Sports Heroes Who Served: World Series Champion Was Also a Soldier

Bob Uecker, actor, philanthropist, radio announcer and baseball star enlisted in the Army in 1954, attaining the rank of corporal.

He played Army baseball at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and then played baseball at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, where he teamed with shortstop and future St. Louis Cardinals teammate Dick Groat.

After his Army service in 1956 Uecker signed with the Milwaukee Braves, his hometown team. For the next six years, he played for Braves' affiliate teams, and then as a Braves catcher from 1962 to 1963.

From 1964 to 1965, he played for the St. Louis Cardinals, the team that won the World Series in 1964. He then signed with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1966 to 1967 and finally in 1979 with his old team, the Braves, which had moved to Atlanta.

His Major League statistics from 1962 to 1967 were a batting average of .200, 14 home runs and 74 runs batted in.

"I've been a big supporter of the military for a long, long time," said Uecker. "I think had I not [gone] on to baseball I would've stayed in the service. I enjoyed my time as an active member I've thought about that a lot over the years," Uecker said in an interview with reporter Rod Burks, TMJ4-TV, in Milwaukee, May 14, 2018.

The Burks interview took place during a ceremony at the Wisconsin Club, where Uecker received the Citizen's Support for our Armed Services award. He said receiving it was one of the biggest honors of his life.

Mr. Baseball, as Uecker is known, told Burks that he has so much respect for today's men and women in uniform. He has spent time visiting the wounded and injured at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland.

Uecker is an honorary life member of American Legion Post 537 in Milwaukee. He was presented The American Legion's James V. Day "Good Guy" Award during the organization's 103rd annual national convention on, Aug. 29, 2022, in Milwaukee.

"Bob is a beloved figure not just for his legendary wit and comedic skills, but he is a Legionnaire who has given back to his country and community," American Legion national commander Paul E. Dillard said during the ceremony. "From Make-a-Wish to supporting the fight against cancer, Bob Uecker has given money and time to worthy causes. Before he ever played in the major leagues, he was an American Legion Baseball player and an American soldier. He entertained millions on the sitcom 'Mr. Belvedere' and has been the voice of the Milwaukee Brewers for 51 years. He is an outstanding selection for this award."

"When I see some of my friends who have received this award like George Foreman, Johnny Bench and Lou Holtz, I knew that this was quite an honor," Uecker said. "When I was a kid, Legion ball was the thing to do. Plus, I really like the military aspect of what the Legion does."

After presenting the award to Uecker, past national commander John P. "Jake" Comer announced that the Legion was donating $2,000 to Wisconsin Make-a-Wish on behalf of Uecker.

Uecker, 90, lives in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.

• The 1964 World Series became the subject for David Halberstam's New York Times bestseller book, "October 1964."
• Beginning in 1971, Uecker became a radio and TV broadcaster for Milwaukee Brewer games. He did this well into his 80s.
• Uecker made about 100 appearances on Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show." Carson gave him the nickname Mr. Baseball.
• The Milwaukee Brewers erected the Uecker Monument outside American Family Field in Milwaukee.
• Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers declared Sept. 25, 2021, as Bob Uecker Day in honor of his 50th year broadcasting Brewers games.
• Uecker played the father and sportswriter George Owens in the sitcom "Mr. Belvedere," which ran on TV from 1985 to 1990. He also appeared in a series of Miller Lite beer commercials in the 1980s.

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