Baseball world mourns Bob Uecker, with Brewers, Christian Yelich, Adam Sandler paying tribute to late sportscaster

On Thursday, the Milwaukee Brewers announced that Bob Uecker, the longtime voice of the team, had died at age 90. Uecker, a baseball player-turned-broadcaster-turned-pop culture icon, had a sense of humor that made him a household name outside of the Brewers fandom.

“Ueck was the light of the Brewers, the soundtrack of our summers, the laughter in our hearts, and his passing is a profound loss,” the Brewers said in a statement. “He was the heart and soul of Wisconsin and a dear friend. Bob loved people; his presence warmed every room and he had a way of welcoming all of us into his world as if we were lifelong friends.”

In a statement, Uecker’s family revealed that he had been battling lung cancer since early 2023. The family thanked people for sharing love and support for Uecker, who they described as having “a legacy that will forever be cherished.”

“While his contributions to the game are noteworthy, it is his kindness, humility, and love for family and friends that we will hold closest to our hearts,” the Uecker family wrote in the statement.

Brewers left fielder Christian Yelich, who has been with the team since 2018, paid tribute to Uecker in a heartfelt post on Instagram. The post included a number of photos of Yelich with the late sportscaster, with several of them showing the two celebrating the Brewers’ postseason wins.

Shortly after the Brewers announced Uecker’s passing, his statue outside of American Family Field in Milwaukee became a sort of shrine.

The first item added was a single, unopened can of Miller Lite — a reference to the Miller Lite commercial that, along with his appearance in “Major League,” grew Uecker’s fame to a national level.

By the afternoon, the tribute was steadily growing, with fans adding flowers along with more cans of beer and other items.

Actor and comedian Adam Sandler posted about Uecker on X, with a series of photos that included a selfie of the two of them.

“What a guy! What a great part of our lives!” Sandler wrote, describing the late sportscaster as someone who “felt like all our dads’ best friend.”

Former NFL defensive end JJ Watt commented on the Brewers’ announcement of Uecker’s passing. Watt was born and raised in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, just outside of Milwaukee.

“An absolute Legend. Truly,” Watt wrote. “Thanks for all the memories.”

Hall of Fame first baseman Frank Thomas wrote about Uecker on social media, referencing his humor and his most famous line in “Major League”: “Juuust a bit outside.”

“RIP Bob Uecker! No one made the game and telecast funnier than you. Your one liners are legendary,” Thomas wrote. “We will miss you dearly.”

Former Brewers pitcher Dan Plesac, a three-time All-Star and a member of the Brewers’ Wall of Honor, posted about Uecker on social media, including a pair of photos with the late broadcaster.

“Thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of the one and only Bob Uecker,” Plesac wrote. “Lived an amazing life .. brought smiles and laughter to so many people .. he will be deeply missed.”

Plesac added a reference to Uecker’s infamous Miller Lite commercial: “I know for certain he’s in the ‘front row’ upstairs!” he wrote.