COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. - Bob Uecker, lifetime .200 hitter and all, finally made it to the Hall of Fame on July 27, 2003. He was inducted into the broadcasters’ wing after announcing Milwaukee Brewers games for 33 years.

Funnyman Uecker, known for his self-deprecating humor, added a light touch to the otherwise serious ceremonies during his acceptance speech. He rivaled the best of stand-up comics.

Uecker, a former catcher with mediocre credentials, brought tears to many of the 44 Hall of Famers on stage with his routine. A sampling:

“I got a lot of my ability from my father, like a lot of these other (Hall of Famers) guys did. My father actually came to this country as a soccer player. He didn’t play, he blew up the balls! That’s what he did.

“They didn’t have pumps in those days. To see a man put that valve in his mouth and insert it into a soccer ball and blow 30 pounds of air and then have the ability to pull that thing out without fracturing his mouth was unbelievable. You had to see his veins popping. How proud I was watching him do it time after time.”

Or: once when playing for Philadelphia “I remember (manager) Gene Mauch telling me, ‘Grab a bat and stop this rally.’ Or he’d send me up there without a bat “And try for a walk.” I’d look down at the third base coach for a sign and have him turn his back on me.”

Or: “I’ve set records that will never be equaled - 90% I hope are never printed. I had a .200 batting average in the major leagues which tied me with another sports great who averaged 200 or better for a 10-year period - Don Carter, one of our top bowlers!”

Hall Moments: Former President George Bush was among the crowd of 18,000, a guest of inductee Gary Carter...Hall of Famer Johnny Bench sand the Canadian National Anthem and then, imitating the late Harry Caray, led the throng in “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”