Anyone who listened to Bob Uecker knew that he was best in a blowout, spinning stories and delivering a comic timing that made every game a pleasant listen regardless of score.
But the man sure knew how to accentuate a big moment, too.
Uecker died at age 90 in January, and now the Milwaukee Brewers are commemorating his career with a remembrance ceremony Aug. 24.
Let’s take a walk through some of his most memorable Brewers calls:
Hank Aaron’s walk-off winner in 1976
On July 11, 1976, Hank Aaron hit the penultimate home run of his career, and it was a doozy. Back in Milwaukee after the Brewers engineered a trade to bring him from Atlanta, where he set the career home-run record the year before, Aaron played out the final years of his career as part of a favorite-son homecoming.
He was 42 years old when he gave the Brewers a win over Texas.
“Get out of here for Henry! It is gone! A home run! Hey, he did it! Henry Aaron has just hit one out of here. Hey, he got a hanging curve from Focault and he hit it out of here! … They’re standing at home plate for Henry. Hey, what a ballgame! And who else but Hank Aaron? He got a hanger and hit it out of here.”
Sixto Lezcano’s opening-day grand slam in 1980
In 1980, Sixto Lezcano belted a grand slam for a walk-off win over the Boston Red Sox on Opening Day. The clip below gives you a healthy dose of the iconic “Come See What’s Brewing” song, but there’s a Uecker call in there somewhere.
The Brewers clinch their first-ever playoff spot in 1981
“The arm is back and here he comes, 1-2. SWING AND A MISS. Goodbye Detroit, hello New York! Hey, Rollie Fingers, what a job! He’s being mobbed by his teammates, as the Brewers have come from behind today to beat Detroit by a score 2-1. Whoa, what a victory today for this Milwaukee Brewer ballclub, and Milwaukee will face New York for the American League Eastern Division championship.”
Charlie Moore throws out Reggie Jackson in 1982 during Game 5 of ALCS
“Leads, the pitch, is hit over Cooper’s head to right, a base hit. Here is Reggie turning second, trying for third. Moore’s going to have a play on him, the throw … IN TIME to get Jackson. Oh, what a throw by Moore. Oh, what a throw by Charlie Moore. He was right on line to Molitor and Molly was waiting for Jackson when he got there.”
Easter Sunday in 1987 for 12th win in a row to start the season
“Gantner, there he goes. The pitch … a swing and a fly ball, right field and deep. Get up, get up and get out of here, gone! For Sveum! And they’ve done it again! Twelve in a row on a two-run blast by Sveum to win it. Oh my goodness. Holy cow, do you believe it?”
Robin Yount records his 3,000th career hit in 1992
“The 0-1 pitch, SWINGS AND THERE IT IS. A base hit into right center. He’s done it. Three-thousand for Robin.”
Ryan Braun’s home run in 2008 gives the Brewers the lead and eventual wild-card berth to break 26-year playoff drought
“All right, here we go, with Ryan Braun. The pitch to him. SWING AND A DRIVE. Left center and deep! Get up! Get out of here! And gone, for Ryan Braun! And they’ve got the lead. Whoa, what a shot by Braun. It’s his 37th of the year. Ryan Braun just sent this crowd into a frenzy.”
“Everybody in this place is standing. 45,299. Sabathia sets, here it is, swing and a bouncer. Double play ball. J.J. to second, relay, double play! Hey! They win! Whoa, what a finish! CC Sabathia being mobbed by his teammates, and the Brewers have beaten Chicago. Wow, what a game. What a performance by Sabathia.”
Note: Video of Braun homer features iconic call from television announcer Brian Anderson. See the highlight with Uecker’s call in the embedded Facebook post above or here.
Nyjer Morgan’s game-winner in Game 5 of the 2011 NLDS
“Morgan, a smash up the middle, base hit to center! Here comes Gomez, around third. The throw and the Brewers win! The Brewers are moving on, on a base hit by Nyjer Morgan. He’s being mobbed. Whoa, what a scene. Nyjer Morgan, who has delivered so many times this year, delivers a base hit to center field to score Carlos Gomez, and the Brewers have beaten Arizona.”
Down to last out, Christian Yelich and Ryan Braun go back-to-back in 2018 for win
“Two balls, two strikes, two outs. Dominic Leone, all set to work. Here it is. Yelich, SENDS ONE TO RIGHT CENTER AND DEEP. Get up, get up, get out of here and gone! For Yelich. He has tied the game with a booming home run into right center field, no doubt about that one. … tied up, 4-4 on a big home run. The pitch, Ryan Braun sends it to left center and deep! Get up, get up, get out of here, and gone! For Ryan Braun! He just hit a walk-off outta here.”
Bob Uecker’s Hall of Fame induction speech
Few things better encapsulate Uecker’s style and substance than his speech at the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003, when he was honored with the Ford C. Frick Award given to a broadcasting great. For 20 minutes, Uecker’s deadpan delivery stole the show, full of the witticisms and one-liners that Brewers fans came to know and love. It’s regarded as one of the best Hall of Fame speeches in history.