Sam Muchnick – 2014
A phenomenal showman, promoter and broadcaster, Sam Muchnick was a staple in the sports scene here spanning seven decades. A native Ukrainian, he moved with his family to St. Louis in 1911. In 1926, he joined the St. Louis Times, where he covered the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team while developing many influential acquaintances, including Babe Ruth and Al Capone. Muchnick also covered professional wrestling, and in 1932, when the Times merged with the St. Louis Star, he began his career as a long-time sports promoter. His TV series, “Wrestling at the Chase,” aired on KPLR-TV from May 1959 through September 1983.