It’s been about a month since baseball lost one of its most legendary voices—Bob Uecker. The beloved announcer passed away after a battle with small-cell lung cancer, leaving behind a legacy that spanned over five decades. In recent seasons, health issues kept him from calling every game, but he still showed up, taking his rightful place in the booth alongside his fellow broadcasters. After 53 years of bringing baseball to life, he had earned that right!

His fellow broadcasters were Jeff Levering and Lane Grindle. More than 800 games have already been called without Bob Uecker, including Spring Training, regular season games, and postseason games over the previous ten years. These games have typically taken place at home during the last few seasons when Uecker was too worn out from cancer treatments to play, or on the road. But the one at American Family Fields of Phoenix is special. 

Fellow broadcasters make a tribute announcement for Bob Uecker 

At American Family Fields of Phoenix, Jeff Levering and Lane Grindle took their seats in the home radio booth to broadcast the Brewers vs. Reds Cactus League opening on Saturday. This time without Bob Uecker. While his seat with ‘Ueck’ written on it was empty, his desk wasn’t. There were flowers kept on the table in honor of Uecker and a photo of him to remember the legend by. 

Levering started the broadcast by calling out the start of the official start to the Milwaukee Brewers 2025 season and then slowly transitioned into a tribute to his late colleague and friend. Levering said, “He was our mentor, but more importantly, he was our friend, and we miss him dearly. But he’s always and will be with each one of us in our hearts every single day. We will always remember our friend Bob.”

 A voice, a legend, and the heart of Milwaukee baseball

A true baseball lifer, Bob Uecker was described as “one of a kind” by everyone who had the pleasure of speaking about him. His deep connection to the game goes beyond just calling it on the air—Uecker was a former player, a Hall of Fame broadcaster, and a beloved figure in the baseball world. He spent more than 50 years calling Brewers games, creating a unique legacy in Milwaukee. 

His playing career spanned six seasons in the big leagues with teams like the Milwaukee Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, and Atlanta Braves. A career .200 hitter, Uecker played an important role in helping the Milwaukee Braves clinch the 1964 title, cementing his place in the hearts of fans. As the Brewers move past a successful 2024 campaign in which they won the National League Central by 10 games, Uecker’s influence remains ever-present. 

The team is expected to honor him in a special way as the regular season gets underway. While the details of those plans haven’t been revealed yet, it’s clear that Uecker’s impact on the franchise and the city of Milwaukee will not be forgotten anytime soon. The Brewers continue their Cactus League play on Sunday with a matchup against the Colorado Rockies. Fans are sure to be excited for the season ahead, especially with the unforgettable Uecker in their thoughts.