The Milwaukee Brewers will be honoring late broadcasting legend Bob Uecker with a ceremony on Aug. 24, and readers were invited to share their favorite memories of hearing Uecker on the radio. Over his 54 seasons calling Brewers games, Uecker became known for a legendary level of humor, storytelling, and a connection with fans that went far beyond the play-by-play. Here are the memories readers shared, ranging from funny moments to tearful triumphs and everything in between.
The funny stories
– Tom Possley, Baldwin: During a rain delay against Detroit, Uecker and Norm Cash traded stories about their careers and kept listeners hooked instead of driving.
– New Berlin: In a preseason game, Uecker joked about relaxing in a hotel room, cooking, and turning on the Spice channel, culminating in a surprised, “Wow,” that left a listener laughing hard.
– Kurt Preston: On a hot July night at County Stadium with lights flickering, Uecker urged fans to turn off the air conditioning so the game could finish, and shortly after, Mike Hegan’s three-run homer followed a strong bounce-back performance.
– Paul Castino, Wauwatosa: The 1982 fall call when Pete Ladd first came out of the bullpen, with Uecker calling him “a giant of a man.”
– Dan, Neenah: A backyard Sunday afternoon story about locker-room safekeeping and a single locked safe, with Uecker animated as the tale unfolded.
– Pete Schmidt, West Bend: The time Ron “The Little General” Theobald hit a homer and Uecker fainted, plus memories of calling the “Kiddie Corps” of young players that included Pedro Garcia and Bobby Coluccio.
– Ian Pomplin, Redgranite: A story about driving home from the ballpark while eating a bratwurst bite-by-bite from a cigarette lighter—one of those lines that had listeners in tears.
– Jon, Gresham: Singing “Root, root, root for the Brewers” at Wrigley Field drew booing, but Uecker wore a huge smile.
– Eric from Silver Lake: A random game where Uecker riffed about how the MLB schedule used to be made, reminding fans why he was one of a kind.
– Steve in Milwaukee: The 2014 Wrigleyville broadcast, where Uecker added details to an imagined sitcom about the Wrigley rooftop seats.
– Barrenlens (Bluesky): A long-running sponsor read for the Wisconsin Dental Association—“the sign of a dentist who cares”—that Uecker read with a large pause, which the sponsor eventually dropped.
– Patman (Bluesky): A memory of Uecker playing left field in an old-timers game at County Stadium, tossing balls into the stands and sharing a laugh with the crowd.
– Cherry Styles (Bluesky): Not a favorite moment, but a memorable one when, during a 2011 game, Ueck went off on a royal wedding tangent instead of focusing on the at-bat.
– Jason Collins (Bluesky): Listening with a dad as a kid during the home run inning, with the Myrtle Steele memory—“Myrtle Steele” winning $1,000-plus—becoming a beloved inside joke.
– Paul Shedivy, Mukwonago: A question about Michael Jordan’s first hit with the White Sox elicited Uecker’s famous line about major-league pitchers: “it won’t be long before they hit his bat.”
– Dave from Mequon: Working in the garage, listening to Uecker and hearing jokes pull him away from chores and into a summer-day memory.
The moments of joy … and some heartbreak
– Mike Steeno, Two Rivers: Sixto Lezcano’s walk-off grand slam on Opening Day, 1980, heard on a transistor radio in algebra class, with Uecker’s call eliciting cheers and a little trouble from detention.
– Mark B from Port Washington: The 1981 playoff clincher call, “Goodbye, Detroit. Hello, New York!”
– Matthew Reimer, Whitestown, Indiana: Easter Sunday 1987, listening in the backyard to a key moment while family memories formed around the game.
– Pat Bergin, Racine: Sveum’s Easter Sunday homer in 1987.
– Adam Van Chazzo, Middleton: Deer and Sveum on Easter Sunday 1987.
– David, Mequon: Sveum’s homer and the Deer homer that tied the game—two memorable moments.
– Mark Larson, La Crosse: “Robin’s flying around third!”—another iconic line that fans still recall.
– Scott, Greenfield: “Swings and there it is! He’s done it! Three thousand for Robin!”
– Jerry Franke, Mount Pleasant: Ryan Braun’s eighth-inning homer against the Cubs on 9/28/08; the call became a ring-tone-worthy memory.
– Kevin, Waupaca: CC Sabathia’s last game in 2008; Braunie delivered; Uecker was at his best.
– Ryan M, Milwaukee: Braun’s home run call on 9/28/08 still gives listeners chills.
– J.P., Boston: In 2002, Izzy Alcántara’s grounder that led to a strong Uecker reaction about laziness—Alcantara was released the next day.
– Jake Gropp: “That one stings, folks,” one of Uecker’s most heartfelt endings to a game, a moment fans feel even years later.
The way he brought us together
– Lynn Smith, Waukesha: After 20 years in the Army, her son said hearing Uecker’s voice felt like coming home as he unpacked and listened to the Brewers.
– Traci, Appleton: After a game at Saz’s, Uecker stopped by their table, autographs in hand, and made a moment of connection.
– Glen Mabie, Eau Claire: Realizing four generations of his family had grown up listening to Uecker—father, children, and now grandchildren—together in the same room.
– George, Kenosha: A mother who listened in the kitchen of the early Brewers days, marveling at how Uecker turned every loss into a story worth sharing.
– Jeff Pieters, Rochester, Minnesota: A quiet moment at Game 5 of 1982 against the Cardinals when Uecker acknowledged a young fan waving from behind the net, a reminder of the personal, human side of broadcasting.
A lasting legacy
Readers say Uecker didn’t just call games—he made them feel like they were part of a big, shared family. His humor, warmth, and knack for turning a broadcast into a story helped define Brewers baseball for generations. The Aug. 24 ceremony will be a chance for fans to celebrate that enduring impact and remember a voice that made summer days feel brighter.
Additional value and suggestions
– Consider adding a photo gallery from Uecker’s years behind the mic and a short audio montage of fan favorite calls (with proper licensing for clips).
– A timeline feature could highlight landmark Uecker moments, from classic calls to memorable on-air riffs.
– Invite readers to submit their own favorite Uecker moments, perhaps as a follow-up post with a compiled reader poll.
Overall, the collection of memories in this piece underscores why Bob Uecker remains a beloved, irreplaceable figure in Milwaukee sports lore and in the hearts of Brewers fans everywhere.