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06-10-2005, 02:48 AM
<b>Celebration includes Bob Uecker Collectible Nesting Doll giveaway courtesy of Piggly Wiggly and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel</b>
MILWAUKEE -- On Saturday, August 27, the Brewers will celebrate Bob Uecker's 50 years in baseball with an evening of festivities honoring the Hall-of-Fame broadcaster, Executive Vice President of Business Operations Rick Schlesinger announced today.
Every fan who attends the Brewers game against the Atlanta Braves on August 27 will receive a set of three Bob Uecker nesting dolls, courtesy of Piggly Wiggly and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The nesting dolls will feature Uecker as a Milwaukee Brave (1962), as a World Series winner in St. Louis (1964) and as the long-time voice of the Brewers (1971-present). The evening will begin with a video tribute to "Mr. Baseball" and a gift in Uecker's name to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Additional surprises throughout the evening will honor the first light-hitting backup catcher to find his way to Cooperstown.
"Bob has given so much to the game of baseball over the past 50 years," Schlesinger said. "He is the face and voice of our franchise and it's our honor to celebrate this occasion with him."
Uecker began his professional odyssey in 1956, when the Milwaukee Braves signed him as an amateur free agent. The Milwaukee native reached the Majors with his hometown Braves in 1962, and a trade to the St. Louis Cardinals provided Uecker a 'front row' seat - and spot catching duty - for the 1964 World Series champions. His six-year career also included stints in Philadelphia and Atlanta before he called it quits in 1967.
His self-deprecating humor, his candor and his ability to tell a story made for an easy segue into the entertainment business. One of Johnny Carson's favorite guests, Uecker soon became a national celebrity, memorably appearing in the Miller Lite All-Stars ads, becoming a regular on the talk-show circuit and serving as host of two syndicated television shows. His Q-rating approached his career batting average by the mid-eighties, when he hosted Saturday Night Live, starred in ABC TV's "Mr. Belvedere" and stole scenes as Harry Doyle in "Major League" and two sequels. He even penned a best-selling book, "Catcher in the Wry," recounting tales of his life in baseball.
All the while, Uecker remained in Milwaukee tending to his day job as the Brewers play-by-play voice, a career he began in 1971 alongside Merle Harmon and Tom Collins. He became the team's primary voice on WTMJ in 1980, and has worked alongside Lorn Brown, Dwayne Mosely, Pat Hughes and Jim Powell, his on-air partner since the 1996 season.
"Fifty years flies by when you have fun and love what you do," said Uecker. "I am extremely fortunate to have been in Baseball for my entire adult life and I look forward to celebrating my 100th year in professional baseball in 2055."
Uecker's work as a broadcaster was recognized with enshrinement in the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2001. He was selected for the Ford C. Frick Award, and was welcomed to the announcer's wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame on July 27, 2003, following a memorable induction speech that left his audience in stitches. He is also a member of the Wisconsin Performing Arts Hall of Fame, Wisconsin Sports Hall of Fame and Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.
MILWAUKEE -- On Saturday, August 27, the Brewers will celebrate Bob Uecker's 50 years in baseball with an evening of festivities honoring the Hall-of-Fame broadcaster, Executive Vice President of Business Operations Rick Schlesinger announced today.
Every fan who attends the Brewers game against the Atlanta Braves on August 27 will receive a set of three Bob Uecker nesting dolls, courtesy of Piggly Wiggly and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The nesting dolls will feature Uecker as a Milwaukee Brave (1962), as a World Series winner in St. Louis (1964) and as the long-time voice of the Brewers (1971-present). The evening will begin with a video tribute to "Mr. Baseball" and a gift in Uecker's name to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Additional surprises throughout the evening will honor the first light-hitting backup catcher to find his way to Cooperstown.
"Bob has given so much to the game of baseball over the past 50 years," Schlesinger said. "He is the face and voice of our franchise and it's our honor to celebrate this occasion with him."
Uecker began his professional odyssey in 1956, when the Milwaukee Braves signed him as an amateur free agent. The Milwaukee native reached the Majors with his hometown Braves in 1962, and a trade to the St. Louis Cardinals provided Uecker a 'front row' seat - and spot catching duty - for the 1964 World Series champions. His six-year career also included stints in Philadelphia and Atlanta before he called it quits in 1967.
His self-deprecating humor, his candor and his ability to tell a story made for an easy segue into the entertainment business. One of Johnny Carson's favorite guests, Uecker soon became a national celebrity, memorably appearing in the Miller Lite All-Stars ads, becoming a regular on the talk-show circuit and serving as host of two syndicated television shows. His Q-rating approached his career batting average by the mid-eighties, when he hosted Saturday Night Live, starred in ABC TV's "Mr. Belvedere" and stole scenes as Harry Doyle in "Major League" and two sequels. He even penned a best-selling book, "Catcher in the Wry," recounting tales of his life in baseball.
All the while, Uecker remained in Milwaukee tending to his day job as the Brewers play-by-play voice, a career he began in 1971 alongside Merle Harmon and Tom Collins. He became the team's primary voice on WTMJ in 1980, and has worked alongside Lorn Brown, Dwayne Mosely, Pat Hughes and Jim Powell, his on-air partner since the 1996 season.
"Fifty years flies by when you have fun and love what you do," said Uecker. "I am extremely fortunate to have been in Baseball for my entire adult life and I look forward to celebrating my 100th year in professional baseball in 2055."
Uecker's work as a broadcaster was recognized with enshrinement in the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2001. He was selected for the Ford C. Frick Award, and was welcomed to the announcer's wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame on July 27, 2003, following a memorable induction speech that left his audience in stitches. He is also a member of the Wisconsin Performing Arts Hall of Fame, Wisconsin Sports Hall of Fame and Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.