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Milwaukee Brewers: Freddy Peralta remembers Bob Uecker’s message to him as team advances to 2025 NLCS

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By Robin M Adams | Last updated Oct 12, 2025 9:16 AM ET

For the first time since 2018, the Milwaukee Brewers are headed to the National League Championship Series. Their Game Five victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday night was the franchise’s first postseason series win since that magical 2018 run, and sets Milwaukee up for a matchup with the Los Angeles Dodgers (who also defeated the Brewers in 2018 NLCS).

Of course, much has changed in Milwaukee since the last time they advanced this far in the postseason. Of all the players on that 2018 team, only Christian Yelich, Brandon Woodruff, and Freddy Peralta remain. In the years since, many a player has come and gone, and the Brewers have suffered more than their fair share of playoff losses.

But no loss was felt harder than last season’s meltdown against the New York Mets. Not only was Milwaukee in a prime position to win that Wild Card series, but, unbeknownst to fans, the organization and players knew it was the last time that the beloved legendary broadcaster Bob Uecker would be be behind the mic.

Uecker passed away early this year from cancer, and he had called games all season long in 2024 despite going through treatments for the disease. When the Brewers lost at home to the Mets in the 2024 Playoffs, the defeat devastated each player and coach more than words can describe.

The Milwaukee Brewers are playing for Bob Uecker

Milwaukee Brewers: Freddy Peralta remembers Bob Uecker's message to him as team advances to 2025 NLCS 1 Nick Koss, of Oak creek, pays his respects at a memorial at the base of a Bob Uecker statue outside American Family Field in Milwaukee on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. Uecker, the voice of the team on the airwaves for 54 years, a Baseball Hall of Famer and local, statewide and national icon, died Thursday.

The Brewers knew that Uecker was not going to live long enough to even see Spring Training in 2025. When he passed away, both the organization and fans decided that this season would be for the Hall of Fame broadcaster, who never got to see his hometown team win a World Series.

Uecker’s statue at American Family Field has been decorated with flowers, beer cans, and other mementoes all year long, and Brewers players have worn a plaid patch bearing his name on their uniforms.

Throughout the season, the Brewers have had several opportunities for the fans to celebrate Uecker’s life and legacy, most notably his public memorial late in the year in which numerous franchise and baseball legends traveled to Milwaukee to pay homage to Uecker.

And all season long, both players have fans have professed the slogan, “Win it for Ueck,” hoping that the Brewers can win the franchise’s first World Series title in his honor.

On Saturday night, they took one step closer to doing just that, and their beloved friend and mentor was at the forefront of their minds as they did so.

Milwaukee Brewers All-Star pitcher Freddy Peralta remembers what Bob Uecker told him about the team in 2024

Milwaukee Brewers: Freddy Peralta Has Unsuccessfully Tried to Get Another Contract Extension with Team 1 Sep 18, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) watches Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm (28) run the bases after hitting a solo home run in the second inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

After the game was over, the players gathered on the field for a team photo to commemorate their NLCS berth. Front and center in front of the team was the Uecker flag:

The Uecker flag is front and center for the team photo. pic.twitter.com/ECv9pjhkcn

— Curt Hogg (@CyrtHogg) October 12, 2025

Truly, Uecker meant more to these players than fans or anyone else outside of the organization can possibly imagine. Not only did he call the games, he was one of them, a wise but light-hearted voice who could pull them out of the darkest places when they struggled.

And when the players felt they were in the darkest of the dark places following their postseason meltdown a year ago, it was Uecker who believed that this group of guys would bounce back.

Peralta told reporters after the game, “I remember last year [Uecker] told me that we have a group that was going to be special and we’re showing that right now and I hope that he’s proud of us, watching us.”

As bad as fans may want to see the Brewers win a World Series, it is clear that no one wants it more than the players themselves, and they want to do it for Bob Uecker.

This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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