January 17, 2025 – Milwaukee, WI – Neighbors across Washington County, Wi, were mourning the death of a legend this week as word spread early Thursday morning that Baseball Hall of Fame Milwaukee Brewers announcer Bob Uecker has died.
Willie Mueller played with the Milwaukee Brewers from 1978–1983. A West Bend High School graduate, Mueller often took family and friends up into the Brewers press box to meet Bob Uecker.
“What did Uecker do for baseball… he did everything,” said Mueller. “He was an announcer, a movie star, he was in Mr. Belvidere… and then his illustrious career behind the plate and the mic.”
Mueller, who also hit Hollywood as “The Duke” in the 1989 movie “Major League” said behind-the-scenes Uecker was the same guy… he made everything fun.
“When he was younger, and when we were in the 80s, he was living life to the fullest, just like us. I mean, there was no Internet, there were no cell phones. The only way you got to be with people was either at a bar or playing ball, or cards… whatever we were playing because we didn’t have nothing else to do.
“So, he always joked he wasn’t the best player. I mean he was pretty good, but that was his joke but in retrospect, you know, how many people make the major leagues? I mean, in order to make the major leagues and spend time in the major leagues, you got to be pretty qualified to do that.”
Mueller said Uecker knew baseball was fun. “Baseball is supposed to be fun and, in any job, you have, you can make it fun. It makes the time go better. He was always part of the joke, and kept people on the stick and everything, and having fun.
Uecker was 90 years old, and Mueller said he was aware he had a “bad ticker.”
“Ueck was very close to the vest as far as his health. You had to be in an inner circle to understand what he was going through,” said Mueller.
A text Thursday morning notified Mueller that his friend had passed.
Local broadcaster Bob Bonenfant, who spent his career on WBKV radio in West Bend, said Uecker he grew up with him on the radio. “I think he was so popular because he seemed like an every-day guy,” he said. “His self-deprecating sense of humor. He was just so natural with his banter… none of it seemed forced and that was him.”
Tom Schwai has always been a big Brewers fan. “He actually had a pretty good last season… going to the playoffs and getting bottles of champagne poured over him. He was probably pretty happy at the end of that year,” he said. “He had a pretty good life and he got to live life the way he wanted to.”
Tommy and Uecker each had a taste of Hollywood. Tom made national TV on a short-lived cooking show, State Plate with former American Idol Taylor Hicks. “I remember him on Mr. Belvedere and he was on with Johnny Carson,” said Schwai.
Doug Gonring, who received many baseball accolades as a player and coach, said he grew up listening to Uecker and his baseball stories on the radio.
“His voice is the best,” said Gonring. “His appearance on Johnny Carson and he was just the best at disparaging himself… but with such a great sense of humor. He’s an icon… I just wish the Brewers could have gone all the way for him this last season.”
Uecker would have been 91 on January 26, 2025.
On a side note: I was working at WISN radio in the late 1990’s and stringing for ESPN and covering the Brewers when Bob Uecker made my day. Milwaukee County Stadium had a an outdoor seating area in front of the press box for media. I was sitting there and Uecker was above me inside calling the game. It was my grandfather’s 90th birthday and I scribbled a note asking Uecker if he could wish Monroe Johnson of Gays Mills, WI a happy 90th birthday. I stood up and sneaked the paper over the edge of his desk. If he said it once he said it five times. “Monroe Johnson…” he said Like he had known him forever. I didn’t realize the impact of the announcement until I visited Gays later that summer. My grandfather was a dedicated Brewers fan… and Cubs and Twins. Whoever he could hear on his little transistor radio. He’d sit on a very hard brown couch in the laundry room of their farm house across from the wringer washer and listen to the game. When Uecker announced his birthday wish my grandpa heard it. All five times. He was thrilled and apparently so was Gays Mills. For just a short time there Bob Uecker made Monroe Johnson, Gays Mills famous.
