Bob Uecker, the renowned play-by-play broadcaster for the Milwaukee Brewers, sadly passed away on Thursday, January 16, at the age of 90, just ten days shy of his 91st birthday.

Known for his distinctive voice, Uecker’s time on the radio produced countless unforgettable calls, analogies, and moments that went beyond his long career with the Brewers. He not only amused fans from the booth but also made his mark on the field as part of the 1964 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals and as an actor in numerous films.

“Though he started as a backup catcher, Bob Uecker became one of the most beloved figures in baseball during his impressive 70-year career,” said MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred in a statement released Thursday.

Uecker’s unique humor and charming style drew in audiences everywhere. He commanded attention with his distinctive dialogue and infectious enthusiasm, making him a standout figure. From this passion came some of baseball’s most memorable quotes. Here are a few of our favorites.

“Juuuuuuuuuuuust a bit outside” – Major League

One of Uecker’s most famous cinematic roles was as Harry Doyle, the announcer for the Cleveland Indians. His comedic delivery gave rise to many hilarious moments, including the classic line, “Don’t worry, nobody’s listening anyway,” in a comically sensitive situation, and “He’s not the best color man in the league for nothing, folks,” after turning to his co-broadcaster who had nothing additional to comment on.

However, nothing compares to Uecker’s legendary “Juuuuuuuust a bit outside” which referred to Charlie Sheen’s character, Ricky Vaughn, struggling with his pitching accuracy.

Eventually, the Cleveland team found its stride, culminating in a passionate moment only Uecker could deliver.

“The easiest way to catch a knuckleball was to wait until it stopped rolling and just pick it up” – referencing teammate Phil Niekro

Before stepping into the broadcast booth, Uecker played as a backup catcher for the Braves, Cardinals, and Phillies. During his playing days, he was behind the plate for one of the best knuckleball pitchers in history, Phil Niekro.

Uecker never hesitated to highlight the challenge of catching a knuckleball. On Niekro’s Hall of Fame bio, he cheekily mentioned that he “got to meet a lot of important people. They all sit behind home plate.”

Despite the difficulties of catching knuckleballs, Uecker was pivotal to Niekro’s success. Joining the Braves at 28, Niekro experienced a remarkable drop in his ERA from 4.11 in 1966 to an impressive 1.87 in 1967 with Uecker as his catcher.

“I’d set records that will never be equaled, 90% I hope are never printed” – Uecker’s Hall of Fame speech

Although Uecker is enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame, his achievements as a player were modest. Uecker finished his career with a batting average of .200, remembered more for his antics than his performance—though he did manage home runs off Hall of Famers like Sandy Koufax, Gaylord Perry, and Ferguson Jenkins.

During his Hall of Fame speech, Uecker openly acknowledged his underwhelming playing statistics with humor. He amusingly remarked about players’ commercial endorsements, claiming he had received offers from brands insisting he not wear their products. He also poked fun at his batting average, noting many top bowlers have averages similar to his.

“How about getting your foot off my shoulder?” – Uecker to Andre the Giant at WrestleMania IV

Beyond baseball, Uecker made appearances as a ringside announcer in WWF (now WWE). He played an important role at WrestleMania III, leading to a return a year later where he interviewed Andre the Giant ahead of his iconic match against Hulk Hogan for the WWE Championship.

Despite being significantly shorter than Andre, Uecker threw in a cheeky remark at the end of their chat. This resulted in a playful moment where Andre choked Uecker, creating a memorable scene for WWF television.