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On Thursday, baseball’s Bob Uecker passed away at age 90. It was only ten days before he would have turned 91 on January 26.
One report indicated that he had been diagnosed with small cell lung cancer less than two years ago.
Best known for his incredible self-deprecating sense of humor, Uecker’s baseball career was modestly successful. Still, his relative lack of success on the baseball field made for some of his best jokes.
After a two year hitch in the Army, Bob Uecker (the son of a Swiss immigrant) needed six years in the minor leagues to achieve his boyhood dream of playing major league baseball.
In 1962, the catcher took the field with his hometown Milwaukee Braves (before the team moved to Atlanta).
For the next six seasons, Bob Uecker was primary used as a reserve catcher for major league teams in Milwaukee, St. Louis, Philadelphia, and Atlanta.
Despite the jokes about his hitting (a modest .200 career batting average), Uecker was a better-than-average defensive catcher.
He was tasked with handling knuckleball specialists like Hall-of-Fame pitcher Phil Niekro. Those pitches will move erratically and often frustrate batters as they attempt to make contact.
The overlooked catcher often struggled just as much while trying to hold onto those pitches, too.
Bob Uecker’s sense of humor made him a favorite in the team’s clubhouse at every stop.
A few years after being handed his final walking papers from the major leagues at age 34, Bob Uecker’s gift of gab helped to land him the play-by-play job for his hometown Milwaukee’s new team (the Braves had relocated to Atlanta in 1966).
The Brewers (originally founded in 1969 as the American League’s Seattle Pilots) came to town in April, 1970. Beginning in 1971, Bob Uecker began working in the radio booth for more than 50 years calling games for his hometown Milwaukee Brewers.
He became so beloved in Milwaukee and the state of Wisconsin that he has a statue in front of the team’s ballpark and another one located in the upper deck bleacher seats.
The stadium’s “Bob Uecker” seat was created due to the popularity of a national beer commercial. The famous ad featured the lovable ex-major leaguer being relocated by a stadium usher to his proper seat – in the top reaches of the outfield’s bleacher seats.
By the mid-1970’s, the Tonight Show’s Johnny Carson helped to make Bob Uecker into a national celebrity with his frequent appearances on the show. He was always able to get the host laughing with his wry humor.
Carson dubbed Bob Uecker as “Mr. Baseball” and the name stuck.
This propelled him into a series of national television commercials and bit parts in movies (such as “Major League”) which capitalized on his great comedic timing and unique brand of humor.
Today, let’s celebrate of the life of one of the sports’ greatest personalities. I will weave a few Bob Uecker jokes into our weekend NFL and college football picks.
Batter up!
Our first Bob Uecker joke – “In 1962, I was named Minor League Player of the Year. It was my second season in the bigs!”
Saturday’s NFL Divisional Playoff games
Game 1 – AFC #4 seed Houston Texans at #1 Kansas City Chiefs – 3:30PM CST on ABC and ESPN
Have you noticed that the Houston Texans ALWAYS play on Saturdays during the NFL playoffs? Just sayin’…
The two time defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs are 8-point favorites to send the Texans back home on Saturday afternoon. After having two weeks to get rested and heal some injuries, the Chiefs will have home field advantage for this week and (if they win) the AFC title game.
The weather is expected to be a factor in this game.
Kick-off temperatures at Arrowhead Stadium will be near 20 degrees and falling during the game. With bitter north winds gusting over 20 mph, the stadium temperature will feel like single digits during this game.
Did I mention that Houston plays its home games indoors?
Will the Texans defense be able to put pressure on KC quarterback Patrick Mahomes like they did last week against the Chargers’ Justin Herbert? If so, this game could be a low-scoring defensive struggle and might give the Texans a chance to win.
Prediction: Kansas City 20, Houston 14
Time-out for another Bob Uecker zinger – “I signed a very modest $3,000 bonus with the Braves in Milwaukee. And my old man didn’t have that kinda money to put out!”
Game 2 – NFC #5 seed Washington at #1 Detroit Lions – 7PM on Fox
Former LSU Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Jayden Daniels does not play like an NFL rookie.
