Good bye Mr. Baseball

by J. Patrick Reilly

In the last few days we laid to rest President Jimmy Carter, said good bye to President Joe Biden as his term ended and held an inauguration for President Donald Trump.

But those events were more than overshadowed by the death of Bob Uecker.  Bob Uecker, known affectionally as “Mr. Baseball” died at age 90 from a lung disorder.

One thing I can saw about Bob Uecker was with him around there was never a bad day. I heard him on the radio, I saw him in beer commercials, on Johnny Carson and in the Major League movies. But then so did just about everyone else.

 What I did see that others may not have seen was Bob in person, being what he was best, a very wonderful and funny man.

Bob was supposed to be the guest speaker at the Home Talent League banquet in 1972, the year we won the league title.  He  did not show up through some scheduling miscommunication.  Bob could have just blown that off but instead came to the 1973 HTL banquet and entertained us free of charge.  He gave us the gift of himself.

I also saw him at the Dugout Club dinner in Madison where he was representing his beloved Milwaukee Brewers.  He was entertaining questions prior to the remarks he planned to give and the first person took a good five munites to ask Bob his take on something.  Bob looked out at the crowd after the lengthy question and said, “Well that’s all the time we have tonight.  Thanks for coming.”

That brought down the house and of course he delivered a wonderful speech full of baseball love and lore.

While most of his remarks about his playing days were self deprecating, I want to point out how very hard it is to play professional baseball at the Major League level.  I have seen so many talented players over my 60 plus years around the game that did not get there even though I felt they had the “goods.”  But Bob Uecker did.  He had the “goods.”

He was iconic.  I don’t know how many times I have sat at a baseball game and saw a pitch go wide of the plate and say “Just a bit outside.”

I don’t know how many times I have told a young catcher the best way to catch a knuckle ball is wait until it stops rolling and pick it up.  Those lines will never grow old.

Bob Uecker was one of a kind in the best way possible. I, like many, will miss him but I feel I am much better off for knowing him.

He deserves to be in that front row.