Bill Zito Remembers His Friend Bob Uecker: ‘He Was Special’

Bob Uecker was known for many things in a life well lived.

A part of Uecker’s life, one probably not mentioned in the many glowing remembrances written about the Hall of Fame broadcaster and American treasure, was his friendship with Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito.

Zito, who grew up outside of Milwaukee and spend some of his teen years working as a clubhouse attendant and batboy for the Brewers, spoke with NHL.com on Saturday night about Uecker following his death on Thursday after a private battle with cancer.

Uecker, the longtime radio voice of the Brewers, was 90.

“Bob Uecker was just as nice as the day is long, and he was nice to everybody,’’ Zito said. “He was special.’’

Indeed.

Zito grew up outside of Milwaukee in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, and remembers listening to Uecker on the radio calling Brewers games throughout the summer.

But Uecker was bigger than the press box at County Stadium.

The self-depreciating former backup catcher who played for the old Milwaukee Braves and won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals, became a sensation in the 1970s thanks in great part to his guest spots with Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show as well as the original ‘Tastes Great! Less Filling!’ Miller Lite commercials.

Uecker went on to further fame as the star of the sitcom Mr. Belvedere and the fictional voice of the Cleveland Indians in the Major League movies.

He also declined opportunities to leave his hometown of Milwaukee for bigger and better gigs.

Just a bit outside?

No, Uecker stayed close to home.

He even spurned George Steinbrenner when offered the Yankees radio job.

The first Milwaukee native to ever sign with the Braves before they left for Atlanta, Uecker joined the Brewers radio team after being hired by owner Bud Selig in 1971 to be a scout and never left.

That meant something to kids like Zito, who saw a rising star stay true to their roots.

“He was always a larger-than-life guy,’’ Zito said. “When someone from Milwaukee becomes that famous, it’s such a small town. 

“He was famous for being a comedian, he’s doing Mr. Belvedere, he’s on Carson, he’s doing his thing. But he was still our radio guy.’’

As a teenager, Zito joined the Brewers as a clubhouse attendant for some of the franchise’s biggest moments and their biggest names.

Led by the likes of Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, and Rollie Fingers, the Brewers won the American League pennant in 1982.

Manager Harvey Kuenn’s ballclub — ‘Harvey’s Wallbangers’ — lost in the World Series to the Cardinals in the ‘Suds Series’ between the home cities of the Budweiser and Miller brewing companies.

Zito was there for all of it — and developed a relationship with Uecker that lasted until this past week.

“I’m a bat boy, working the clubhouse, so we would get there early and do laundry and clean and everything,’’ Zito recalled.

“Every day before the game, he’d come in the clubhouse and hold court. Some days it would be five minutes, others for five hours.

“It was like a Carson appearance every single day in the room. But he was very kind, very respectful to everyone. Nice to everybody. Everyone loved him. Just a wonderful, wonderful guy.”

Later, Uecker became a favorite guest of David Letterman.

He got more hits in his appearances on late night talk shows than he ever did on the diamond.

And that was so much a part of his charm.

Zito and Uecker stayed in touch and crossed paths over the years.

In 2023, after the Panthers lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final, then-Brewers manager Craig Counsell — whom Zito worked with in the Brewers clubhouse way before Counsell bounded across home plate in Game 7 for the Florida Marlins in the 1997 World Series — invited him back to throw out the first pitch at a game.

In 2024, after the Panthers won it all, Zito brought the Stanley Cup to his hometown to share it with friends and family.

To what was once known as Miller Park, Zito gave something back to his Brewers.

When the players walked into their clubhouse before a game with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 14, the Stanley Cup was set up in the middle of the room. 

Uecker, as always, was there in that clubhouse.

‘Mr. Baseball,’ as Carson called Uecker, got to hang out the Stanley Cup for the first time.

“I get to bring the Cup to him?’’ said Zito, who trucked the Stanley Cup all around Milwaukee with his official day with the trophy including stops to see his dad, his old high school, and the ice cream shop he once worked the fryer.

“It was such a wonderful day. So much fun. I am very lucky. We were all lucky. Very lucky.’’

FHN Publisher George Richards is an Independent Correspondent for NHL.com and wrote the original story linked here.

ON DECK: GAME No. 48

FLORIDA PANTHERS @ ANAHEIM DUCKS

• When: Tuesday, 10 p.m.
• Where: Honda Center, Anaheim
• Local TV: Scripps Sports — WSFL 39 (Miami/FTL); WHDT 9 (WPB); LAFF 36.3 (Naples/FTM)
• Streaming: Panthers+, ESPN
• Radio: WPOW 96.5-FM2; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
• Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App
• This Season — At Anaheim: Tuesday. At Florida: Saturday.
• Last Season: Tied 1-1
  
• All-time Regular Season Series: Florida leads 22-15-2, 3 ties
• Up Next for the Panthers: Wednesday at Los Angeles Kings, 10 p.m. (TNT)