Brewers to honor Uecker on Sept. 25
SAN FRANCISCO – The Milwaukee Brewers announced Wednesday they will honor Hall of Fame radio broadcaster Bob Uecker on Sept. 25 at American Family Field as he celebrates his 50th anniversary season in the booth.
Uecker, 87, began calling games on the radio for his hometown Brewers in 1971, their second year in Milwaukee after being bought out of bankruptcy by Bud Selig's new ownership group.
Uecker was honored by the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, in 2003 with the Ford C. Frick
Award for career excellence in broadcasting, and his acceptance speech is still remembered as one of the most entertaining in the history of the induction ceremonies.
Uecker's work led to numerous additional awards, including induction into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the Radio Hall of Fame.
In 2012, the Brewers dedicated a statue of Uecker on the plaza outside of the home plate gate, making Uecker one of just five Brewers icons to be recognized with this honor. He was honored with another statue, this one seated far up in the cheap seats above home plate, in the last row of Section 422, two years later.
A veteran of 66 years in the game as a player, broadcaster and personality, Uecker also became an icon in the world of entertainment. His work included more than 100 appearances on "The Tonight Show," lead roles in the worldfamous Miller Lite All Stars ad campaign and "Major League" movies, as well as starring in the long-running network TV program, "Mr. Belvedere."
Uecker also made appearances on the pro wrestling circuit, hosting Wrestlemania III and Wrestlemania IV, which earned him a spot in the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) Hall of Fame in 2010.
Uecker's anniversary will be celebrated before the Sept. 25 game against the New York Mets with a tribute video and a ceremonial first pitch, tossed to Brewers Hall of Famer Robin Yount. Special messages will appear from Uecker's friends throughout the game on the stadium video board, and the field will include special décor honoring the legend.
Fans purchasing the WWE Night theme night package that day will receive a limited-edition WWE Bob Uecker Bobblehead. On Sept. 26, fans can further enjoy highlights of some of his best calls with the Bob Uecker Talking Bobblehead, available to the first 35,000 ticketed fans.
The weekend will also include Fan Appreciation activities and a special celebration honoring former centerfielder Carlos Gómez and pitchers Yovani Gallardo and Francisco Rodríguez being inducted into the Brewers Wall of Honor. Details on those events will be announced in the near future.
Vogelbach returns; Piña goes on IL
A lot has happened since the last time Daniel Vogelbach suited up for the Brewers, not the least of which was the team acquiring another first baseman.
When it became apparent that Vogelbach would be out for several weeks after straining his left hamstring running the bases in a game June 22 in Arizona, the Brewers began looking for a replacement, preferably a left-handed bat with power to fill that void. They found one July 6 in a trade with Toronto that netted Rowdy Tellez.
While Tellez was swinging a hot bat for the Brewers, Vogelbach went on minor-league rehab assignment with Class AAA Nashville. Just as those 20 days were close to expiring, he injured his right foot and went back on the injured list.
“I hit a ball off the wall and slid into second in Louisville, and jammed my foot into second base,” Vogelbach said. “It was just something that bothered me for a few days. It was a precautionary thing more than anything.
“It tested some patience but I'm happy to be back. The swing feels good; I feel good. I'm ready for the final push.”
Vogelbach was reinstated Wednesday from the 60-day injured list, and to make room for him on the 40-man roster, the Brewers moved left-hander Angel Perdomo (lower back strain) from the 10-day IL to the 60-day IL. Backup catcher Manny Piña was placed on the 10-day IL with left oblique tightness.
With teams allowed to boost rosters from 26 to 28 players for the remainder of the season, the Brewers recalled catcher Luke Maile and right-handed reliever Justin Topa from Class AAA Nashville. The move with Maile was needed with Piña going on the IL.
As for how he fits back in with Tellez on the club, Vogelbach said, “I don't have any expectations in this game. You do what you can do; you control what you can control. Every night is different. Whatever is called upon, you do whatever you can to help the team win.”
Tellez had been in a slump until blasting a three-run homer Sunday in the Brewers' 6-2 victory in Minnesota but overall has been productive. In 44 games entering Wednesday, he was batting .279 with a .850 OPS, seven home runs and 24 RBI.
When it was suggested to Vogelbach that it didn't seem fair to lose your job by getting injured, he said, “Life's not fair, right? Everything works out for a reason. I'm just excited to be back."
Vogelbach swung the bat well during his double-rehab stint with Nashville, batting .313 over 18 games with a .477 on-base percentage, .977 OPS, three homers and eight RBI. He got off to a slow start with the Brewers before getting injured and was hitting .216 in 67 games with seven homers, 16 RBI and .709 OPS before going on the IL.
“The goal was to get healthy, get some at-bats in and get ready to get back here,” Vogelbach said. “I was happy with everything that happened. Everything feels good. I'm healthy and ready for this final push to help these guys out.
“Even when I wasn't here physically, I followed the guys and talked to the guys all the time. Players have changed; things have changed. But the one thing that hasn't is the wins and losses. That's the ultimate goal. I'm excited to be back.”
Though Tellez and Vogelbach seem to be redundant players at first base, general manager Matt Arnold said he thought it could benefit the team to have both on the roster.
“I do think it can work,” Arnold said. “When you have two good left-handed bats, especially with the interleague games coming up with the DH (in Cleveland and Detroit), that's something we can definitely take advantage of. That plays a factor in it. That's something we certainly value.”
Another chance for Topa
Topa spent the first half of the season on the IL after suffering a right flexor strain in spring training. He worked his way through the farm system on rehab assignments before being reinstated on Aug. 11 to the Brewers' active roster.
Topa pitched a scoreless inning against the Cubs on Aug. 12 but was tagged for five runs in two-thirds of an inning in a 14-4 loss in Pittsburgh in the first game of a doubleheader two days later. The next day, he was optioned back to Nashville.
In 10 appearances with the Sounds, Topa was 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA, with seven hits and three runs allowed in nine innings and nine strikeouts.