Uecker took time out from his preparation for a Brewers-Reds game last week to talk about the “Major League” franchise, steroids and “Major League IV.”
Q Twenty years later, what has the role of Harry Doyle done for your career?
A More recognition than anything else. It was a fun thing to do. "(Major League II)" was good. Three was on airplanes the day after we finished it, so that was bad.
But the first was a lot of fun. As a matter of fact, there’s talk about doing a “Major League IV” down the road. I’ve already talked to David Ward (the original film’s director) about that.
Q How much of your part was scripted?
A I had the freedom to ad-lib, do what I wanted and then do some of their stuff. But it's no different than what I do on a regular broadcast — if the game isn't going right. I don't think people want to hear guys trying to be funny if you've got a good game going on.
Q How about your co-star, Charlie Sheen?
A Charlie threw the ball really well. I was impressed with him. He was a prospect in high school. He'll be back, I'm sure, for No. 4.
Q Are you a fan of "Two and a Half Men"?
A: Oh, Charlie's good. I'll tell you what it is more than anything else — he's just one of the guys.
Q If somebody comes up and gives you your "Just a bit outside" line, what do you do?
A I get it every day. I acknowledge it. It's a part of Americana now.
Q Within five years of the movie's release, the real Indians had a new ballpark, their games were sellouts, and they won the division every year from 1995-99. Do you think the movie re-energized the fan base?
A I don't know about the movie, I think it was more just me. I'm kidding (laughs). The Indians had a lot of good players during that time. We had the premiere in Cleveland. What happened after the movie, I think Sandy Alomar was one of the guys, they called me Harry Doyle. They didn't call me by my name anymore.
Q You know that city still loves you, right?
A (laughs) I like Cleveland. The last trip (the Brewers) were over there, I threw out the first pitch one night. They had Harry Doyle jerseys, Harry Doyle bobbleheads. It was fun, and it was the biggest crowd of the series.
Q You won a World Series with St. Louis in 1964.
A I was Timmy (McCarver)'s backup. I was happy playing when I could. It's all different now because you've got the playoffs. If you get to the playoffs now, that's the tough part. The World Series is not the tough part anymore — getting there is.
Q During the All-Star game, it was reported that only one player present that night was listed on the Mitchell Report. Is baseball turning the corner?
A I hope so. I hate to see all this stuff going on. (Major League Baseball Commissioner) Bud Selig is the guy that brought me back to Milwaukee, when he was the owner there. Bud and I were friends from a long time ago when I was playing with the Braves. All of this stuff that's happening on his watch, with the steroids and Congressional hearings, it upsets me.
Q Is it true you ad-libbed your Hall of Fame speech?
A I just did it, yeah. You know what? I know I can make people laugh. I'm not being egotistical, but I've done so many "Tonight Shows" and everything else. Whether I have to make fun of myself or my kids, not that I'd say anything bad about them, it all reverts back to me.
I tell one story about my kids in a Little League game, my two boys. How one had an error in the ninth inning, the other struck out three times and the winning run scored on the error. And I couldn’t be prouder how people were throwing garbage at us on the way out. People will say, “What happened next?” And I’ll say, “I don’t know, I’m making it up.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-9377 or asedlak@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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