
was visiting radio.
Mike Koser (11:19):
Okay.
Matt Vasgersian (11:20):
And then Uecker and his team were on the other
side of them, so we wereseparated by one booth.
Mike Koser (11:25):
Yeah.
So you gotta start your bigleague broadcast career close to
the shadow of one of theall-time greats.
Matt Vasgersian (11:31):
Yeah, and you know, you you knew it was Bob it
was Bob's town, it was Bob'steam.
There there were two coveredparking spots underneath the
stadium, at county stadium, two.
And it wasn't they didn't go toSal Bando, the GM, Phil Garner,
the manager, didn't get one, itwas Bud Selig and "Ueck".
And and you know, he was biggerthan life there until the very
(11:53):
end.
All three I mean, you justalways were aware that it was
"Ueck's" world.
And um anybody who was a youngguy like me, it was a kind of a
slippery slope.
You're you know, you want tohave fun, you want to do the
games, you the way you want todo them.
But I was it was always in theback of my mind not to be
perceived like I was trying tocome in and and poach someone
(12:15):
else's territory.
It was a completely differentmedium.
I was doing TV, so that made iteasier.
Uh, but it was it it was Bob'skingdom till the end, man.
And it it I don't think it'llever be anybody else's the same
way it was his.
Mike Koser (12:27):
The Brewers, Matt, played their final game at
County Stadium on September28th, 2000.
PA Announcer County Sta (12:32):
Tonight we write the final verse in the
final chapter.
What better way to completeCounty Stadium saga than with
the legend who made it famous?
Today, we are privileged tohave Bob lead us in saying
goodbye to this old ballpark.
Bob Uecker (12:48):
Folks, I don't have to tell you how honored I am to
be with you and to address youon this momentous occasion.
This ballpark has been home tome for most of my life.
(13:13):
And just like you, it has aspecial place in my heart.
Mike Koser (13:21):
That ballpark deeply tied to Bob's life, his entire
life and career, from pitchingin the local sandlot leagues and
throwing for the MilwaukeeBraves at County Stadium, some
of the scouts there in the early1950s, to making his major
league debut in 62 and beginninghis Hall of Fame broadcast
career in uh 71.
His connection to that ballparkspanned decades, and by 2000,
(13:42):
he'd spent 30 years callingBrewers games at County Stadium.
So on that, on that final day,September 28th, 2000, did you
sense uh that saying goodbye tothat old ballpark was emotional
for him?
Matt Vasgersian (13:54):
I think it had to have been.
Um he never really let on, tobe honest.
Not not to me, uh you know,maybe to somebody privately.
Uh I think Bob, like everybodyelse who had been there
essentially since the beginning,was so ready for Miller Park.
Uh the culture there, the fanbase there, the appetite had
(14:15):
grown to the degree that youknow it was delayed by two years
after the crane accident.
Uh actually, there I believethere were three individuals who
lost their lives in aconstruction accident.
And Miller Park opened as aresult two years later than the
anticipated date.
So by the time they closedCounty Stadium, yes, there was a
(14:35):
lot of sadness and fondness forCounty Stadium meeting the
wrecking ball shortly.
But there was also suchanticipation to move into the
new place.
I think Bob shared in that.
So any melancholy he may havefelt um it was put away.
But it was a super coolceremony, in fact, I think, of
anything I've done inbroadcasting.
Um that was the coolest thingI've ever been a part of to host
(14:59):
the uh TV coverage of the finalclosing ceremony when they
brought back a bunch of oldgreat packers and brewers, and
Robin Yount came out in amotorcycle and actually dug up
home plate and took it away.
It was super cool to be a partof that.
Robin Yount (15:14):
County Stadium has served us and many others as our
home ballpark.
Don't ever forget where it allstarted.
Mike Koser (15:26):
Matt, you knew Bob for almost 30 years.
What do you have a uh afavorite story you like to share
about him?
Matt Vasgersian (15:32):
Man, a lot of them are blue.
Mike Koser (15:35):
That are unshareable that you need to take to your
grave, right?
Matt Vasgersian (15:39):
Yeah, he just, I mean, it wasn't always.
And I think that's part of uhthe pathos of anybody with Bob's
gift.
They're not always on.
And sometimes there's a littleburden for people that are that
gifted and that funny to alwaysbe in entertain me mode.
And you know, he's a personlike the rest of us.
(15:59):
Not every day was the best daywhere he just wanted to regale
you with stories, but man, whenhe did, uh they were among the
greatest stories that you'veever heard.
Um, and I can kind of give youthe cliff notes on a couple of
them.
I guess there was one famousepisode with Hank Aaron when he
was uh at the peak of hispowers, and I guess uh there
(16:21):
were a bunch of guys after agame that decided to have a
party in a suite.
Hank ended up hurt, unable toplay for a week, not because he
injured himself on the field aswas reported, but because um he
had such a good time the nightbefore, and I guess there were a
bunch of guys goofing aroundwith beers in a bathtub, and
(16:43):
Hank slipped and pinged himselfup.
Um again, like so many of thebest Bob stories are blue.
He had a great story at onepoint about uh a give and take
between Ken Boyer and DonDrysdale.
I guess they were both theywere both great pranksters, and
the level that each one of themtook to one up the next guy over
(17:07):
the course of a year when theseries was in St.
Louis and the series was in LA.
And I think since they stillhave uh kids and family members
who walk among us, I'll keep theactual story to myself.
But Bob was a master raconteur.
The richness of his life, andI'll I'll credit my friend and
colleague uh Brian Anderson,who's the current TV voice of
the Brewers, who's really atalented guy and a great guy.
(17:30):
Um, and he said, you know,between all of our date of birth
and our expiration date,there's a dash listed between
those years.
Bob's dash was filled with morethan any of us could ever
imagine.
What a life this guy, this guyhad.
Yeah.
