Bob Uecker statue: Milwaukee Brewers fans' tribute to baseball icon
Fans pay tribute to Bob Uecker
A memorial grew at Bob Uecker's statue outside American Family Field on Thursday following news of the baseball icon's death. He was 90 years old.
MILWAUKEE - A memorial grew at Bob Uecker's statue outside American Family Field on Thursday following news of the baseball icon's death. He was 90 years old.
A fitting tribute
Local perspective:
To so many Brewers fans, Uecker was more than a voice. He was with them on the porch, at the dinner table and in the car. It was only fitting so many of them descended on his statue to be with him one last time.
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"I was a beer vendor here for a few years," said Bob Lesczcynski. "I saw him a couple times, and I just said: 'Hey Ueck, thanks for everything.' And he'd say something to you, say 'thanks' or whatever, and he'd walk on. It was great."
Leave it to Milwaukee to find the most appropriate way to say goodbye: Over Miller Lites, fans and former employees reminisced at the base of the Uecker statue.
Fans' memorial to Bob Uecker at American Family Field statue.
"I remember his joke about statues," Lesczcynski said. "He always talked about how they put one up of him in St. Louis, but they have him batting the wrong way, because it was Stan Musial. It was great. I loved that one."
All day Thursday, people dropped flowers, candles and more Miller at a temporary memorial. Fans made peace with a loss that might just hurt more than any game Uecker himself ever called.
"I know it's crazy, but I never thought I'd see this day where he wouldn't be here," said Lesczcynski.
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Fans' memorial to Bob Uecker at American Family Field statue.
Uecker's death
What they're saying:
Brewers owner Mark Attanasio peeled back the curtain some on Uecker's last years with the team. Since 2023, he'd privately battled single-cell lung cancer.
"There were days he would go have radiation treatment and come to the ballpark and broadcast a game. It's unbelievable," said Attanasio.
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What's next:
The Brewers will share details on a public celebration of Uecker's life at a later time. Attanasio said the team also plans to honor Uecker at the ballpark this summer.
"He really was part of the family, and we felt this morning – we felt this morning like we lost a family member," Brewers owner Mark Attanasio said.
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The Source: Information in this report is from FOX6 News interviews and the Milwaukee Brewers.