Hit .247 in 272 games with the St. Louis Cardinals (1942), the New York Giants (1946-1948), and the Philadelphia Phillies (1949).
Created the Buddy Fund, which provides athletic equipment to disadvantaged youth in St. Louis.
His first job in broadcasting was playing the "straight man" to Dizzy Dean while calling games for the St. Louis Browns. He was also the radio voice of the NBA's St. Louis Hawks, the MLB's St. Louis Cardinals and the Los Angeles/California Angels.
Two-time world champion table tennis player, and three-time Missouri State High School tennis champion. Inducted into the Table Tennis Hall of Fame in 1979.
People liked Dizzy Dean giving everything but the score, but they wanted me to restore sanity. (from an interview with author Curt Smith for his book "Voices of Summer")