Bob Uecker, who parlayed a forgettable playing career into a punch line for movie and TV appearances as “Mr. Baseball” and a Hall of Fame broadcasting tenure, has died. He was 90.

The Milwaukee Brewers, whose games Uecker had broadcast for over half a century, announced his death Thursday morning, calling it “one of the most difficult days in Milwaukee Brewers history.” In a statement released by the club, Uecker’s family said he had battled small cell lung cancer since early 2023.

“Even in the face of this challenge, his enthusiasm for life was always present, never allowing his spirit to falter,” the family said.

Uecker was best known as a colorful comedian and broadcaster whose sense of humor and self-deprecating style earned him fame and affection beyond his .200 batting average.

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Uecker was a beloved member of the baseball community and a pillar of the sport in Wisconsin. He had broadcast Brewers games for the last 54 seasons.

Outfielder Winker and Mets agree to 1-year contract >> Outfielder Jesse Winker and the New York Mets have agreed to a one-year contract, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press, perhaps a signal the team doesn’t expect to re-sign slugger Pete Alonso.

Winker was acquired by the Mets from Washington on July 28 and batted .243 with three homers and 13 RBIs for New York last year. He hit a tying, two-run triple in the Wild Card Series opener at Milwaukee, homered off Philadelphia’s Aaron Nola in Game 3 of the Division Series and had an RBI triple in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Tucker and Cubs avoid arbitration, agree to $16.5M, 1-year contract >> Kyle Tucker and the Chicago Cubs settled the largest of the 17 salary arbitration cases in which proposed figures were exchanged, agreeing to a $16.5 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

Chicago had submitted a $15 million figure and the All-Star outfielder had asked for $17.5 million last week. Absent an agreement, a hearing before a three-person panel would have been held from Jan. 27 through Feb. 14.

Tennis

Tien is the youngest US man in Australia’s 3rd round since Sampras >> Learner Tien, a 19-year-old qualifier from California, became the youngest American man to reach the Australian Open’s third round since Pete Sampras in 1990, upsetting a racket-tossing Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (8), 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) in a match that began Thursday night and ended in the wee hours of Friday.

The 4-hour, 49-minute contest had a bit of everything, including — hard to believe — a six-minute rain delay that interrupted play shortly before 2:30 a.m. with Tien serving at 5-all, 15-all in the fifth set. When they resumed, Medvedev broke and served for the victory at 6-5, but Tien wouldn’t cede a thing. He immediately broke back to force the concluding first-to-10 tiebreaker that he emerged to win shortly before 3 a.m., about two hours after he failed to convert his initial match point.NFL

Cowboys add familiar name to list in coaching search >> The Dallas Cowboys have requested permission to interview Philadelphia offensive coordinator Kellen Moore in their search to replace Mike McCarthy, a person with knowledge of the team’s plans said.

The Cowboys also are planning to interview two former NFL head coaches in Robert Saleh and Leslie Frazier, the person told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team isn’t commenting publicly on plans for interviews.

Moore has a long history with the Cowboys, including four seasons as Dak Prescott’s play-caller. Three of those were after McCarthy was hired in 2020. The Cowboys and McCarthy parted ways this week after five seasons.

College basketball

D-I men’s teams won’t need waivers for preseason games >> Division I men’s basketball teams will be able to play two exhibitions against any other four-year schools without needing a waiver that required game proceeds be donated to charity under a change approved at the NCAA convention.

The men’s basketball oversight committee for Division I approved the proposal taking effect with the 2025-26 season. The change also eliminates the requirement that proceeds be donated to charity with schools free to choose how to split up the revenue from those exhibitions. The new rule also lifts the mandate that preseason practice scrimmages be played in private without official scoring.

Soccer

Reynolds, McElhenney in group that buys Colombian soccer club >> Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney made another foray into soccer team ownership as part of an investment group that acquired Colombian club La Equidad.

The Wrexham co-owners are shareholders in the group led by Al Tylis, who is co-chairman of Mexican club Necaxa, and Sam Porter, who is a Necaxa board member.

La Equidad, a Bogota club founded in the 1980s, said the purchase was approved by the country’s professional soccer league organization.

Other investors include actress Eva Longoria as well as new Giants pitcher Justin Verlander and his wife, actress Kate Upton.