Bob Uecker has entertained audiences for 40 years. He’s been a master at describing to his radio audience what’s happening on the diamond and providing comic relief at the very same time. Much of the humor comes at his own expense.
It’s going to seem like forever, the time that Bob Uecker will miss, recovering from heart surgery on Friday. His doctors say the recovery time is 2 to 3 months for the 75 year old Uecker.
Uecker told reporters at a news conference on Tuesday that he had hoped to hold off on the surgery until the end of the season, but that’s just not feasible anymore.
AUDIO: Uecker said he doesn’t want to leave the booth yet :16
Uecker also had surgery in 1991 to repair two abdominal aortic aneurysms and made a full recovery in about five weeks. That’s the longest he has been away from baseball since the Milwaukee Braves signed him in 1956. Now Uecker will experience an even longer layoff.
According to cardiologist Jim Kleczka, they’ve known something was going to need to be done for awhile, but it worsened most recently and needs to be taken care of.
AUDIO: Cardiologist Jim Kleczka said the problem eventually had to be taken care of :22
Uecker said even knowing the problem, he felt fine.
AUDIO: Bob Uecker said knowing the problem, he still felt fine :14
Uecker has been calling play-by-play for the Brewers radio broadcasts since 1971 and was inducted into the broadcasters wing of the NBA Hall of Fame in 2003.
He’s even better known for his work in both film and television, including appearances on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and in the TV series Mr. Belvedere. Uecker also handled play by play duties in the hit movie “Major League”.
Uecker told reporters yesterday that he doesn’t want to quit. He said he looks forward to coming to the park every day and plans to return.