When Bob Uecker passed away earlier this offseason, it was an absolute gut punch to Milwaukee Brewers fans. Uecker was, quite simply, the voice and heart of the Brewers. While it was inevitable that he wouldn't be around forever, fans simply weren't ready to say goodbye (and maybe never would be) and it made the sting of the Brewers' 2024 playoff exit even worse.
One thing that became abundantly clear is that 2025 will be played in memory of Uecker. His passing is still fresh on the minds of everyone in the Brewers organization and Uecker's life is one that was more than deserving of recognition throughout the season. The only question was exactly what the Brewers would do to honor such a man.
While we don't know all the specifics regarding their plans for tributes, one absolutely delightful one is being announced on Monday as the Brewers will wear a Uecker patch on their uniforms throughout the 2025 season.
The Brewers are unveiling uniform patches this morning that they will wear throughout 2025 to honor the late Bob Uecker, complete with plaid accent meant to conjure the colorful sportcoats he wore on The Tonight Show. pic.twitter.com/Q0Z96h1LpX
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) February 10, 2025
Brewers' Bob Uecker patch tribute is absolutely perfect
Some tribute uniform patches can be difficult to discern and too small to notice. While diehard fans may recognition a silhouette or a nickname easily, these sorts of patches don't always translate well for more casual fans and they are often put in a less conspicuous place to not draw attention away from the team's branding.
The Brewers' uniform patch honoring Uecker is the exact opposite of that and it is absolute perfect. Not only has it been given a big place of honor right on the arm sleeve, it is unapologetically very Uecker. It has Uecker's signature which is lovely and has the added touch of using a plaid background as an homage to the coats Uecker would wear to broadcast games. If he were alive today, he would probably say the only reason he wore plaid was that was all he could afford.
There is no replacing an icon like Uecker nor should the Brewers try. They just don't make guys like Uecker very often at all and his legacy is one that should be celebrated instead of longing to find someone like him. This patch is a great start towards that, although we suspect that this is far from the last tribute we can expect to see from the Brewers this season.