Jack Buck facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jack Buck
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Buck in 1987
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John Francis Buck
August 21, 1924 Holyoke, Massachusetts, United States
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| Died | June 18, 2002 (aged 77) St. Louis, Missouri, United States
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| Resting place | Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery |
| Alma mater | Ohio State University |
| Occupation | Sportscaster |
| Spouse(s) | Alyce Larson (divorced in 1969) Carole Lintzenich |
| Children | Sons: Jack Jr., Dan and Joe Buck Daughters: Beverly, Christine, Bonnie, Betsy and Julie |
| Parent(s) | Earle and Kathleen Buck |
John Francis "Jack" Buck (born August 21, 1924 – died June 18, 2002) was a famous American sportscaster. He was best known for calling Major League Baseball games for the St. Louis Cardinals team. Jack Buck was so good at his job that he was honored in many important places. These include the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the National Radio Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum.
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Early Life and Military Service
Jack Buck was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts. From a young age, he dreamed of becoming a sports announcer. He loved listening to Boston Red Sox baseball games on the radio.
He finished high school in Lakewood, Ohio, in 1942. After school, he worked on large boats that carried iron ore on the Great Lakes. During a health check, he found out he was color blind. This meant he could not tell the difference between green and brown.
Because of this, he could not get a promotion on the boats. So, in June 1943, he joined the United States Army. He was 19 years old, 5 feet 11 inches tall, and weighed 165 pounds. He trained in anti-aircraft defense at Fort Eustis, Virginia. He later received a Purple Heart medal for his service.
A Career in Sportscasting
After serving in the military, Jack Buck went to Ohio State University. He started his sportscasting career by working for smaller baseball teams linked to the St. Louis Cardinals.
In 1954, Jack Buck became the main radio announcer for the Cardinals on KMOX radio. He kept this job for almost 47 years! In St. Louis, he was famous for his special phrase, "That's a winner!" He would say this after every game the Cardinals won.
Besides his work with the Cardinals, Jack Buck also announced many national sports events. He covered 18 Super Bowls and 11 World Series on the radio.
Later in his life, Jack Buck also became known for writing poems. After the September 11 attacks in 2001, he wrote a famous poem called "For America." He read it on national television. Towards the end of his career, he even worked alongside his son, Joe Buck, who also became a well-known sportscaster.
His Passing
Jack Buck passed away on June 18, 2002. He died in St. Louis, Missouri, due to several illnesses. He was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in south St. Louis County.
Awards and Honors
Jack Buck received many awards for his amazing work.
- In 1987, he won the Ford C. Frick Award from the National Baseball Hall of Fame for his broadcasting.
- In 1996, he received the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
He was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame twice. Once as a media personality in 1980, and again as a Missouri sports legend in 2000. The National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association named him Missouri Sportscaster of the Year 22 times! They also put him in their Hall of Fame in 1990.
Other honors include:
- American Sportscasters Association Hall of Fame (1990)
- Missouri Athletic Club Hall of Fame (1993)
- National Radio Hall of Fame (1995)
- NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame (2005)
In 2009, the American Sportscasters Association ranked him 11th among the Top 50 Sportscasters of All Time.
Jack Buck also has a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame. A bronze statue of him was placed outside Busch Memorial Stadium in 1998. It was later moved to the new Busch Stadium in 2007. A part of I-64/US-40 in St. Louis is named the Jack Buck Memorial Highway in his honor.
In 2014, the Cardinals announced that Jack Buck would be part of the first group inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum. The Jack Buck Award, given by the Missouri Athletic Club, is also named after him. This award recognizes people who strongly support sports in St. Louis.
See also
- St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum
- List of St. Louis Cardinals broadcasters
Images for kids
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Buck and Shannon announcing a Cardinals game at Busch, 1992
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Jack Buck (left) with Ralph Kiner at the 1987 Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
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Video Replay on the scoreboard at Busch Stadium shown on the 5th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks of Buck reading his For America poem at Busch Memorial Stadium before the first Cardinals game after the 9/11 attacks.
