For the first time more than half a century, the Milwaukee Brewers are set to begin a season without beloved radio broadcaster Bob Uecker.
The Brewers open the season on Thursday at Yankee Stadium, and the organization is still mourning the passing of its legendary voice for 53 years. Uecker died on Jan. 16 at the age of 90 of small cell lung cancer, a diagnosis kept secret from all but his closest inner circle.
“First and foremost, we have to talk about who’s not going to be here on Opening Day, and that’s Bob Uecker,” Brewers President of Business Operations Rick Schlesinger told reporters who gathered at American Family Field this week to discuss the upcoming season.
“We’re still dealing with the fact that the legend, the icon, the epitome of Brewers baseball is no longer with us,” he said. “We’re going to do a number of things to honor his memory on Opening Day and throughout the season. We’re still putting together plans for a celebration of life event at the ballpark later this summer for all the fans to come and share great memories, treasured moments and just celebrate Bob Uecker – the person, the legend, the man, the icon.”
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The Brewers are still zeroing in a date for the celebration, Schlesinger added. “We’re working with the family and making sure that important people who want to be part of it are able to travel,” he said. “We’ll announce something early next month as we get all the logistics settled.”
Uecker began his career as broadcaster with the Brewers in 1971, the year after the team relocated from Seattle.
Brewers players will wear a patch on the sleeve of their jerseys throughout the season in remembrance of Uecker.
On Monday, the Brewers team store began selling a line of Bob Uecker-branded apparel and other items. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each item will go to charities Uecker supported.
