All one could hear was a deafening silence in the Milwaukee Brewers clubhouse. Their loss against the New York Mets on October 3 had ended their 2024 season, but more than that, the silence signified a heartbreak. The team had failed to celebrate the end of a 54-year era, the last game Bob Uecker would call. As the players watched Uecker, the face of their franchise, walk out the doors after bidding goodbye and signing off on the air to fans, disappointment lurked through the hallways. It was also the last time they saw him.

The voice of the Milwaukee Brewers since 1971, died on Thursday, Jan. 16. He was 90 years old. He would have turned 91 in 10 days but had been battling small-cell lung cancer since early 2023 and was constantly in pain. “He didn’t want to talk about it,” Brewers’ owner Mark Attanasio shared. “He was extremely private about it. A very few number of people knew about it. There were days he’d undergo radiation treatment and come to the ballpark that afternoon and do the game.”

In fact, though the team wasn’t able to give him the farewell they wanted to on his last evening in the office, Uecker was there shaking hands and consoling the players. He even found Devin Williams, who had given up the game-winning homer, and managed to put a smile on his face. Milwaukee fans miss the man.

The Milwaukee Brewers released a statement that read: “Today we take on the heaviest of burdens. Today, we say goodbye to our beloved friend, Bob Ueckar. Ueck was the light of the Brewers, the soundtrack of our summers, the laughter in our hearts, and his passing is a profound loss. 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.

“Saying goodbye to Bob shakes us all. He was so much more than a Milwaukee Brewers icon. He was a national treasure. Bob entertained us with his words and storytelling, so it is no surprise that his passing now leaves us at a loss for our own words. There is no describing the impact Ueck had on so many, and no words for how much he was loved. We are left with a giant void in our hearts, but also remember the laughter and joy he brought to our lives.”

Uecker’s legendary status was recognized across sports. The former Packers QB Brett Favre shared his thoughts on X:

“Can’t believe we’ve lost such an icon… Bob Uecker, or “Mr. Baseball” as we all knew him, was more than just a voice in the booth — he was a true friend and a legend in the world of sports. He had a good sense of humor and was never short on stories. I’ll never forget the laughs we shared and the times we spent together.”

During the 90s and 2000s, Favre was one of the most famous people in Wisconsin’s sports scene, along with Uecker.

Uecker was everything. A Major League catcher in the 60s who didn’t just play the game but lived it. Before he became a voice you couldn’t stop listening to, he was a sportsman who didn’t let a .200 batting average, 14 home runs, and 74 RBIs across 297 games define him. Then came his second act—comedy. He opened for Don Rickles, landed a ton of Tonight Show appearances with Johnny Carson, and became a TV star. Carson nicknamed him ‘Mr. Baseball‘ and, well, the rest is history.

In a statement, Uecker’s family shared: “He brought joy to countless listeners through his wit, charisma, and love for baseball, Milwaukee, and all of Wisconsin, creating a legacy that will forever be cherished. While his contributions to the game are noteworthy, it is his kindness, humility, and love for family and friends that we will hold closest to our hearts.”

He is survived by his wife, Judy, and children Sue Ann and Bob Jr. The family has blessed the Brewers’ plans to hold a summer event at American Family Field to celebrate Bob Uecker’s life with the stadium full of fans.

Fans huddle to remember Bob Uecker…

Sportscaster Jeff Levering will never forget some of Uecker’s last words to him; A voicemail, where the legend stated: “Great job tonight. We’ll see you tomorrow.” It was the night of October 2, when the Brewers rallied to beat the Mets in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series. The 90-year-old listened to Levering and Lane Grindle commentate on his car radio during his drive home.

Uecker wasn’t really calling games because of his health condition. Though he intended to work on Game 2 and also did his pregame show with Brewers manager Pat Murphy, he just didn’t have enough energy to push himself. “All right, you got it,” he told Levering. And that’s how things had gone throughout the season. But Levering has that one last voicemail from his senior that he can never let go of.

“I’m never going to delete that message,” Levering said. “After that, I had a feeling he was going to work Game 3. There was no way that he was going to miss that one. And he called another brilliant game.” But just like Levering, baseball fans miss him. Fans took to social media and wrote:

• “Actually teared up on this one! RIP!!!”
• “So sad. He will always be remembered as a legendary voice in baseball.”

Sure, Uecker didn’t get to call victory during his last game, but he knew how to handle the disappointment. “I’m telling you,” he stated on the Brewers Radio Network, “that one had a little sting to it.” He tried to prolong his time on air as much as possible. He wanted to engage with the sport he loved so dearly.

• “R.I.P. Bob. You were one of the absolute best! The stories? Wow, just wow!”

He was also a part of the MLB’s biggest pop culture moments. Remember his famous “I must be in the front row” commercial? It was for Miller, a product produced in his hometown of Milwaukee. These commercials mostly had a common premise: Uecker believed he was to sit in his high-priced seats at a baseball game when he would immediately be asked to leave by an usher. Uecker would assume he was being asked to sit in the VIP section, whereas, in reality, he was supposed to sit in the farthest reaches of the upper deck. Still, that didn’t stop him from yelling advice for the umpire.

• “Such a great voice, enjoyed when he was announcing Brewer games. He will be missed by many. 🙏🏻”
• “def was a baseball ambassador. “just a bit outside” will always be the greatest line. bob will be missed.”

Whether it was his stand-up-worthy 2003 Hall of Fame speech or his iconic lines, Uecker made the game feel personal. His humor, humility, and heart will echo through ballparks. At 90, his passing leaves a void too big to fill and hearts too heavy to heal anytime soon.