With a well-rested Detroit Lions team ready to pounce, Daniels and his Washington teammates may need to put-up a lot of points to have a chance in this game.
Detroit is a 9-point home favorite and is gunning for their first ever Super Bowl appearance this year. The fever-pitched excitement in Motown is much when the New Orleans Saints’ 2009/2010 journeyed to their first (and only) Super Bowl appearance.
Turnovers will be the deciding factor in this game.
Jayden Daniels must put on a virtuoso performance in Detroit for his team to have a chance to win. The odds are against it.
Prediction: Detroit 31, Washington 20
Remembering Bob Uecker – “Baseball hasn’t forgotten me. I go to old-timers’ games and I haven’t lost a thing. I sit in the bullpen and let people throw things at me – just like old times!”
Sunday’s NFL Divisional Playoff games
Game 3 – NFC #4 seed Los Angeles Rams at #2 Philadelphia Eagles – 2PM on NBC
Get ready for some snow on Sunday!
The National Weather Service gives Philadelphia a 70% chance of snow with one to three inches possible.
The Rams and Eagles met in November in Los Angeles with Philly winning 37-20.
With Saquan Barkley’s MVP-level running this season, the Eagles should benefit from the wintry field conditions and a rowdy snowball tossing home crowd on Sunday afternoon.
Prediction: Philadelphia 24, Los Angeles Rams 14
Another Bob Uecker chuckle – “When I came up to bat with three men on base and two outs in the ninth, I looked in the other team’s dugout, and they were already in street clothes!”
Game 4 – AFC #4 seed Baltimore Ravens at #2 Buffalo Bills – 5:30PM on CBS
Most football fans expect this to be the best game of the weekend – played in frigid and snowy conditions.
The nightcap features this year’s two top MVP candidates.
During the regular season, Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen passed for over 3,700 yards with 28 touchdowns and only five interceptions. He ran for over 500 yards and 12 more scores.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (the reigning NFL MVP) had a terrific good season, too. He passed for more than 4,100 yards with 41 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Jackson added more than 900 yards on the ground and another four more touchdowns.
Turnovers are often the determining factor in games of this magnitude.
Both quarterbacks also have a history of committing key turnovers during playoff games.
The winner will carry a lot of momentum heading into the AFC title game next weekend.
Prediction: Buffalo 27, Baltimore 20
Here’s Bob Uecker on his meager pay in the major leagues – “I think my top salary was in 1966. I made $17,000 and 11 of it came from selling other players’ equipment!”
Monday’s College Football Playoff title game – #7 seed Notre Dame vs #8 Ohio State – 6:45PM CST kickoff on ESPN
Despite Notre Dame’s impressive 14-1 record, the folks who attempt to predict outcomes of games have made 13-2 Ohio State a whopping 9 ½ point favorite in Monday night’s college football season finale.
Why?
The big bad Buckeyes (now 13-2) have rebounded from losing to (then) 6-5 rival Michigan in Columbus as a 20-point favorite. OSU has defeated three straight playoff teams (Indiana, Georgia, and Texas) using their new fast-paced offense and a stingy defense.
Ohio State’s “secret weapon” has been offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.
Yes, he is that same coach who put the Oregon Ducks on the map a decade ago.
Chip Kelly left for the NFL (Philadelphia Eagles) and was fired in Year #3. He took the top job at UCLA and spent six seasons trying to recreate the success he enjoyed at Oregon.
Kelly surprised many by stepping down from UCLA to accept the offensive coordinator position at Ohio State this year.
The Buckeyes’ offense has benefited from Chip Kelly’s up-tempo playbook. Combined with their tough defense, Ohio State is peaking at the right time for the title game on Monday.
Notre Dame (winners of 13 straight games) has been solid on offense, defense and special teams all season. The Fighting Irish must establish a ball-possession running attack on Monday night to keep the Ohio State offense off the field.
If Notre Dame executes its game plan, this should be a dandy final college football game!
Monday night’s College Football Prediction: Notre Dame 28, Ohio State 27
***
Let’s end today’s post with one final Bob Uecker memory – “I knew when my career was over. In 1965, my baseball card came out with no picture on it!”
Rest in peace, Mr. Baseball!