Buddy Blattner
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Robert Garnett "Buddy" Blattner (born February 8, 1920 in St. Louis, Missouri) is a former table tennis and baseball player and radio and television sportscaster.
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[edit] Playing career
Blattner played table tennis in his youth, winning the world men's doubles championship in 1936. He started his baseball career with the St. Louis Cardinals, making his big-league debut in the 1942 season. Following a stint in the U.S. Navy, Blattner played for the New York Giants (1946-48) and Philadelphia Phillies (1949), playing primarily at second base.
[edit] Broadcasting career
Blattner turned to broadcasting after his retirement as a player, teaming with Dizzy Dean on St. Louis Browns radio as well as national Mutual Radio broadcasts and the televised baseball Game of the Week on ABC (1953-54) and CBS (1955-59).
Blattner was replaced on CBS by Pee Wee Reese following a dispute with Dean. He continued to broadcast baseball for the Cardinals (1960), Los Angeles/California Angels (1962-68), and Kansas City Royals (1969-75). He also called games for the St. Louis Hawks of the National Basketball Association in the '50s.
[edit] Charity work
In 1962, Blattner founded the "Buddy Fund", a charitable organization that supplies athletic equipment to disabled and underprivileged children in the St. Louis area.
[edit] Awards and honors
Blattner was inducted into the U.S. Table Tennis Association Hall of Fame in 1979, and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1980.
[edit] External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
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