You can’t keep Bob Uecker quiet for long.
The legendary Milwaukee Brewers broadcaster visited the booth at Miller Park on Thursday after a 10-week hiatus following heart surgery, MLB.com reports. Uecker joined Cory Provus and Dave Nelson for the second inning of the Brewers’ 5-0 win over the Twins.
Uecker had major heart surgery on April 30, but the time away from the park didn’t affect his humor, as he cracked jokes for over four minutes. Uecker also thanked all the fans who reached out to him after his six-hour surgical procedure to replace his aortic valve, aortic root and part of his ascending aorta, along with a coronary bypass of one vessel.
“There’s a lot of mail and a lot of nice things from a lot of nice people and a lot of great fans,” Uecker said . “I’m very much appreciative and especially to those out at Froedtert Hospital. They’ve really done an unbelievable job.”
During his broadcast, Uecker commented that he expected to return to his full-time duties this week, but will no longer travel with the team for road contests.
Uecker, 75, has served as the Brewers’ broadcaster since 1971. He also played six seasons in the big leagues during a career that spanned from 1962 to 1967.
While his play on the field was nothing to write home about, the lifetime .200 hitter is one of the greatest pranksters the game has ever known. And his role as the Cleveland Indians broadcaster in the Major League movies remains a work of comic genius.
Here’s hoping Uecker continues to bring laughter to the old ballgame for many seasons to come.
