Christian Yelich took a moment during the Brewers' first World Series celebration to honor beloved broadcaster Bob Uecker, who died in January 2025 at age 90.
"Uecky, I love you, man," Yelich said after the Brewers' 4-1 Game 5 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. "He's smiling, man. He's smiling. I really wish he could have been here to see this. That would have meant everything to him. But like we said a bunch, he's been with us a lot. We keep him close to our hearts. This one's still for Bob."
Uecker had called his final game during the Brewers' 2024 National League Wild Card Series loss to the New York Mets, keeping his small cell lung cancer diagnosis private until his death. Yelich, visibly emotional, recalled that difficult postgame conversation with Uecker as one of the hardest moments of his career.
Yelich, 34, is one of only two remaining Brewers players from the team's 2018 playoff run. Named the franchise's first captain last month, he accepted congratulations from Hall of Famer Robin Yount, praising Yelich for helping Milwaukee finally capture a championship. "All those low moments, you don't realize at the time, but those low moments prepare you for this moment," Yelich said.
Manager Pat Murphy credited Yelich's leadership, saying he consistently spoke the team to a World Series title.
Source: ESPN MLB · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing