Johnny Carson gave him the moniker “Mr. Baseball” for his funny appearances on “The Tonight Show” in the 1970’s. Fans in Milwaukee know him as their beloved long-time Voice of the Brewers. He’s also known as being announcer Harry Doyle in the “Major League” movies and for being the co-star of the “Mr. Belvedere” TV series in the 1980’s. But no matter what he’s known for, Bob Uecker is a very funny man and has been part of baseball going back to the 1950’s. It’s great to hear him call Brewers games and this Friday, he’ll be on MLB Network as a guest on “Studio 42 with Bob Costas”.
We have details below.
HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCER BOB UECKER FEATURED ON STUDIO 42 WITH BOB COSTAS ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26Secaucus, NJ, November 23, 2010 – Hall of Fame award-winning announcer Bob Uecker brings his trademark sense of humor to a new episode of MLB Network’s Studio 42 with Bob Costas on Friday, November 26 at 8:00 p.m. ET/p.m. PT. Throughout the hour-long interview, Uecker, 75, discusses his more than 55 years in professional baseball, including his playing career and 39-year stint as the radio broadcaster for the Milwaukee Brewers as well as his place in pop culture with starring roles in the film series Major League, the TV series Mr. Belvedere, commercials for Miller Lite beer, and his frequent guest appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, who gave him the nickname “Mr. Baseball.” Uecker also mentions the health issues that caused him to miss part of the 2010 season and talks in-depth about his life-long commitment to the game. A preview of the interview can be viewed here.Throughout his playing career, Uecker, a catcher, played for the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves. He began his broadcasting career in 1971 with the Brewers and in 2003 he received the Ford C. Frick Award from the National Baseball Hall of Fame for his contributions to baseball.Prior to Studio 42 with Bob Costas, MLB Network will air Best of Hot Stove, its offseason nightly studio show, at 6:00 p.m. ET with a recap of the moves all 30 clubs are making and planning in preparation for the upcoming season.Highlights and one-liners from the interview with Uecker include:
- “Gaylord Perry says that the day I hit a home run against him was the worst day of his whole life.”
- “I think my top salary was maybe in 1966. I made $17,000 and 11 of that came from selling other players’ equipment.”
- “Any teammate of mine that had a kid and a boy that was capable of playing baseball, I think I set a terrific example of ‘Don’t do this’ and ‘Don’t do that.’ And that’s one of the things that I’m most proud of.”
- “I had a good time every place I went as long as I didn’t play.”
- “I love baseball Bob, and I mean where would I be without baseball anyway. I love doing the games, and I love doing radio, I really love doing radio and there’s nothing wrong with doing television by any means, but I love doing radio where you can’t see what’s going on…”
- “[Johnny Carson] didn’t know that much about baseball but as we went along he let me do whatever I wanted. As a matter of fact, when I started doing the shows in New York, you get a script to follow and promote whatever you want to talk about. After about the tenth time I did the show Johnny said, ‘Do you need this stuff?’ and I said, ‘No, I thought you did.’ So from then on we pretty much just ad-libbed and went along and whatever he said I just jumped in and went along with it.”
- “Not bragging by any means, but I could have done a lot of other stuff as far as working in films go and working in television … I had chances to do that stuff, but I like baseball, I really do … The Mr. Belvedere series was great, it lasted six years, but each March when we finished up in California, I couldn’t wait to get to Arizona and get back to baseball and be around what I’ve been around for practically my whole adult life. After getting out of the service and going into baseball I never wanted to do anything else.”
Studio 42 with Bob Costas with Bob Uecker airs this Friday at 8 on MLB Network.
