Jack Buck

Born-August 21, 1924, Holyoke, Ma.

Died-June 18, 2002, St. Louis, Mo.

Early Life

John Francis Buck was born the third of seven children of Earle and Kathleen Buck. Baseball was his great love growing up. He wanted to play professionally, but his father died when he was 15, so he had to help support the family instead of pursuing his dream.

Missouri Connection

In 1954 Buck was hired by KMOX in St. Louis to be a member of the famous St. Louis Cardinals broadcasting team for nearly half a century. Buck was selected as St. Louis Citizen of the Year in 2000 for his many contributions to the community, including donating his time to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, St. Louis Backstoppers, and the American Cancer Society.

Claim to Fame

Jack Buck was best known as the voice of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team for whom he broadcast games from 1954 through 2001. Buck also broadcast almost every professional sport during his career. He worked for CBS, ABC and NBC doing national broadcasts of both professional baseball and football games. In addition he did national radio broadcasts of 17 Super Bowls as well as broadcasts for the NBA, NHL and the Pro Bowler’s Tour.

Later Life

For his accomplishments in sports broadcasting, Jack Buck is enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame, Football Hall of Fame, Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, and the Radio Hall of Fame. Buck also received a lifetime achievement Emmy in 2000. Buck retired from his job as the Cardinals’ lead announcer in 2000. Following the events of September 11, 2001, he wrote a poem titled “For America." In one of his last public appearances, on September 17, 2001, he read it in front of 32,000 fans at Busch Stadium.

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