Buddy Blattner
Robert Garnett '"Buddy" Blattner' was an American table tennis and professional baseball player. He played five seasons in Major League Baseball, primarily for the New York Giants. After his retirement as a player, he became a radio and television sportscaster.
Sports career
Table tennis
Blattner played table tennis in his youth, winning the gold medal in the men's doubles with James McClure at the 1936 World Table Tennis Championships. The following year he won double gold at the 1937 World Table Tennis Championships in the men's team event and in the men's doubles with McClure.Baseball
A graduate of Beaumont High School in St. Louis, Blattner started his Major League Baseball career with the St. Louis Cardinals, making his big league debut in the 1942 season. Following a stint in the United States Navy, Blattner played for the New York Giants and Philadelphia Phillies ; he played primarily as a second baseman.Broadcasting
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 and CBS. He also called games for the St. Louis Hawks of the National Basketball Association in the '50s.Blattner was replaced on CBS by Pee Wee Reese following a dispute with Dean. Blattner continued to broadcast baseball for the Cardinals, Los Angeles/California Angels, and Kansas City Royals as well as on NBC's coverage of the 1964 and 1967 All-Star Games.