For all of my loyal readers… yes, the three of you who actually read this regularly… you are used to reading about prison ministry, softball, the legendary bus, and the hijinks that ensue. This month I wanted to take a moment to share some quotes and stories about someone who impacted the game of baseball and all of sports for that matter. Bob Uecker made sure that the game of baseball wasn’t taken too seriously. Uecker passed away earlier this year but here are some of my personal favorite quotes and stories.
On Mental Toughness
“When I played, they didn’t use fancy words like, “emotionally distressed.” They just said I couldn’t hit. When I came up to bat with three men on and two outs in the ninth, I looked in the other team’s dugout and they were already in street clothes.”
Before the Cardinals took on the Yankees in Game 2
of the 1964 World Series, Uecker picked up a tuba during batting practice, walked to the outfield and proceeded to shag fly balls with it.
"They had some Dixieland bands on the field that were playing before the game, and while one of them was taking a break, I grabbed one of the tubas and put it on and went out in the outfield and started shagging fly balls with it. I didn't catch them all. Some made dents in the tuba, but I caught a couple."
On Fatherhood
“The biggest thrill a ballplayer can have is when your son takes after you. That happened when my Bobby was in his championship Little League game. He 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.”
On Celebrity Athlete Endorsements
“I 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.”
The Funniest Joke
“And now the funniest joke I ever heard. These two ballplayers went duck hunting. They were out in the marshes for over an hour. They didn’t get anything. Didn’t shoot anything. Finally, one says to the other. I wonder why we haven’t got any ducks. The other one says, maybe we’re not throwing the dog up high enough!”
During the 2006 World Baseball Classic Former MLB manager Jim Lefebvre was managing the Chinese team.
“Our good pal Jim Lefebvre and the Chinese team lost to the Taiwan team today 6-1. It’s safe to say that Jimmy and his boys won’t be welcome on the mainland anytime soon.”
Appearing on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson
Johnny Carson- “You were a catcher?” Uecker- “No, I was a chaser.”
His 2003 Hall of Fame Speech
“I still, and this is not sour grapes by any means, still think I should have gone in as a player.”
This article was “Juuuuust a bit outside” what you would expect to see here but from one backup catcher to another, thank you, Bob for your contributions to the game, reminding us the best seat in the game is oftentimes just sitting on the bench, and reminding us to not take the game so seriously.
For more information about Bob Uecker’s career, please visit https://baseballhall.org/discover/the-hall-of-fame-remembers-bob-uecker
Editors Note from The Saints "The Insider Newsletter": Tom Gibson - Gibby to all of us - wears the tuba as well as Uecker ever did. His unique brand of humor is eclipsed only by a heart for Jesus as big as all outdoors, making him a favorite teammate of every crusade team with which he travels. Many of the attributes he admired in Uecker are the same attributes we love in Gibby, and the Saints Prison Ministry is better with him in the family.