Mike Koser (17:48):
Yeah, well said.
Hey, listen, Matt, I appreciatethe time today.
I'd love to have you back ondown the road to talk about some
of the great minor leagueballparks that you broadcast
from, like St.
Cloud Commons and High Corbett,MacArthur Stadium in Syracuse.
There's just a collection ofgreat old ballparks that were
not only your home ballparks,but then also um ones that you
went to on the road that um, youknow, I mean, especially St.
(18:10):
Cloud Commons, that one to mejust feels like it's right in
the middle of a forest, youknow, in Huntington, West
Virginia.
Matt Vasgersian (18:15):
Yep.
We tiled the press box there.
I mean, that I'm telling you,anytime, Mike, because those are
those are among the things Ilove talking about the most in
my fondest time in in baseball.
I'll look back on on the sixyears in in the minors.
Didn't feel that way at thetime, but looking back, uh, I'm
so glad I had those experiences.
So uh anytime, man.
Mike Koser (18:34):
Right on.
Yeah, we'll connect down theroad.
I appreciate it.
Thank you, man.
Matt Vasgersian (18:37):
All right, Mike.
Thanks.
Game audio.
Mike Koser (19:13):
That was 1981 Bob Ueckar on the call at County
Stadium as that year's Cy YoungAward winner and MVP Rollie
Fingers closed out the Tigers topropel the Brewers into their
first postseason in franchisehistory.
Rollie along with Ted Simmonsand Paul Molitor, all sent me
messages uh sharing theirfavorite memories of "Ueck" that
I want to share with you now.
(19:33):
Here is seven-time All-Star,three-time world champion, and
Hall of Famer, Rollie Fingers.
Rollie Fingers (19:39):
Hey, Mike.
Uh, this is Rollie Fingers.
Uh certainly uh a sad day inMilwaukee, and for all the
baseball that he passed away.
I mean, he was one of the uhfunniest, funniest guys in
baseball.
Uh I've known him for about 40,45 years, and uh there's never
a dull moment when you werearound Bob.
Uh, even if you just looked athim, you started laughing
(20:01):
because you knew he was gonnasay something funny.
He uh had a Hall of Fame speechas one of the things that uh it
was like a 20-minute uhstand-up comic routine.
Bob Uecker (20:12):
I signed a very modest $3,000 bonus with the
Braves in Milwaukee, which I'msure a lot of you know, and my
old man didn't have that kind ofmoney to put out.
But the Braves took it.
Rollie Fingers (20:26):
Uh he had probably 50, 55 Hall of Famers
behind him, and uh we laughedfor 20 minutes.
Bob Uecker (20:32):
During every player's career, there comes a
time when you know that yourservices are no longer required,
that you might be moving on,traded, sold, released, whatever
it may be.
And having been with fourclubs, I picked up a few of
these tips.
I remember Gene Mauch doingthings to me at Philadelphia.
(20:53):
I'd be sitting there and he'dsay, uh, grab a bat and stop
this rally.
Rollie Fingers (20:59):
Uh he's a piece of work, and he's uh gonna
certainly be missed.
But one story that I can tellyou I used to go down the
bullpen all the time, and I'dalways take a radio with me, and
I had an earphone on it.
So I'd always listen to thegames and broadcast uh just uh
just to see uh how he was doing,calling the game, and also get
(21:19):
scores of other games that uhthat were in progress.
Bob Uecker (21:21):
Detroit leads Seattle five to three in the
sixth.
Toronto and California tied twoin the fifth inning.
Cleveland two Oakland one aftereight.
Rollie Fingers (21:30):
He knew that I had a radio down there, and he
knew that I listened to it.
So uh there was a couple ofballs, a couple of times where
I'm I'm listening to the game,and uh he would actually say,
Rollie, I know you're listening,you better get up.
Bob Uecker (21:42):
The Brewers 1-0 lead is in jeopardy.
Rollie Fingers (21:46):
He's been around the game well, so he knew that
when uh when the game was comingto me, so he would and I'd
always give him uh I'd give hima wave from the bullpen and he'd
see me, but uh he would do thatover the air, and uh you could
because he knew that I waslistening.
But um he is gonna be certainlymissed uh uh in Milwaukee, and
certainly, like I said before,all of baseball.
(22:07):
Uh he was a great ambassadorfor the game, and he's one of
those guys that uh uhbroadcasters uh usually some of
them not not a lot of them, butuh uh quite a few have uh never
played the game.
I mean uh Vin Scully and uh MelAllen, uh Bob Costas and uh Al
Michaels uh they never theynever played the game, but
(22:29):
they're great announcers.
But he knew what was going onon the field because he played
for six years.
So uh he had a pretty good ideawhen uh certain things were
gonna maybe happen, if there'sgonna be a sacrifice or an
intentional walk or how to pitcha guy or if they're gonna move
a guy over.
He knew all that stuff.
But uh he was a good friend ofmine for years, and uh he's
gonna be sorely missed by uh byeveryone.
Bob Uecker (22:51):
Hi, I'm Bob Uecker, and I'm really excited about the
1981 baseball season.
Lauren Brown is with me againto bring you all the action.
But this year we have a newhome.
The new brew crew at Radio 11WISN will bring you the best
brewer coverage on the largestnetwork of stations ever.
Mike Koser (23:08):
That was Ueck doing a promo for the 1981 season.
81 was the first year TedSimmons was behind the plate for
Milwaukee.
He played with the ball clubfrom 81 to 85.
"Simba" was an eight-timeAll-Star, a member of the
Cardinals Hall of Fame, theBrewers Wall of Honor, and a
2020 inductee into the BaseballHall of Fame.
Here's Ted Simmons.
Ted Simmons (23:28):
Hey, Mike, not only in the city of Milwaukee was he
a monument and institution, buthe was also that very same
thing nationally.
He was uh absolutely huge andbigger than life.
