MLB Network – Friday at 8pm
I have seen the a special of this interview between Bob Uecker and Bob Costas set for Friday Night on the MLB Network and it really is a must see show. You will laugh and enjoy every moment!
The Hall of Fame award-winning announcer Uecker brings his trademark sense of humor to a new episode of MLB Network’s Studio 42 with Bob Costas Throughout the hour-long interview, Uecker, 75, discusses his more than 55 years in professional baseball, including his playing career and 39-year stint as the radio broadcaster for the Milwaukee Brewers as well as his place in pop culture with starring roles in the film series Major League, the TV series Mr. Belvedere, commercials for Miller Lite beer, and his frequent guest appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, who gave him the nickname “Mr. Baseball.” Uecker also mentions the health issues that caused him to miss part of the 2010 season and talks in-depth about his life-long commitment to the game.
Here is a preview and the one-liners from the interview with Uecker:
“Gaylord Perry says that the day I hit a home run against him was the worst day of his whole life.”
I think my top salary was maybe in 1966. I made $17,000 and 11 of that came from selling other players’ equipment.”
“Any teammate of mine that had a kid and a boy that was capable of playing baseball, I think I set a terrific example of ‘Don’t do this’ and ‘Don’t do that.’ And that’s one of the things that I’m most proud of.”
“I had a good time every place I went as long as I didn’t play.”
“I love baseball Bob, and I mean where would I be without baseball anyway. I love doing the games, and I love doing radio, I really love doing radio and there’s nothing wrong with doing television by any means, but I love doing radio where you can’t see what’s going on…”
There is also a great clip from the Johnny Carson Show.
“[Johnny Carson] didn’t know that much about baseball but as we went along he let me do whatever I wanted. As a matter of fact, when I started doing the shows in New York, you get a script to follow and promote whatever you want to talk about. After about the tenth time I did the show Johnny said, ‘Do you need this stuff?’ and I said, ‘No, I thought you did.’ So from then on we pretty much just ad-libbed and went along and whatever he said I just jumped in and went along with it.”
“Not bragging by any means, but I could have done a lot of other stuff as far as working in films go and working in television … I had chances to do that stuff, but I like baseball, I really do … The Mr. Belvedere series was great, it lasted six years, but each March when we finished up in California, I couldn’t wait to get to Arizona and get back to baseball and be around what I’ve been around for practically my whole adult life. After getting out of the service and going into baseball I never wanted to do anything else.”
