Jack Buck remembered as a dear friend

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- His voice was the Cardinals, it was baseball, and it was summertime. And for millions of fans, Jack Buck's voice was that of a pal.

"I've never met him personally, but I've known him all my life," said Mary Eikemeier, who visited Buck's statue outside Busch Stadium on Wednesday to mourn a loved one.

Buck died Tuesday night after a long illness. He was 77.

Eikemeier is 47, which means Buck arrived here just before she was born.

"You know, in the early years, your house was filled with Jack Buck and Harry Caray," she said. "When you think of St. Louis, you think of Jack Buck. That's what his voice was like. It was like a best friend."

Most St. Louisans either went to bed or woke up with the news. By morning rush hour, callers flooded radio stations with personal tributes.

Among them: A man recalled that years ago, as a boy taking up collections for a fund-raiser, he approached Jack Buck and said the top money-raiser would win a trip to a Cardinals game. Buck pulled a $100 bill from his wallet and stuffed it into the boy's collection can, saying, "I'll see you at the game."

The boy won the trip to the ballpark, where he sat in the broadcast booth as Buck called the game.

In homes and offices that spanned the historically long reach of KMOX radio, fans recalled the voice that entered their homes every baseball season and, over the years, became a member of the family.

"He meant so much," said Michael Roarty, a longtime Anheuser-Busch executive and close friend of Buck. "I tell everybody he's my best friend, but he's the best friend of every baseball fan in this community."

A steady crowd visited Buck's statue throughout the day to bow their heads and pay respects. Besides the growing collection of flowers, signs, balloons and American flags, several mourners left their red Cardinal ballcaps. Most of the hats appeared well worn and many years old.

Respect for Buck reached beyond St. Louis, the broadcast booth and the sports world.

"I am deeply saddened by the death of Jack Buck," President Bush said. "Jack endeared himself to sports fans throughout the country with his colorful commentary and love of America's pastime."

A footnote to the Jack Buck legacy: He waited until the Redbirds were in first place before he took his leave. Moments before his death, the Cardinals beat the Anaheim Angels 7-2 to move into sole possession of first place in the NL Central.

Many of the mourners who visited the shrine, including Steve Tripp, planned to be at Wednesday's game.

"That's my man," said Tripp, 49, a security officer in St. Louis. "I grew up with him, listened to him all of my life. I remember everything, all the good calls, all the good stuff."

Tripp was in the hospital when Buck called Kirk Gibson's home run in the 1988 World Series.

"When he said, 'I don't believe what I just saw!' that was it, man," Tripp said. "I've been a Cardinal fan all of my life. I'm really going to miss him."

Cardinals Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith remembered meeting Buck for the first time, when the shortstop was still with the San Diego Padres.

"He had that booming voice, the voice," Smith said. "I used to tell guys, 'You haven't made it to the big leagues until you've played the Cardinals and been on Jack Buck's show.' ...

"When you heard that, 'Good evening, everybody, welcome to Cardinals baseball," there was just something about that that sent chills down your spine.'

 

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