He spent more time on the uhJohnny Carson show than anybody
else.
He had an open invitation to goon his show anytime he wanted
(23:51):
to.
So when you think in terms ofuh uh Uecker and his uh
connection with the MilwaukeeBrewers and the city of
Milwaukee, you have to expandthat just exponentially because
he was bigger than life all overAmerica.
And as I say, his humor wasunique, uh very special, dry as
a bone, and you couldn't helpbut but uh just listen up every
(24:16):
time he began one of his storiesin one form or another.
But I had been most of mycareer in St.
Louis and then came toMilwaukee, and of course I'd
seen him on TV on various uhoccasions and saw what he was
like.
But when I got there as aplayer, he was doing the games
every night, and you'd run intohim pre-game or maybe post-game
(24:38):
occasionally if you didsomething special that night,
and you'd see him most everyday, but you didn't really get
to hear his broadcasts becausewhen you're in a clubhouse, the
game's not on.
And so the only time any of theplayers really got to hear him
in his full bore mode, so tospeak, was during rain outs.
Bob Uecker (25:00):
Now the ground crew doing a little work around the
mound area and the homelandarea.
Rain slackened off a bit now.
Very, very light shower,falling.
When the game was on, he was upthere broadcasting away, but
(25:23):
we're out there on the fieldplaying day in and day out, and
so we don't really hear theplay-by-play, or his color, or
his commentary.
So, how did we get to know whathe was like over the air?
Well, every time it rained.
These two ball players went duck hunting.
They were out in the marshesfor over an hour.
They didn't get anything,didn't shoot anything.
(25:44):
Finally, one says to the other,I wonder why we haven't got any
duck.
The other one says, Maybe we'renot throwing the dog up
high enough.
Ted Simmons (25:53):
When there was a rain delay, ball players would
go off the field into theclubhouse, and depending on how
long that rain delay lasted,you'd sit there in the clubhouse
and you'd hear him justchirping away.
That was fun.
I remember that.
He'd start up with a standardstory.
I'll tell you what.
And he'd have you captivated.
You'd be sitting there thinkingabout the game, and he'd say,
(26:14):
You know that Robin, yeah.
I know you've known for a long,long time, and it's been one of
the uh big stars.
And Rollie Fingers?
Well, I ran into him the othernight, and you wouldn't believe
what he told me.
And off he'd go.
And Robin on the other side ofthe clubhouse would say, Oh,
he'd start to talk about me.
And fingers would say, Oh,anything but anything.
(26:36):
Please, please don't say that.
And we'd all start laughing andlaughing at Robin or Rollie or
Gorman, and all of a suddenyou'd find yourself laughing at
him, and they turn to you andsay, What if he starts up on
you, man?
It's just a matter of timebefore he's gonna get after you
too.
Uecker was very, very specialto all that group back in '82
(26:56):
where we had such a fine team.
It was like he was part of thatteam.
It was like he was stillplaying, because he was on that
clubhouse every day, uh, and hewas on that field pre-game
batting practice every day.
And I mean, it was like he wasstill in uniform.
He was just one of those.
We're all gonna miss him.
Milwaukee's gonna miss him morethan anybody.
(27:17):
Because he was Mr.
Milwaukee.
It's a shame he's he's passed.
Great human.
Bigger than life.
See on the other side, Uecktake care, man.
And Mike, thanks for reachingout.
Bob Uecker (27:32):
The Milwaukee Brewers began the 1982 season
with high hopes.
And right from opening day, thefans came in record numbers to
enjoy the fun both inside thestadium and out.
1981 had given birth to theBrewers' first postseason
appearance, so Brewer fans werehappy to be part of what was to
become the most successfulseason in Milwaukee Brewer
(27:55):
history.
Mike Koser (27:58):
And a big reason for the team's success that year
and many others was PaulMolitor.
Molitor played for the Brewersfrom 1978 to 1992.
He was a seven-time All-Star, aWorld Champion, a World Series
MVP, a member of the MilwaukeeBrewers Wall of Honor, and the
Baseball Hall of Fame.
Here's Paul Molitor.
Paul Molitor (28:17):
Yeah, hey there, Mike.
This is Paul Molitorr.
Um appreciate thecorrespondence.
Obviously, uh we lost a legenduh last week with Ueck's
passing.
A couple of quick things.
Um it was a highlight for methat Ueck liked to be on the
field when I was playing for theBrewers.
He was an outstanding battingpractice pitcher, and it seemed
(28:38):
like the majority of times thathe threw, it was to the first
three hitters in the order,which would have been myself,
Robin Yount, and Cecil Cooper.
And uh most days we got ourwork in, and sometimes we were
laughing too hard to getanything useful done.
But always we'll remember thosetimes.
Uh the second thing I'll shareis that I must have been on the
disabled list, but I was up inthe clubhouse listening to uh
(29:02):
the broadcast uh that camethrough the speakers in the
clubhouse, and we were playingTexas, and they had a player by
the name of Oda bibe.
McDowell.
And the game wasn'tparticularly entertaining, so
you decided to go off and do atangent of imagining what
McDowell's family members,siblings more specifically, and
(29:23):
what their names might havebeen.
So it was "coulda be" and"should have be" and "wanna be".
Um we just went down the listand he kind of kept that
storyline going over the courseof a couple innings, just true
brilliant.
And the last thing I'll shareis that when I left for Toronto,
they had a surprise going awayparty for me in Milwaukee.
(29:45):
And one of the highlights ofthat night was Bob Uecker and
Robin Yount portraying theMackenzie brothers.
There was a skit out of SecondCity TV in Canada.
I think Rick Moranis was one ofthe characters, but As dry as
could be.
They had a little banter, a lotof Canadian slang, including
(30:06):
called me a future hoser.
But it was classic.
And I'll never forget it.
So hope that helps a littlebit.
And uh take care, Mike.
