Behind Bob Uecker's legacy in Milwaukee

Bob Uecker didn’t sign a broadcasting contract with the Milwaukee Brewers until 2021.

Before then, it was handshake agreements with owners Bud Selig and Mark Attanasio.

Ueck tries not to take himself too seriously. It’s part of the reason why he is such a revered figure among Americans, specifically Milwaukee natives and Brewers fans.

“Mr. Baseball” being the butt of the joke is why the “Uecker seats” named in his honor are considered the best worst seats in baseball. “I must be in the front row,” Uecker said to a stadium usher in a mid-’80s Miller Lite commercial who told him to move to where his ticket was located — way up high.

Uecker seats used to be sold for as little as $1, but there was a catch: Fans would need to wait hours before first pitch at the box office to get their hands on the tickets, and the seats were less than desired — up in the nosebleeds with an obstructed view, but near Uecker’s statue.

Uecker, 91, has been speaking into his microphone for the Brewers radio broadcast since 1971. He wouldn’t want to hear it, but his mic serves as a symbolic gold standard for not only sportscasters but also the entertainment figures we allow into our living rooms.

He’s been a regular guest on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson,” hosted “Saturday Night Live” in 1984 and had roles in Hollywood films — his delivery of “Juuust a bit outside” in the 1989 cult classic film “Major League” (filmed at County Stadium) endures today.

Ultimately, the reason he finally signed a contract with the Brewers was because he lost benefits from the Screen Actors Guild.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Behind Bob Uecker's legacy in Milwaukee