section_path: Humor
section_name: Humor
paragraph_text: Humor
  
  Known for his humor, particularly about his undistinguished playing career, Uecker actually became much better known after he retired from playing. Most of his wisecracks poked fun at himself. He once joked that after he hit a grand slam off pitcher Ron Herbel (on June 21, 1967), "When his manager came out to get him, he was bringing Herbel's suitcase." On another occasion, he quipped, "Sporting goods companies would pay me not to endorse their products."
  
  He made some 100 guest appearances on Johnny Carson 's Tonight Show. Uecker hosted Saturday Night Live during its 10th season on October 13, 1984. The episode also featured musical performances by Peter Wolf.
  
  Uecker appeared in a series of Miller Lite commercials starting in the 1980s. In one commercial from that decade, Uecker was seen preparing to watch a baseball game when an usher informs him he is in the wrong seat. Uecker pompously remarks, "I must be in the front row", which became another of his catchphrases. The punch line was that Uecker's seat was actually in the nosebleed section. Since then, the farthest seats from the action in some arenas and stadiums have been jokingly called "Uecker seats". There is a section of $1 seating called the "Uecker seats" at American Family Field, the baseball stadium of the Milwaukee Brewers. Referencing where Uecker sat in the Miller Lite commercials, these seats have an obstructed-view area (in the upper grandstand above home plate where the stadium's roof pivot comes together). Another of Uecker's catchphrases from the aforementioned Miller Lite "front row" commercial is, "He missed the tag!" which he yells with confidence from his seat in the top row of the upper deck of the stadium, far away from the action.
  
  Locally, Uecker lent his endorsement skills to several companies and products in Milwaukee, including the Milwaukee Admirals, Rank & Son Buick, Usinger's Sausage, the Wisconsin Department of Tourism for its "You're Among Friends" campaign, and several road and bicycle safety campaigns for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. He was inducted into the Wisconsin Advertising Hall of Fame in 2017 by the United Adworkers Milwaukee, Local 99.
  
  Uecker authored two books: an autobiography, Catcher in the Wry with Mickey Herskowitz, and Catch 222. (The titles are wordplay on the novels Catcher in the Rye and Catch-22.)
  
  Known for his humor, particularly about his undistinguished playing career, Uecker actually became much better known after he retired from playing. Most of his wisecracks poked fun at himself. He once joked that after he hit a grand slam off pitcher Ron Herbel (on June 21, 1967), "When his manager came out to get him, he was bringing Herbel's suitcase." On another occasion, he quipped, "Sporting goods companies would pay me not to endorse their products."
  
  He made some 100 guest appearances on Johnny Carson 's Tonight Show. Uecker hosted Saturday Night Live during its 10th season on October 13, 1984. The episode also featured musical performances by Peter Wolf.
  
  Uecker appeared in a series of Miller Lite commercials starting in the 1980s. In one commercial from that decade, Uecker was seen preparing to watch a baseball game when an usher informs him he is in the wrong seat. Uecker pompously remarks, "I must be in the front row", which became another of his catchphrases. The punch line was that Uecker's seat was actually in the nosebleed section. Since then, the farthest seats from the action in some arenas and stadiums have been jokingly called "Uecker seats". There is a section of $1 seating called the "Uecker seats" at American Family Field, the baseball stadium of the Milwaukee Brewers. Referencing where Uecker sat in the Miller Lite commercials, these seats have an obstructed-view area (in the upper grandstand above home plate where the stadium's roof pivot comes together). Another of Uecker's catchphrases from the aforementioned Miller Lite "front row" commercial is, "He missed the tag!" which he yells with confidence from his seat in the top row of the upper deck of the stadium, far away from the action.
  
  Locally, Uecker lent his endorsement skills to several companies and products in Milwaukee, including the Milwaukee Admirals, Rank & Son Buick, Usinger's Sausage, the Wisconsin Department of Tourism for its "You're Among Friends" campaign, and several road and bicycle safety campaigns for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. He was inducted into the Wisconsin Advertising Hall of Fame in 2017 by the United Adworkers Milwaukee, Local 99.
  
  Uecker authored two books: an autobiography, Catcher in the Wry with Mickey Herskowitz, and Catch 222. (The titles are wordplay on the novels Catcher in the Rye and Catch-22.)