I appreciate that message,Paul.
And honestly, we could fill anentire season of this podcast
with Bob Uecker stories.
There will never be anotherlike him.
(30:26):
And um, you know, I'm justgrateful that we got to witness
his brilliance firsthand, thatuh we were alive at the same
time.
And for all theself-deprecating jokes about his
playing days, I mean let's notforget that he was uh a pretty
solid defensive catcher with alifetime 981 fielding
percentage.
He was also a member of the1964 World Champion St.
Louis Cardinals.
(30:47):
And while he only hit 14 homeruns in the big leagues during
his six-year career, three ofthem came off Hall of Famers:
Sandy Koufax, Fergie Jenkins,and Gaylord Perry.
Not bad for a guy who alwaysclaimed that he made his living
in the front row.
I uh did not have a lot of ability as a kid.
My dad wanted me to haveeverything that everybody else
had.
I think the first thing that heever bought me was a football.
And I was very young, and uh hedidn't know a lot about it.
He came from the old country.
And uh I mean we tried to passit and throw it and kick it, and
we couldn't do it, and it wasvery discouraging for him and
(00:21):
for me.
And uh almost we almost quit,and and finally we had a a nice
enough neighbor came over andput some air in it.
And what a what a difference...
that was Bob Uecker's 2003 Hallof Fame speech.
He was the Ford C Frick Awardwinner that year uh and is in
(00:42):
the broadcast wing of the Hallof Fame.
Hi, I'm Mike Koser, and welcometo Lost ball parks.
Today we're remembering one ofthe most beloved figures in
baseball history.
Bob Uecker spent six seasons inthe big leagues, primarily as a
backup catcher from 1962 to1967.
A career .200 hitter.
(01:03):
"Ueck" once joked that thehighlight of his playing career
was getting a walk with thebases loaded, to
drive-in-the-winning run, in aninter-squad game during spring
training.
While his time as a player wasbrief, his career in the
broadcast booth spanned morethan five decades.
For over 50 years, his voicebecame synonymous with Milwaukee
(01:25):
Brewers baseball.
Bob Uecker's impact went farbeyond the booth.
He was a Hall of Famepersonality, a master
storyteller, and a comedicgenius who made over a hundred
appearances on Johnny Carson'sTonight Show.
He starred in his owntelevision series, brought the
unforgettable Harry Doyle tolife in the Major League films,
Vaugh into the windup and hisfirst offering.
(01:47):
Juuust a bit outside...
Mike Koser (01:51):
And was the face of countless Miller Light
commercials.
Bob Uecker (01:53):
You know, one of the best things about being the ex
big leaguer is getting freebiesto the game.
Call the front office, bingo.
And once these fans recognizeme, I probably won't even have
to pay for my lite beer frommiller.
I love them.
These fans know I drink litebecause it's less filling, and
it tastes great.
Good seats,huh? (You're in the wrong seat buddy, c'mon)
Oh, I must be in the front row.
Mike Koser (02:14):
For so many of us, Uecker wasn't just a voice.
He was a connection to the gameand a reason that baseball felt
like home.
It's why his passing is felt soprofoundly.
Today, as we honor hisincredible life and career,
we'll hear stories and memoriesfrom those who knew him best.
Hall of Famers Rollie Fingers,Paul Molitor, and Ted Simmons
will join us, along with MLBNetwork's Matt Vasgersian.
(02:36):
As we look back on Bob Uecker'sremarkable journey, let's take
a minute to laugh and reminisceand honor the legacy of the one
and only Mr.
Baseball.
Welcome to Lost Ball Parks.
MLB Network's Matt Vasgersianbegan his big league broadcast
(03:57):
career in Milwaukee in 1997.
In fact, he was in the TV boothat County Stadium, which was
just a couple of slots over fromthe radio booth where Bob
Uecker called games.
And uh Matt joins us now.
Hey Matt.
Matt Vasgersian (04:09):
Hey Mike.
Mike Koser (04:09):
Thanks for doing this, man.
I appreciate it.
Matt Vasgersian (04:11):
My pleasure.
I love your um your posts.
Your uh your feeds are great.
I I'm not a huge social mediaguy.
Yours is one of my favorites,so thanks for what you do.
Mike Koser (04:20):
Thanks, man.
I appreciate that.
Yeah, so listen, we'll we'lljump into it if you if you're
ready.
Sure.
Yeah, let's do it.
Bob Uecker (04:25):
In 1996, you're calling games for the Tucson
Toros at uh old High CorbettField, and the TV play-by-play
spot becomes available for theMilwaukee Brewers.
Tell me about the moment thatyou find out that you're getting
the job.
Matt Vasgersian (04:39):
Wow, I remember vividly.
Uh I was living in a smallapartment uh up in Tanque Verde
with um one of the one of theother guys that worked for the
Toros, and um I I guess the thebackstory to that moment is that
I had auditioned for the radiospot the previous year, um a job
that went to Jim Powell, and itwas between he and I.
(05:01):
And there was a guy who was adirector of broadcasting for the
Brewers who'd been there along, long time, a really wise
gentleman by the name of BillHaig, who decided that uh maybe
Jim was better suited for thatradio spot, and I was super
disappointed, of course, becausethat was the chair next to
Uecker.
It's the it's the number twogig, so you'd be with Bob all
game long and traveling with Boband a part of the radio uh
(05:23):
attached.
And at the time, uh it wasn'tthat long ago, but radio was
just a bigger medium then.
Um as we know, it was a muchbigger medium uh prior to that.
But radio still was was a very,very significant component of a
team's profile, and I was superdisappointed not to get that
gig.
So fast forward to the timedate stamp you're talking about.
(05:45):
A year later, the TV gig opensup.
There were some other guys whowere involved in that, and um
they were world more experiencedthan I was, and fortunately the
financial parameters of thatjob uh almost made it impossible
for a guy who was alreadyestablished to take that gig.
