Bob Uecker Day cause for 50th celebration

No, this turned into a roast of Mr. Baseball, whose wit is as sharp as ever at 87, after all these decades on the mic.

“Bob and I were similar hitters,” Yount said in a video tribute that aired during a pregame ceremony at American Family Field. “With the only difference being about 100 points in our career batting average.”,

Uecker, who delivered the ceremonial first pitch in classic style with the aid of a pitching machine, was a lifetime .200 hitter in a Major League career that began with the Milwaukee Braves in 1962. He originally dreamed of pitching in the big leagues and was good enough to score a tryout at County Stadium with then-Braves pitching coach Johnny Cooney, who watched Uecker throw for 15 minutes and then told him to show his good fastball.

“I said, ‘I have been throwing my good fastball,’” Uecker said.

“Well,” Cooney replied, “then I recommend you get a job.”