Brewers pay tribute to late Bob Uecker as they beat Cubs to set up playoff matchup with Dodgers

Beloved late announcer and journeyman catcher Bob Uecker was on the minds of Milwaukee Brewers fans, players and manager Pat Murphy after beating the rival Chicago Cubs to advance to the National League Championship Series on Saturday night.

'We love it for Ueck,' Murphy told TNT of Uecker, who passed away in January at age 90 after calling Milwaukee games for more than a half century. 'He's meant so much to this organization, but the way he affected these players, especially last year, to win this for him is really, really special.'

Uecker was best known as a colorful comedian and broadcaster whose sense of humor and self-deprecating style earned him fame and affection beyond his .200 batting average.

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Uecker was a beloved member of the community and a pillar of the sport. He broadcast Brewers games for the last 54 seasons, but is also remembered nationally for his comedic roles in the Major League films, television's 'Mr. Belvedere' and a celebrated Miller Lite ad campaign.

Following their 3-1 win over the Cubs in Game 5 of the NLDS on Saturday in Milwaukee, Brewers players unfurled a flag dedicated to Uecker on the field.

Andrew Vaughn hit a tiebreaking homer in the fourth inning and William Contreras and Brice Turang also went deep as the Brewers shook off their recent history of playoff frustration.

The Brewers, making their seventh playoff appearance in eight years, earned their first postseason series win since sweeping Colorado in a 2018 NLDS. Milwaukee was on the verge of its second World Series berth that year before losing Game 7 of the National League Championship Series at home to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Now, the Brewers get another NLCS matchup with the defending World Series champion Dodgers, who beat the Philadelphia Phillies in four games in the other NL Division Series. Game 1 is Monday at Milwaukee as the Brewers chase their first pennant since 1982 — back when they played in the American League.

'A lot of people didn't believe in them early on, and they just continued to stay relentless,' Murphy said.

After losing slugging shortstop Willy Adames in free agency and trading away All-Star closer Devin Williams last winter, the scrappy Brewers finished the regular season with the best record in the majors at 97-65.

So perhaps it was no surprise that NL Central champion Milwaukee won with an all-hands-on-deck pitching approach in the final game against wild-card Chicago. Trevor Megill, Jacob Misiorowski, Aaron Ashby, Chad Patrick and Abner Uribe combined on a four-hitter, with Uribe getting six outs for the first multi-inning save of his career.

'You can call them the average Joes, but I say they're the above-average Joes,' Murphy said.

In many ways, the team fit Uecker's humble, self-deprecating personality.

Uecker's comedy was just a part of his abilities. His warm storytelling and delivery made him a natural to become one of the first color commentators on network TV broadcasts in the 1970s with ABC. In the '90s, he teamed up with Bob Costas and Joe Morgan for the World Series.

He was also a regular presence in the Brewers clubhouse throughout his broadcasting career. Players who were well over a half-century younger than Uecker loved being around him, whether they were seeking advice or just wanted to hear his anecdotes.

'Anytime you went to dinner with him or sat down with him for lunch at the stadium or anything, you never knew what you were going to hear,' Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich said earlier this season. 'Everybody was well aware of how special those times were.'

Those times were particularly poignant last year as Uecker continued broadcasting games while fighting cancer. Yelich said Uecker would just be 'the same old Bob' during his clubhouse visits and considered the stadium his refuge.

When the Brewers clinched the NL Central title last season, Murphy threw an arm around Uecker in the locker room, pulling him in tight as players white-knuckled their bottle corks, ready to shower 'Mr. Baseball' in champagne.

'There is no one — there is no one — who epitomizes a champion the way this man does right here,' Murphy proclaimed as the players chanted 'UUUUUECK.'

After the Brewers were eliminated from the playoffs, Uecker made sure to visit the locker room and offer support to players in a way only he could. Yelich said afterward the toughest part of the night was talking to Uecker because the Brewers knew how badly the longtime broadcaster wanted to see Milwaukee win a World Series.

A photo of Uecker celebrating with Brewers players last season was displayed in Milwaukee's clubhouse on Saturday.