Career
A graduate of Beaumont High School in Saint Louis, Blattner played table tennis in his youth, winning the world men"s doubles championship in 1936. He started his baseball career with the Saint 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 (1946-1948) and Philadelphia Phillies (1949), playing primarily at second base.
Blattner turned to broadcasting after his retirement as a player, teaming with Dizzy Dean on Saint Louis Browns radio as well as nationally on the Liberty and Mutual networks, and on the televised baseball Game of the Week on American Broadcasting Company (1953-1954) and Columbia Broadcasting System (1955-1959).
Blattner was replaced on Columbia Broadcasting System by Pee Wee Reese following a dispute with Dean. He continued to broadcast baseball for the Cardinals (1960-1961), Los Angeles/California Angels (1962-1968), and Kansas City Royals (1969-1975) as well as on National Broadcasting Company in 1969.
He also called games for the Saint Louis Hawks of the National Basketball Association in the "50s. Blattner died at his home in Chesterfield, Missouri from lung cancer, aged 89.