“Harry Doyle”, Army vet, passes age 90.
Perhaps the funniest ex Army corporal ever passed on at the tender age of 90. Dubbed “Mr. Baseball” by no less than Johnny Carson, Bob Uecker epitomized baseball’s humor like few have done before or since, and was a touchstone of the Milwaukee Brewers almost from their start through two league championships (both American in 1982 and National in 2024) separated by over 40 years.
Ueck was born in January 1934 and passed on Thursday “just a bit” (couldn’t resist) short of his 91st birthday on the 26th. He joined the Army in ’54 – with Korea still fresh on told the Army he had played ball for Marquette University in Milwaukee to get on a service team. It worked, and he played ball at both Ft. Leonard Wood and Ft. Belvoir. Worth a comment – Marquette didn’t HAVE a baseball team, but the Army never checked…
After he got out he signed with that old Milwaukee team, the Braves. His baseball career was undistinguished, with a .200 batting average over 6 years in the bigs stretching from ’56 to ’67. Should also note he homered only 14 times, but two were off future Hall of Famers Sandy Kaufax and Gaylord Perry, and he escaped a run-down against the Mets. He was a very good defensive player, though, with a lifetime fielding percentage of .981. One anomaly – in ’67, despite only playing 59 games, he led the league in passed balls… but at the time he was primarily catching for Phil Niekro, a knuckleballer who was extremely hard to catch and still has the National League record for the most wild pitches in one inning. (Uecker always said the best way to catch a knuckleball was to wait till it stopped rolling at the backstop.)
To a lot of older Midwesterners, Uecker was THE voice of the Brewers, just like Jack Buck for the St. Louis Cardinals and Harry Carey for – bet you think I’m gonna say Chicago Cubs? Carey announced 9 years longer for the Cards than the Cubs. Speaking of the Cards – did you know the Ueck has a World Series ring? He was a member of the ’64 Cards when they went all the way. He was a back-up catcher… who was benched because he borrowed a tuba from the stadium band and dented it up catching fly balls in it.
Most of you younger folks may remember him as Harry Doyle, the veteran Cleveland Indians’ (screw correctness, THAT is the name of the damn team) veteran play-by-play announcer in the movies “Major League” and “Major League II” (one of the few IIs that is as good as the original, btw.) Phrases he used in that movie are still being quoted around diamonds today, notably “JUST a bit outside” or “my pick for the Trojan-Enz Boner of the Week Award.” Me, I’m a sloppy sentimentalist and love that heartfelt “The Indians win it! The Indians win it! Oh my God, the Indians win it!”
Mr. Uecker, you made the game human and funny in a way that no man did since the long-ago days of Al Schacht (the Clown Prince of Baseball). Over 100 ‘Tonight’ show appearances, TV series, movies – you were rarely ever THE star, but like a great character actor does, you were the glue that held it together, made us smile, and laugh. Me, I remember getting up at 2AM in 1982 so I could listen to the Brewers play Game 7 against the Cardinals when I was stationed in Germany… sorry, Ueck, I bleed Cardinal red and was rooting against you, but sure enjoyed the commentary.
If you want a sample of his humor, take a listen to his Hall of Fame induction speech here
Sources:
Category: Army, Veterans in the news, We Remember
The last year or two, Fakebook always seemed to have a clip of him giving a speech or being interviewed on a talk show, and it was always one laugh followed by a bigger laugh. If you were to look up the term “self deprecating humor”, there would just be an image of Bob Uecker. Thanks for the laughs, Bob, and may your Red Hat Software license be perpetual.
I can remember him and all the old-school athletes along with Rodney Dangerfield in the original Miller-Lite ads. Rest in Peace, Ueck.
I thought I remembered Harry Carry calling games for the Cards! Would love to have heard Uek’ call a game, just remember him from Johnny Carson, the Miller Lite Adds, and the Major League movies. Great deadpan delivery!!!
Harry not only called for the Cards ’46-’69, he called two games for the Browns his first year. 25 unbroken years for the Cards, a little longer in Chicago but split 11 years for their Sox and the rest with El Cubbos. He and Jack Buck were the Cards’ voice seemingly forever.
Rest Easy, Good Sir. You have passed on to your reward, but the Braves are still a joke.
A baseball fanatic since I was but a little boy, I have long held a soft spot in my heart for Bob Uecker. He always, always made me laugh, despite the fact that I’m a lifelong Cubs fan. My opinion column next week is dedicated to him. Rest easy, Bob … your Heavenly seat is definitely “in the front row.”
I thank you for this post. At least I don’t have dementia yet. I was reading an article on line about this yesterday. And the article referred to him as a MLB pitcher. This conflicted with my memories of him catching for the Braves and Knucksie. You’ve restored my faith in my memory and taught me about his military service.
Thanks for the post. I remember being in the Army and one of my friends who was from St Louis being mad as hell when Cary left the Cards. One minor quibble, as a long time Phillies fan, I say 1964 does not exist..🧐