The Brewers announced this morning that they have signed the former big league catcher, legendary broadcaster and franchise icon Bob Uecker passed away last night. He was 90 years old. The Uecker family has since said in a statement that he “has had a private battle with small cell lung cancer since the beginning of 2023, which he faced with the same strength and resilience that characterized him.” Uecker continued to call the Brewers’ games in the 2023-24 season. The Brewers issued the following statement:

Today we take on the heaviest burdens. Today we say goodbye to our beloved friend Bob Uecker.

Ueck was the light of the Brewers, the soundtrack of our summers, the laughter in our hearts, and his death is a deep loss. He was the heart and soul of Wisconsin and a dear friend. Bob loved people; His presence warmed any room and he had a way of welcoming us all into his world as if we were lifelong friends.

Bob’s farewell shocks us all. He was so much more than a Milwaukee Brewers icon. He was a national treasure. Bob entertained us with his words and his storytelling, so it’s no surprise that now that he’s gone, we’re left with no words of our own.

There is no description of the impact Ueck had on so many, and there are no words for how much he was loved. We leave a huge void in our hearts, but we also remember the laughter and joy he brought into our lives.

It is a devastating loss for fans around the world. After 54 years of hosting games in Milwaukee, Uecker’s voice is synonymous with Brewers baseball, but his fame and popularity extends beyond his Midwest roots. Hardly any baseball fan in the world is familiar with his humor and wit. Uecker’s masterful storytelling and self-deprecating humor — particularly his willingness to poke fun at his own six-year playing career in which he batted .200/.293/.287 — provided non-stop entertainment for those who tuned in at any given moment.

Even those who don’t follow the game closely will certainly have fond memories of Uecker’s frequent appearances The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, his portrayal of the fictional play-by-play man Harry Doyle in the Major League film series and his leading role in the six subsequent seasons Mr. Belvedere. Although baseball and the broadcast booth were always Uecker’s home and he always remained loyal to his hometown of Milwaukee, his larger-than-life personality and unyielding charm made him a natural, popular celebrity, entertaining not only baseball fans but people around the world.

Uecker was a titan of the broadcasting world – one of the MLB’s most beloved characters among fans, media and players alike. In 2003, he was deservedly inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, where he wowed audiences with a speech full of humor and wry delivery that only Uecker and his signature voice could provide.

We at MLBTR extend our deepest condolences to the Brewers organization, the Uecker family and those who were fortunate enough to call him a friend, and join countless baseball fans around the world with heavy hearts in light of this morning’s news . Rest in peace, Mr. Baseball.