So it I it was perfect place,perfect time for me.
(06:09):
First call I made was to mydad, who's been super supportive
of my minor league career andspent six years working in the
minors, and yeah, I remember itpretty well.
And among the things I was mostexcited about, the Brewers had
a double-A team in El Paso,Texas, that I had worked in for
two years.
And they were my most fondyears in the miners.
So there were a lot of guysthat played in El Paso in the
(06:29):
early 90s that were now in bigleague Milwaukee, and I had some
some built-in friends, somebuilt-in relationships.
In fact, one of whom actuallywent to bat for me with the
front office when he heard I wasup for the job.
So it was a perfect place tostart my career.
Mike Koser (06:44):
Yeah, so spring training 1997, you're in the I
think the lunchroom at theCompadre stadium complex in
Chandler, Arizona.
When you meet "Ueck" for thefirst time, tell me about that
experience for you.
Matt Vasgersian (06:56):
Well, it wasn't, it didn't go as I wanted
it to.
Um yeah, you know, when youmeet somebody, you're you're
anticipating meeting this personso much.
And I had been, as we all were,such a fan of Bob's and and so
kind of in awe of him.
I was excited, I wasapprehensive, I was all those
(07:16):
things.
And one of the things I had inmy mind was I can't give this
guy anything but a really goodfirm handshake when I meet him.
Because you know, whatsometimes when you meet somebody
for the first time and youdon't try to, but your thumbs
don't lock on the handshake andit comes off a little dead
fishy, and then you have to youhave to go back in, and it's
just awkward, weird.
(07:37):
So I had in my mind, meet Bob,firm handshake, get the thumbs
locked.
Well, nobody had told me when Igave him that rigorous
handshake in the lunchroom atspring training that the day
before he had laid down hismotorcycle and he broke bones in
his hand.
Mike Koser (07:53):
Oh no.
Matt Vasgersian (07:54):
And I give him this firm uh, you know, uh, to
quote uh blazing saddles, Laureland Hardy handshake, and I see
his eyes narrow and he winces.
He didn't want to let on that Ihad, you know, given him a
little stinger.
That's how I met Bob.
I I I don't think he held itagainst me.
(08:15):
I'm not sure, but I I don'tthink he did, and I I never
apologized for it because it wasso awkward.
Probably one of those things Ishould have circled back on with
him at some point.
Mike Koser (08:25):
That year, by the way, the Brewers faced the Texas
Rangers in the home opener atCounty Stadium.
I want you to walk me throughyour trip to the press box at
County Stadium that first game.
The catwalks would take youacross to the mezzanine diamond
box broadcast level at CountyStadium.
Is that right?
Like you were a hundred feetabove the lower bowl.
Matt Vasgersian (08:42):
Yeah, man.
Uh those at the at the time,those were not very great days.
It's super cold, sparselyattended.
Um you know, you're you therewas no it was one functioning
elevator in the entire building,and it was way down in the
corner, and it really wasn'tused for access to the press
box.
So we'd walk up the ramps andacross the catwalk, as you as
(09:05):
you mentioned.
I remember getting off the busfrom spring training because I
had spent the entire monthessentially in Arizona trying to
get to know the players andreally, you know, immersing
myself in the culture of what Iwas about to uh undertake.
And I remember Cal Eldred, uh,who was one of their just kind
of senior starters at the time,turning around, and I forget who
(09:28):
he was talking to, but he said,um, we just went from 89
degrees and warm to this.
Any question why it blew out?
Because he had hurt his elbowthe year before.
And I thought, wow, that whatan what a kind of line that is
preparing me for these Arcticspring days in Milwaukee.
That was the only thing Ireally remember was how doggone
(09:50):
cold it was and how old thatballpark was at the time.
It was in its final years.
Uh I I actually consider myselflucky to have spent most of my
time as a brewers broadcaster atCounty Stadium.
As much as Miller Park and nowAmerican Family Field is a great
spot.
It really is one of the bestplaces in the big leagues.
There was something about thatold broken down bucket of bolts
(10:13):
that um was endearing, and Ialmost feel like you you've kind
of earned your stripes havingendured it for a while.
Mike Koser (10:20):
I went back and looked at that home opener.
It was 39 degrees at game time.
And didn't a water main breakthat day of all things?
Matt Vasgersian (10:27):
Man, you're on it.
You're on it, man.
Yes, it did.
There was a huge water mainthat broke over it.
The water main in question herewas under the second deck.
So people that were uhunfortunate enough to have been
seated, and I think it was downthe third baseline in that one
or two section area, they gotyou know completely soaked with
(10:50):
frigid water on a frigid day,and I'm not sure anybody was
sober enough to even realize it.
So it I think it worked outfine.
Mike Koser (10:58):
You get to the booth, and now now is is
Uecker's booth, was it rightnext to the TV booth, the radio
booth?
Matt Vasgersian (11:03):
There was kind of a little uh like a little
flight of stairs.
They were, you know, you itkind of went up and down a
little bit, but it was on thesame level, so it was certainly
adjacent enough.
Uh the booth to our left in theTV booth in the county stadium
was visiting radio.
Mike Koser (11:19):
Okay.
Matt Vasgersian (11:20):
And then Uecker and his team were on the other
side of them, so we wereseparated by one booth.
Mike Koser (11:25):
Yeah.
So you gotta start your bigleague broadcast career close to
the shadow of one of theall-time greats.
Matt Vasgersian (11:31):
Yeah, and you know, you you knew it was Bob it
was Bob's town, it was Bob'steam.
There there were two coveredparking spots underneath the
stadium, at county stadium, two.
And it wasn't they didn't go toSal Bando, the GM, Phil Garner,
the manager, didn't get one, itwas Bud Selig and "Ueck".
And and you know, he was biggerthan life there until the very
(11:53):
end.
