Petition: Call Up Bob Uecker To Announce World Series
(CBS) – A Cubs-Indians World Series almost sounds like something out of the movies. So, it's fitting that an online petition to get Bob Uecker to call the games is getting lots of support.
CBS 2's Mai Martinez talks with the man behind it.
The petition was posted online Friday night. Since then, more than 31,000 people have signed it.
"It's mind-blowing," he says.
Tab Bamford is talking about the response to his change.org petition to replace play-by-play announcer Joe Buck with Uecker.
"This wasn't necessarily a direct shot at Joe Buck as an individual," Bamford says. "It was really more about Bob Uecker, who, people under a certain age -- certainly millennials -- don't realize he used to do national games with Bob Costas."
Cubs-Indians: How they stack up
So why Uecker?
"Seeing the Indians get back in, immediately my mind went to the movie 'Major League,'" Bamford says.
In that popular 1989 movie, Uecker played Harry Doyle, Cleveland's announcer.
Bamford knows getting Uecker to call the World Series is a long shot, but this season, everything seems possible.
"If I can come up with 20,000-something people to sign a petition, maybe FOX finds a way to put him in the booth," he says.
A booking agent for Uecker says he's aware of the petition and is flattered, but there's been no conversations about calling the World Series.
Uecker, who's 81, is a Milwaukee native who played in the major leagues before becoming a broadcaster and actor.
Game 1 of the World Series is set for Tuesday at 7:08 p.m. The hometown call can be heard on 670 The Score.
