Andy Wagner

Robin Yount walked out to throw the first pitch of the World Series in Milwaukee last night wearing Bob Uecker's loud plaid sport coat. Then he took it off and held it high toward the press box. Underneath, he was wearing his own number 19 Brewers jersey. Across the shoulders, where YOUNT used to be, it said UECK. Milwaukee waited forty-four years for this game. Uecker called Brewers games on the radio for fifty-four seasons. He passed away nine months before he could call this one. So Milwaukee brought his coat to the mound. I watched the video three times. Where I come from, when a master falls before the final battle is reached, the next warrior carries the master's sword onto the field so his spirit can see the banners fly. I never knew a plaid sport coat could carry as much weight as a sword. Last night, it carried all of it.