All three I mean, you justalways were aware that it was
"Ueck's" world.
And um anybody who was a youngguy like me, it was a kind of a
slippery slope.
You're you know, you want tohave fun, you want to do the
games, you the way you want todo them.
But I was it was always in theback of my mind not to be
perceived like I was trying tocome in and and poach someone
(12:15):
else's territory.
It was a completely differentmedium.
I was doing TV, so that made iteasier.
Uh, but it was it it was Bob'skingdom till the end, man.
And it it I don't think it'llever be anybody else's the same
way it was his.
Mike Koser (12:27):
The Brewers, Matt, played their final game at
County Stadium on September28th, 2000.
PA Announcer County Sta (12:32):
Tonight we write the final verse in the
final chapter.
What better way to completeCounty Stadium saga than with
the legend who made it famous?
Today, we are privileged tohave Bob lead us in saying
goodbye to this old ballpark.
Bob Uecker (12:48):
Folks, I don't have to tell you how honored I am to
be with you and to address youon this momentous occasion.
This ballpark has been home tome for most of my life.
(13:13):
And just like you, it has aspecial place in my heart.
Mike Koser (13:21):
That ballpark deeply tied to Bob's life, his entire
life and career, from pitchingin the local sandlot leagues and
throwing for the MilwaukeeBraves at County Stadium, some
of the scouts there in the early1950s, to making his major
league debut in 62 and beginninghis Hall of Fame broadcast
career in uh 71.
His connection to that ballparkspanned decades, and by 2000,
(13:42):
he'd spent 30 years callingBrewers games at County Stadium.
So on that, on that final day,September 28th, 2000, did you
sense uh that saying goodbye tothat old ballpark was emotional
for him?
Matt Vasgersian (13:54):
I think it had to have been.
Um he never really let on, tobe honest.
Not not to me, uh you know,maybe to somebody privately.
Uh I think Bob, like everybodyelse who had been there
essentially since the beginning,was so ready for Miller Park.
Uh the culture there, the fanbase there, the appetite had
(14:15):
grown to the degree that youknow it was delayed by two years
after the crane accident.
Uh actually, there I believethere were three individuals who
lost their lives in aconstruction accident.
And Miller Park opened as aresult two years later than the
anticipated date.
So by the time they closedCounty Stadium, yes, there was a
(14:35):
lot of sadness and fondness forCounty Stadium meeting the
wrecking ball shortly.
But there was also suchanticipation to move into the
new place.
I think Bob shared in that.
So any melancholy he may havefelt um it was put away.
But it was a super coolceremony, in fact, I think, of
anything I've done inbroadcasting.
Um that was the coolest thingI've ever been a part of to host
(14:59):
the uh TV coverage of the finalclosing ceremony when they
brought back a bunch of oldgreat packers and brewers, and
Robin Yount came out in amotorcycle and actually dug up
home plate and took it away.
It was super cool to be a partof that.
Robin Yount (15:14):
County Stadium has served us and many others as our
home ballpark.
Don't ever forget where it allstarted.
Mike Koser (15:26):
Matt, you knew Bob for almost 30 years.
What do you have a uh afavorite story you like to share
about him?
Matt Vasgersian (15:32):
Man, a lot of them are blue.
Mike Koser (15:35):
That are unshareable that you need to take to your
grave, right?
Matt Vasgersian (15:39):
Yeah, he just, I mean, it wasn't always.
And I think that's part of uhthe pathos of anybody with Bob's
gift.
They're not always on.
And sometimes there's a littleburden for people that are that
gifted and that funny to alwaysbe in entertain me mode.
And you know, he's a personlike the rest of us.
(15:59):
Not every day was the best daywhere he just wanted to regale
you with stories, but man, whenhe did, uh they were among the
greatest stories that you'veever heard.
Um, and I can kind of give youthe cliff notes on a couple of
them.
I guess there was one famousepisode with Hank Aaron when he
was uh at the peak of hispowers, and I guess uh there
(16:21):
were a bunch of guys after agame that decided to have a
party in a suite.
Hank ended up hurt, unable toplay for a week, not because he
injured himself on the field aswas reported, but because um he
had such a good time the nightbefore, and I guess there were a
bunch of guys goofing aroundwith beers in a bathtub, and
(16:43):
Hank slipped and pinged himselfup.
Um again, like so many of thebest Bob stories are blue.
He had a great story at onepoint about uh a give and take
between Ken Boyer and DonDrysdale.
I guess they were both theywere both great pranksters, and
the level that each one of themtook to one up the next guy over
(17:07):
the course of a year when theseries was in St.
Louis and the series was in LA.
And I think since they stillhave uh kids and family members
who walk among us, I'll keep theactual story to myself.
But Bob was a master raconteur.
The richness of his life, andI'll I'll credit my friend and
colleague uh Brian Anderson,who's the current TV voice of
the Brewers, who's really atalented guy and a great guy.
(17:30):
Um, and he said, you know,between all of our date of birth
and our expiration date,there's a dash listed between
those years.
Bob's dash was filled with morethan any of us could ever
imagine.
What a life this guy, this guyhad.
Yeah.
Mike Koser (17:48):
Yeah, well said.
Hey, listen, Matt, I appreciatethe time today.
I'd love to have you back ondown the road to talk about some
of the great minor leagueballparks that you broadcast
from, like St.
Cloud Commons and High Corbett,MacArthur Stadium in Syracuse.
There's just a collection ofgreat old ballparks that were
not only your home ballparks,but then also um ones that you
went to on the road that um, youknow, I mean, especially St.
(18:10):
Cloud Commons, that one to mejust feels like it's right in
the middle of a forest, youknow, in Huntington, West
Virginia.
Matt Vasgersian (18:15):
Yep.
We tiled the press box there.
I mean, that I'm telling you,anytime, Mike, because those are
those are among the things Ilove talking about the most in
my fondest time in in baseball.
