Blattner, Buddy, 1920-2009

Blattner 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 from 1946 to 1948 and Philadelphia Phillies in 1949, playing primarily at second base. Blattner turned to broadcasting after his retirement as a player, teaming with Dizzy Dean on St. Louis Browns radio as well as nationally on the Liberty and Mutual networks, and on the televised baseball Game of the Week on ABC from 1953 to 1954 and CBS from 1955 to 1959. He continued to broadcast baseball for the Cardinals from 1960 to 1961, Los Angeles/California Angels from 1962 to 1968, and Kansas City Royals from 1969 to 1975 as well as on NBC in 1969.