Beloved Baseball Announcer Bob Uecker Dies at 90

MILWAUKEE, WI — Bob Uecker, who was beloved as a baseball announcer for the Milwaukee Brewers and in the movie Major League, died Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. He was 90.

Uecker’s family said he had battled small cell lung cancer for nearly two years.

The Brewers announced his death, calling it "one of the most difficult days in Milwaukee Brewers history."

Uecker was known by many fans as the sarcastic announcer Harry Doyle from the 1989 baseball movie Major League.

His description of a terrible pitch as “juuuust a bit outside” is one of his catchphrases from the movie that has lived on at ballparks ever since.

Uecker was born and raised in Milwaukee and signed his first pro contract with his hometown Milwaukee Braves in 1956. He played six seasons in the majors as a backup catcher.

He won a World Series ring with St. Louis in 1964 and also played for Atlanta and Philadelphia.

Uecker became the voice of the Brewers in 1971.

He was honored by the Hall of Fame with the Ford C. Frick award in 2003.

Uecker’s comedy career took off when he opened for Don Rickles in 1969 at an Atlanta nightclub. The nightclub’s owner, Al Hirt, helped Uecker gain an appearance on “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson, and he went on to appear on the show more than 100 times, earning the nickname, “Mr. Baseball.”

Uecker was also known from Miller Lite commercials and for his role on the sitcom, “Mr. Belvedere.”