I think my top salary was maybe in 1966. I made $17,000 and 11 of that came from selling other players’ equipment.
BOB UECKERI think my top salary was maybe in 1966. I made $17,000 and 11 of that came from selling other players’ equipment.
BOB UECKERBaseball hasn’t forgotten me. I go to a lot of 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.
BOB UECKERI make fun of situations and try and find the humor in things, but it’s never at the expense of the other guy.
BOB UECKEROn TV the people can see it. On radio you’ve got to create it.
BOB UECKERLet’s face it. Umpiring is not an easy or happy way to make a living. In the abuse they suffer, and the pay they get for it, you see an imbalance that can only be explained by their need to stay close to a game they can’t resist.
BOB UECKERThe way to catch a knuckleball is to wait until it stops rolling and then pick it up.
BOB UECKERWhere would I be without baseball? Who am I without baseball?
BOB UECKERPhil Niekro and his brother were pitching against each other in Atlanta. Their parents were sitting right behind home plate.
BOB UECKERHe really showed me something. Struck out three times. Made an error that lost the game. Parents were throwing things at our car and swearing at us as we drove off. Gosh, I was proud.
BOB UECKERI had a great shoe contract and glove contract with a company who paid me a lot of money never to be seen using their stuff.
BOB UECKERWe were on for six years. We were in syndication for a while. It had its run. I still see the people from ‘Mr. Belvedere,’ too. We stay in touch.
BOB UECKERCareer highlights? I had two – I got an intentional walk from Sandy Koufax and I got out of a rundown against the Mets.
BOB UECKERNot 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…
BOB UECKERHey, I think it’s easy for guys to hit .300 and stay in the big leagues. Hit .200 and try to stick around as long as I did; I think it’s a much greater accomplishment. That’s hard.
BOB UECKERI 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.
BOB UECKERBefore broadcasting for 50-some years, I did TV, played 10 years in the big leagues, won a world championship – and played a big part in that, too, letting the Cardinals inject me with hepatitis. Takes a big man to do that.
BOB UECKER