Bob Uecker was a famously mediocre Major League hitter who discovered that he was much more comfortable at a microphone than home plate. And that was just the start of a second career in entertainment ...

The former backup catcher, whose ability to laugh at himself made him a beloved radio announcer and launched a successful acting career, died Thursday.

Selig once put Uecker’s impact this way: “The baseball announcer becomes a link to their fans. You go to Harry Caray, or Bob ...