With the passings this week of both Harry Kalas and Merle Harmon, I've been thinking a bit about how lucky we all are to have Bob Uecker calling Brewers games on the radio.
In fact, I started thinking about this a month ago, when I listened to Ueck broadcast this season's first Spring Training game in March. I hope, as fans, we don't take "Mr. Baseball" for granted. He's such a legend, and we're lucky to have him.
I realize this is one of my more sappy blogs of the spring, but as players come and go, Bob remains the same. I've lost track how many of car trips, camping excursions and nightly distractions he's accompanied me on, but by now, it surely numbers into the thousands.
As you might know, I'm friends with Ueck's now former radio partner, Jim Powell, and when he departed for Atlanta, it left a hole in my listening experience. Nothing against newcomer Cory Provus; I think he's doing a fine job. But the pairing of Jim and Bob was a classic one, and I hoped that when Bob would eventually retire, Jim would seamlessly take his place.
But now I find myself hoping the Ueck stays in the booth forever. However, I'm also realistic enough to know that he's 74-years-old and is probably in the twilight of his long and storied broadcasting career.
I don't know Bob very well, though I've met him more than a dozen times. Hanging out the booth with Jim and producer/engineer Kent Sommerfeld, we've exchanged pleasantries many times, though I'm not sure if Ueck actually knows who I am. I interviewed him in 2002 in Phoenix for my personal favorite Milwaukee Talks feature, and Bob was gracious and patient and happy to tell stories he's surely recounted hundreds of times.
Still, I know enough hilarious, off-the-record Ueck stories to realize that he's not always the same guy on and off the air. And that's just fine. If any other broadcaster called games like Bob did, well, it would drive me crazy -- but I couldn't handle Ueck changing his style even one bit.
I hope Bob remains healthy and graces my radio dial for many years to come. He's a real treasure, and I recall my first conversation with him when I met him at age 12.
"Mr. Uecker," I said to him in the old County Stadium dining room, "I love your 'Wacky World of Sports,' and I'm your biggest fan."
"You don't look very tall to me," he deadpanned as he eyed me up and went back to his cocktail.
Jim Powell used to say that baseball is a magical sport because it will hold your hand for six months, each and every year. Witty, knowledgeable and ever-so-unique, Bob Uecker has been holding Brewers fans' hands since before I was even born.
Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.
Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.
Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.
