The Milwaukee Brewers kicked off their spring training schedule on Saturday, highlighting the significant loss the organization faced during the offseason. Longtime radio announcer Bob Uecker passed away on January 16 at the age of 90, concluding an extraordinary 54-season career behind the microphone, which began in 1971, just after the Brewers started in Milwaukee.
Uecker’s passing elicited an overwhelming flood of tributes from across the MLB community and beyond, and this recognition is expected to persist throughout the 2025 season. To honor Uecker, the Brewers FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin TV broadcast commenced the team’s spring training with a heartfelt tribute. Play-by-play announcer Jeff Levering introduced himself and the crew, including analyst Lane Grindle, sharing the poignant moment: “Just to the right of Lane, a bouquet of flowers and a chair with Bob Uecker’s name on the back. For the first time since 1970, there will be a season without hearing Ueck’s voice. The chair symbolizes his presence; however, the weight of his absence is profoundly felt, not just within this group or the organization, but around the world. He was our mentor and, more importantly, our friend, and we miss him dearly.”
The emotional opening of the first broadcast without Bob Uecker #Brewers pic.twitter.com/MoOiTnl9vq
— Lance Allan (@lanceallan) February 22, 2025
Levering’s tribute was a touching gesture, particularly with the empty seat left for Uecker, who used to jokingly tell his fellow Brewers broadcasters that they would have to carry him out of the booth one day. “But he’s always with each and every one of us in our hearts, every single day,” Levering added. “We’ll do what Ueck would want us to do, and that’s talk Brewers baseball. We’ll certainly laugh, we may cry, but we’ll always remember our friend, Bob Uecker.”