I'll look back on on the sixyears in in the minors.
Didn't feel that way at thetime, but looking back, uh, I'm
so glad I had those experiences.
So uh anytime, man.
Mike Koser (18:34):
Right on.
Yeah, we'll connect down theroad.
I appreciate it.
Thank you, man.
Matt Vasgersian (18:37):
All right, Mike.
Thanks.
Game audio.
Mike Koser (19:13):
That was 1981 Bob Ueckar on the call at County
Stadium as that year's Cy YoungAward winner and MVP Rollie
Fingers closed out the Tigers topropel the Brewers into their
first postseason in franchisehistory.
Rollie along with Ted Simmonsand Paul Molitor, all sent me
messages uh sharing theirfavorite memories of "Ueck" that
I want to share with you now.
(19:33):
Here is seven-time All-Star,three-time world champion, and
Hall of Famer, Rollie Fingers.
Rollie Fingers (19:39):
Hey, Mike.
Uh, this is Rollie Fingers.
Uh certainly uh a sad day inMilwaukee, and for all the
baseball that he passed away.
I mean, he was one of the uhfunniest, funniest guys in
baseball.
Uh I've known him for about 40,45 years, and uh there's never
a dull moment when you werearound Bob.
Uh, even if you just looked athim, you started laughing
(20:01):
because you knew he was gonnasay something funny.
He uh had a Hall of Fame speechas one of the things that uh it
was like a 20-minute uhstand-up comic routine.
Bob Uecker (20:12):
I signed a very modest $3,000 bonus with the
Braves in Milwaukee, which I'msure a lot of you know, and my
old man didn't have that kind ofmoney to put out.
But the Braves took it.
Rollie Fingers (20:26):
Uh he had probably 50, 55 Hall of Famers
behind him, and uh we laughedfor 20 minutes.
Bob Uecker (20:32):
During every player's career, there comes a
time when you know that yourservices are no longer required,
that you might be moving on,traded, sold, released, whatever
it may be.
And having been with fourclubs, I picked up a few of
these tips.
I remember Gene Mauch doingthings to me at Philadelphia.
(20:53):
I'd be sitting there and he'dsay, uh, grab a bat and stop
this rally.
Rollie Fingers (20:59):
Uh he's a piece of work, and he's uh gonna
certainly be missed.
But one story that I can tellyou I used to go down the
bullpen all the time, and I'dalways take a radio with me, and
I had an earphone on it.
So I'd always listen to thegames and broadcast uh just uh
just to see uh how he was doing,calling the game, and also get
(21:19):
scores of other games that uhthat were in progress.
Bob Uecker (21:21):
Detroit leads Seattle five to three in the
sixth.
Toronto and California tied twoin the fifth inning.
Cleveland two Oakland one aftereight.
Rollie Fingers (21:30):
He knew that I had a radio down there, and he
knew that I listened to it.
So uh there was a couple ofballs, a couple of times where
I'm I'm listening to the game,and uh he would actually say,
Rollie, I know you're listening,you better get up.
Bob Uecker (21:42):
The Brewers 1-0 lead is in jeopardy.
Rollie Fingers (21:46):
He's been around the game well, so he knew that
when uh when the game was comingto me, so he would and I'd
always give him uh I'd give hima wave from the bullpen and he'd
see me, but uh he would do thatover the air, and uh you could
because he knew that I waslistening.
But um he is gonna be certainlymissed uh uh in Milwaukee, and
certainly, like I said before,all of baseball.
(22:07):
Uh he was a great ambassadorfor the game, and he's one of
those guys that uh uhbroadcasters uh usually some of
them not not a lot of them, butuh uh quite a few have uh never
played the game.
I mean uh Vin Scully and uh MelAllen, uh Bob Costas and uh Al
Michaels uh they never theynever played the game, but
(22:29):
they're great announcers.
But he knew what was going onon the field because he played
for six years.
So uh he had a pretty good ideawhen uh certain things were
gonna maybe happen, if there'sgonna be a sacrifice or an
intentional walk or how to pitcha guy or if they're gonna move
a guy over.
He knew all that stuff.
But uh he was a good friend ofmine for years, and uh he's
gonna be sorely missed by uh byeveryone.
Bob Uecker (22:51):
Hi, I'm Bob Uecker, and I'm really excited about the
1981 baseball season.
Lauren Brown is with me againto bring you all the action.
But this year we have a newhome.
The new brew crew at Radio 11WISN will bring you the best
brewer coverage on the largestnetwork of stations ever.
Mike Koser (23:08):
That was Ueck doing a promo for the 1981 season.
81 was the first year TedSimmons was behind the plate for
Milwaukee.
He played with the ball clubfrom 81 to 85.
"Simba" was an eight-timeAll-Star, a member of the
Cardinals Hall of Fame, theBrewers Wall of Honor, and a
2020 inductee into the BaseballHall of Fame.
Here's Ted Simmons.
Ted Simmons (23:28):
Hey, Mike, not only in the city of Milwaukee was he
a monument and institution, buthe was also that very same
thing nationally.
He was uh absolutely huge andbigger than life.
He spent more time on the uhJohnny Carson show than anybody
else.
He had an open invitation to goon his show anytime he wanted
(23:51):
to.
So when you think in terms ofuh uh Uecker and his uh
connection with the MilwaukeeBrewers and the city of
Milwaukee, you have to expandthat just exponentially because
he was bigger than life all overAmerica.
And as I say, his humor wasunique, uh very special, dry as
a bone, and you couldn't helpbut but uh just listen up every
(24:16):
time he began one of his storiesin one form or another.
But I had been most of mycareer in St.
Louis and then came toMilwaukee, and of course I'd
seen him on TV on various uhoccasions and saw what he was
like.
