CHICAGO — Just as Craig Counsell made the shocking decision to leave the Brewers to lead the Chicago Cubs after the 2023 season, he received a call — within an hour. It was from Bob Uecker, the legendary Brewers broadcaster who has been the soul of Milwaukee for more than half a century. It wasn’t a scolding, but a heartfelt blessing from a longtime friend. And today, amid the cold, late-season wind and the emotional silence at Wrigley Field, that memory came flooding back…
Bob Uecker — the man who brought smiles to the baseball world — is gone. And it was Craig Counsell, with whom he shared countless memories at the Brewers, who made sure the Cubs held a moment of silence before a game against the Brewers—a team they both considered “family.”
“He always made everyone feel like they were part of something bigger,” Counsell once said. “From the home team to the visiting team, everyone wanted to see Bob. Even their parents.”
That seemingly simple statement perfectly captured the man who was Uecker—an icon not just of Milwaukee but of American baseball. At 90, he was still the life of the broadcast booth, still cracking jokes, still reminding everyone that baseball was about having fun, not just winning.
And Counsell—who was once the “son” of the Brewers—was now the leader of their eternal rival. But when he walked onto Wrigley Field today, leading the Cubs against the Brewers in the first World Series game without Bob Uecker, there were no boundaries. There was only respect, loss, and a friendship that transcended jerseys.
The image of Counsell bowing his head as Uecker’s face appeared on the big screen at Wrigley Field silenced thousands of fans. It was a sea of Cubs blue, but their hearts—in that moment—were all in Milwaukee. On the electronic board, the words “BOB UECKER 1934–2025” lit up, simple but full of emotion.
Counsell has said that what he admired most about Uecker wasn’t his legendary voice, but the way he made people feel appreciated. “He had a way of making you feel special—even if you were just a replacement,” he said.
And perhaps that’s why Counsell decided to do something rare in sports: ask his new team, the Chicago Cubs, to honor a legend of their old rival. It’s a small gesture, but it speaks volumes about his gratitude, his character, and his loyalty to his friendship.
“It’s nice that he’s led the Cubs to a postseason victory since 2017 — but now the ‘W’ flag has stopped flying,” reporter Christina Lorey wrote, half-jokingly. There was truth in the statement: Counsell helped the Cubs return to glory, but today, that glory was given to Bob Uecker.
At Wrigley Field, where cheers usually ring out, there was silence today. A moment of remembrance, a lifetime of gratitude.
And when Counsell walked into the dugout and looked up into the stands, perhaps he knew: No matter what jersey he wore, no matter what field he played on, Bob Uecker was smiling — somewhere up there — watching him lead the game, with the same pride he always had.
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