SBTB Geek
07-29-2003, 02:32 PM
'Mr. Belvedere' Star Makes it to Baseball's Front Row
(Monday, July 28 08:19 AM)
LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - Somewhere, Mr. Lynn Aloysius Belvedere (or the late Christopher Hewett) is smiling. Bob Uecker has finally made it into baseball's Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York and he didn't even need to buy a ticket, taking his place in the Hall's broadcasters wing.
In a six-year career that spread sub-mediocrity from the Braves to the Cardinals to the Phillies and back to the Braves again, Uecker rarely looked like a baseball player whose achievements would earn any kind of enshrining. In 297 games, he hit 14 home runs, never hit a triple or stole a base, and retired with a career batting average of an even .200.
As a baseball player, Uecker was never a star, but as a television personality he certainly made his mark. He first found success as a pitchman for Miller Lite, as part the beer's long-term "Everything You Always Wanted In a Beer and Less" campaign, famously observing "I must be in the front row" before ending up in the upper deck. The worst seats at sporting events are still often called "Uecker Seats."
"Uke" found great success as George Owens on the ABC comedy "Mr. Belvedere," which ran from 1985 to 1990. The story of former butler to the Queen of England who somehow finds himself working for a Pittsburgh family helped launch the careers of Rob Stone, Brice Beckham and Tracy Wells. While the show's long run failed to yield even a single Emmy nomination, it helped propel Uecker to supporting roles in films like "Major League" and its two sequels. His other TV credits include "Who's the Boss?" and a vocal cameo on "Futurama."
It was Uecker's lengthy tenure as radio voice of the Milwaukee Brewers that actually led to his Hall of Fame induction. He was joined at the ceremony by Eddie Murray, Gary Carter and Dayton Daily News reporter Hal McCoy.
"I still, and this is not sour grapes, think I should have gone in as a player," Uecker deadpanned in his speech.
(Monday, July 28 08:19 AM)
LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - Somewhere, Mr. Lynn Aloysius Belvedere (or the late Christopher Hewett) is smiling. Bob Uecker has finally made it into baseball's Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York and he didn't even need to buy a ticket, taking his place in the Hall's broadcasters wing.
In a six-year career that spread sub-mediocrity from the Braves to the Cardinals to the Phillies and back to the Braves again, Uecker rarely looked like a baseball player whose achievements would earn any kind of enshrining. In 297 games, he hit 14 home runs, never hit a triple or stole a base, and retired with a career batting average of an even .200.
As a baseball player, Uecker was never a star, but as a television personality he certainly made his mark. He first found success as a pitchman for Miller Lite, as part the beer's long-term "Everything You Always Wanted In a Beer and Less" campaign, famously observing "I must be in the front row" before ending up in the upper deck. The worst seats at sporting events are still often called "Uecker Seats."
"Uke" found great success as George Owens on the ABC comedy "Mr. Belvedere," which ran from 1985 to 1990. The story of former butler to the Queen of England who somehow finds himself working for a Pittsburgh family helped launch the careers of Rob Stone, Brice Beckham and Tracy Wells. While the show's long run failed to yield even a single Emmy nomination, it helped propel Uecker to supporting roles in films like "Major League" and its two sequels. His other TV credits include "Who's the Boss?" and a vocal cameo on "Futurama."
It was Uecker's lengthy tenure as radio voice of the Milwaukee Brewers that actually led to his Hall of Fame induction. He was joined at the ceremony by Eddie Murray, Gary Carter and Dayton Daily News reporter Hal McCoy.
"I still, and this is not sour grapes, think I should have gone in as a player," Uecker deadpanned in his speech.