Did anyone remember that CC Sabathia almost tied it with a solo shot in his infamous game 162 complete game vs the Cubs?
Not to mention that the only run he gave up was unearned on a Prince Fielder error. Insane!
(Bonus: Bob Uecker on the call)
Mark Attanasio on Bob Uecker: "He's really the heart of Milwaukee baseball."
Uecker was at peace with his mortality, Attanasio said. He would joke about doing a bobblehead of Uecker in a coffin. When you pushed a button it would say, "Get up! Get up! Get out of here! Gone!"
When I returned to Milwaukee for that one fateful game in 2021, after blowing out my elbow and walking off the mound, I was emotional and unsure of what to do for days. Until one afternoon, Bob and I chatted in the food room at the stadium… he asked what my plan was. I told him my options; surgery and try again or walk away happy with my career. When I told him I didn’t know what to do, he told me “No, you do know! No one knows what it’s like to be out there! How much you put in. They’re not like us Axy! People just don’t get it!” He was fired up (there may have been a lot more swearing haha). He kept going. I listened. He was still a player at heart. Every day. He loved the game and the players in it. When he spoke to you on this level he was your teammate. His emotion, passion, and words that day resonated with me more than anyone or anything else. It lead me to surgery and an 18 month journey just to get out there and pitch one last time. He was right!
In August this past summer I was fortunate to briefly chat with Bob in the Brewers clubhouse. Still as great as ever and still one of the boys. Laughing it up but also expressing that serious and empathetic side that people outside the clubhouse rarely saw. I’m happy I got that brief moment in time.
Bob was an absolute treasure to the game. I’m so grateful for that conversation in 2021. I’m grateful for the time I got to spend with him in my playing career. Even when I wasn’t playing for Milwaukee he would take the time to catch up on the field before games. I feel lucky to have had such a legendary voice call so many of my moments on the mound. Hearing him say “heeee struck him out!” in those late innings to end a close game felt exhilarating. His excitement during those calls always made me feel larger than life on the mound when I heard them after. Or perhaps he was just happy I finally got out of the heart palpitating jam I put myself in to begin with! Haha.
He called me Axy in person…one of the only people in the game to ever call me that! So in turn, I would call him Uecky! He made you feel special. An undeniable character through and through. Irreplaceable. An immense loss to baseball and the wonderful city of Milwaukee. We’ll all miss him.
Love you Uecky
Khris Middleton is the 12th player in NBA history to have 3 straight 25/10/5 games in the playoffs.
The others:
- LeBron
- Kareem
- Bird
- Duncan
- Shaq
- Giannis
- Jokic
- Oscar Robertson
- Durant
- Tatum
- Westbrook