But when I got there as aplayer, he was doing the games
every night, and you'd run intohim pre-game or maybe post-game
(24:38):
occasionally if you didsomething special that night,
and you'd see him most everyday, but you didn't really get
to hear his broadcasts becausewhen you're in a clubhouse, the
game's not on.
And so the only time any of theplayers really got to hear him
in his full bore mode, so tospeak, was during rain outs.
Bob Uecker (25:00):
Now the ground crew doing a little work around the
mound area and the homelandarea.
Rain slackened off a bit now.
Very, very light shower,falling.
When the game was on, he was upthere broadcasting away, but
(25:23):
we're out there on the fieldplaying day in and day out, and
so we don't really hear theplay-by-play, or his color, or
his commentary.
So, how did we get to know whathe was like over the air?
Well, every time it rained.
These two ball players went duck hunting.
They were out in the marshesfor over an hour.
They didn't get anything,didn't shoot anything.
(25:44):
Finally, one says to the other,I wonder why we haven't got any
duck.
The other one says, Maybe we'renot throwing the dog up
high enough.
Ted Simmons (25:53):
When there was a rain delay, ball players would
go off the field into theclubhouse, and depending on how
long that rain delay lasted,you'd sit there in the clubhouse
and you'd hear him justchirping away.
That was fun.
I remember that.
He'd start up with a standardstory.
I'll tell you what.
And he'd have you captivated.
You'd be sitting there thinkingabout the game, and he'd say,
(26:14):
You know that Robin, yeah.
I know you've known for a long,long time, and it's been one of
the uh big stars.
And Rollie Fingers?
Well, I ran into him the othernight, and you wouldn't believe
what he told me.
And off he'd go.
And Robin on the other side ofthe clubhouse would say, Oh,
he'd start to talk about me.
And fingers would say, Oh,anything but anything.
(26:36):
Please, please don't say that.
And we'd all start laughing andlaughing at Robin or Rollie or
Gorman, and all of a suddenyou'd find yourself laughing at
him, and they turn to you andsay, What if he starts up on
you, man?
It's just a matter of timebefore he's gonna get after you
too.
Uecker was very, very specialto all that group back in '82
(26:56):
where we had such a fine team.
It was like he was part of thatteam.
It was like he was stillplaying, because he was on that
clubhouse every day, uh, and hewas on that field pre-game
batting practice every day.
And I mean, it was like he wasstill in uniform.
He was just one of those.
We're all gonna miss him.
Milwaukee's gonna miss him morethan anybody.
(27:17):
Because he was Mr.
Milwaukee.
It's a shame he's he's passed.
Great human.
Bigger than life.
See on the other side, Uecktake care, man.
And Mike, thanks for reachingout.
Bob Uecker (27:32):
The Milwaukee Brewers began the 1982 season
with high hopes.
And right from opening day, thefans came in record numbers to
enjoy the fun both inside thestadium and out.
1981 had given birth to theBrewers' first postseason
appearance, so Brewer fans werehappy to be part of what was to
become the most successfulseason in Milwaukee Brewer
(27:55):
history.
Mike Koser (27:58):
And a big reason for the team's success that year
and many others was PaulMolitor.
Molitor played for the Brewersfrom 1978 to 1992.
He was a seven-time All-Star, aWorld Champion, a World Series
MVP, a member of the MilwaukeeBrewers Wall of Honor, and the
Baseball Hall of Fame.
Here's Paul Molitor.
Paul Molitor (28:17):
Yeah, hey there, Mike.
This is Paul Molitorr.
Um appreciate thecorrespondence.
Obviously, uh we lost a legenduh last week with Ueck's
passing.
A couple of quick things.
Um it was a highlight for methat Ueck liked to be on the
field when I was playing for theBrewers.
He was an outstanding battingpractice pitcher, and it seemed
(28:38):
like the majority of times thathe threw, it was to the first
three hitters in the order,which would have been myself,
Robin Yount, and Cecil Cooper.
And uh most days we got ourwork in, and sometimes we were
laughing too hard to getanything useful done.
But always we'll remember thosetimes.
Uh the second thing I'll shareis that I must have been on the
disabled list, but I was up inthe clubhouse listening to uh
(29:02):
the broadcast uh that camethrough the speakers in the
clubhouse, and we were playingTexas, and they had a player by
the name of Oda bibe.
McDowell.
And the game wasn'tparticularly entertaining, so
you decided to go off and do atangent of imagining what
McDowell's family members,siblings more specifically, and
(29:23):
what their names might havebeen.
So it was "coulda be" and"should have be" and "wanna be".
Um we just went down the listand he kind of kept that
storyline going over the courseof a couple innings, just true
brilliant.
And the last thing I'll shareis that when I left for Toronto,
they had a surprise going awayparty for me in Milwaukee.
(29:45):
And one of the highlights ofthat night was Bob Uecker and
Robin Yount portraying theMackenzie brothers.
There was a skit out of SecondCity TV in Canada.
I think Rick Moranis was one ofthe characters, but As dry as
could be.
They had a little banter, a lotof Canadian slang, including
(30:06):
called me a future hoser.
But it was classic.
And I'll never forget it.
So hope that helps a littlebit.
And uh take care, Mike.
I appreciate that message,Paul.
And honestly, we could fill anentire season of this podcast
with Bob Uecker stories.
There will never be anotherlike him.
(30:26):
And um, you know, I'm justgrateful that we got to witness
his brilliance firsthand, thatuh we were alive at the same
time.
And for all theself-deprecating jokes about his
playing days, I mean let's notforget that he was uh a pretty
solid defensive catcher with alifetime 981 fielding
percentage.
He was also a member of the1964 World Champion St.
Louis Cardinals.
(30:47):
And while he only hit 14 homeruns in the big leagues during
his six-year career, three ofthem came off Hall of Famers:
Sandy Koufax, Fergie Jenkins,and Gaylord Perry.
Not bad for a guy who alwaysclaimed that he made his living
in the front row.
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