MILWAUKEE (AP) — As the Milwaukee Brewers conducted a moment of silence before their home opener to honor Bob Uecker, one fan decided keeping quiet wasn’t the best way to pay tribute to the lovable loquacious broadcaster.
“We love you, Ueck,” the spectator shouted.
Fans, players and executives simply couldn’t hold back their appreciation for Uecker, who died Jan. 16 at the age of 90 after broadcasting Brewers games for the last 54 seasons and arguably becoming the most recognizable figure in franchise history.
The tributes to him were everywhere as the Brewers faced the Kansas City Royals on Monday in their first home game since Uecker’s death. It was apparent from Brewers principal owner Mark Attanasio’s decision to wear one of the plaid blazers that Uecker often favored.
“I did my best to find a jacket in my closet that would be something he would wear,” Attanasio said.
The American Family Field grounds crew had Uecker’s signature decorated on the outfield grass. The Brewers wore patches honoring Uecker on their jersey sleeves, something that they’ll do all season. The first pitches were thrown by representatives of the Wounded Warrior Project and the ALS Association, two of Uecker’s favorite causes. The pro shop sold a line of Uecker-themed clothes, with portions of the proceeds benefiting charities Uecker had supported.
Outside the press box entrance was a banner with the message “We’ll Miss You, Bob,” that included thank-you notes from fans who had signed it after Uecker’s death.
Way over in the upper right-field corner of American Family Field in a section where tickets aren’t sold, the Brewers placed a giant blue tarp bearing the message “I must be in the front row,” a nod to a famous Uecker line from one of his Miller Lite beer commercials.
“Obviously we all miss him and wish he was here,” said outfielder Christian Yelich, who had worn a plaid blazer to honor Uecker before Thursday’s season opener at Yankee Stadium. “I think he’ll be with us for this season and many seasons going forward.”
Brewers fans came up with plenty of different ways to pay tribute to Uecker, who continued to broadcast home games last year even as he battled small cell lung cancer.
Many spectators spent the minutes before the game lining up to get their photos taken flanking a Uecker statue in Section 422. Another statue outside the stadium honoring Uecker was decorated with a sign featuring his trademark home-run call: “Get up! Get up! Get out of here! Gone!” Other fans lined up Miller Lite beer cans at the base of the statue.
“He was the voice of our childhood summers,” said David Horton of Fitchburg, Wisconsin, who placed one of the beer cans at the base of the statue. “We had him on in the garage with our dads in the back yards. He was just a staple. We just wanted to pay our respects in a small way and show some love.”
This wasn’t the first time fans had placed Miller Lite cans at the base of that statue to pay tribute to Uecker. Many of them also had done so after Uecker’s death, even though the freezing temperatures assured the full beer cans wouldn’t stay that way for long.
“They said the beer cans started popping, and they thought it was Uecker doing it because he was thirsty, getting ...
