MILWAUKEE - "You don't realize the impact you have on people."

That's what longtime Brewers Broadcaster Bob Uecker realized following the standing ovations and phone calls he has received since announcing that he is expected to miss 10-12 weeks in the broadcast booth.

After broadcasting Wednesday's Brewers-Pirates game (11:35 a.m. on Newsradio 620 WTMJ), Uecker is scheduled to undergo heart surgery this Friday.  

Uecker announced on 620WTMJ's "Wisconsin's Morning News" the possibility of returning to do home games sooner should his condition improve following surgery.

He also discussed the friends that have come out of the woodwork to wish him well following the announcement.

Uecker explained his medical issues during a news conference Tuesday at Miller Park.

"I have a bit of a health problem that we've known about for a little while. It's gotten progressively worse as the season has gone on. It's been monitored by the staff at Froedtert," said Uecker

"I was given the OK to travel and to do my exercises, swimming and everything else that I do health-wise. Until the last couple of scans that were taken, and some of the health problems became more evident to a point where it's necessary to make some changes.

Dr. Jim Kleczka, who has overseen Uecker's condition, explained that another doctor found a heart murmur during an exam, and he confirmed the murmur.

"It showed that the aortic valve was leaking quite badly," said Kleczka.

"The aortic root was quite enlarged. Those two problems often go hand-in-hand. It's not something that requires surgery immediately, so we simply followed this EKG's. The latest scans have shown that the aorta has grown larger. It's grown to a point that something needs to be done because I'm afraid of this thing potentially rupturing before the end of the season." 

Uecker was told not to go on the upcoming West Coast road trip the Brewers have against the San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies.

"The surgery was going to be moved up. I was hoping I could go to the end of the year and have it during the off-season, but it didn't work. I met with the surgeon yesterday and explained what we're going to do, the procedure, and we're going to do it Friday morning. Hopefully I'll be back in a very short period of time."

Uecker, who said he had not suffered chest pains, explained that he could return to Brewers broadcasts at a different time than the expected 10-12 weeks. 

"When I think I'm ready to work, I'll come on back and work."

Uecker did keep his typical sense of humor when he started the conference, saying, "I have been added to the active roster."

Bob will announce Tuesday night's and Wednesday afternoon's games at Miller Park against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Newsradio 620 WTMJ, but will not make the team's road trip to the West Coast following Wednesday.

Former Brewers player and coach and Fox Sports Wisconsin Brewers analyst Davey Nelson, a contributor on 620WTMJ's Brewers Extra Innings, will work with Cory Provus on the broadcast during the trip.

Uecker, the longtime voice of the Brewers on Newsradio 620 WTMJ, has been behind the microphone calling Major League Baseball games for more consecutive years than almost any active broadcaster.

After a playing career that saw him behind the plate catching for his hometown Milwaukee Braves, the St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies, Uecker worked in the television broadcast booth on Atlanta Braves broadcasts.

In 1971, he joined Merle Harmon as the radio voice of the Brewers, and is in his 40th year behind the microphone.

Uecker's baseball broadcasting career has also given him assignments covering the World Series for both ABC and NBC.

In 2003, he received the Ford Frick Award from the National Baseball Hall of Fame for baseball broadcasting excellence.

Uecker is also well known for his many appearances on the Tonight Show, his humor-filled Miller Lite commercials, his time on the TV show "Mr. Belvedere" and his role as Harry Doyle in the "Major League" movie series.