Mickey Charles, who founded Dial Sports “976” scorephone network passed away late last year. Born Charles Tucker, he also wrote a gambling column for the Philadelphia Inquirer and hosted a gambling-oriented sports talk show weekends on WCAU radio in the late 1970s and early ‘80s.

Charles later formed The Sports Network wire service, selling it to STATS in 2015. Charles also created the FCS legacy awards including the Walter Payton and Eddie Robinson awards. 

Joe Duffy, CEO of OffshoreInsiders.com said bluntly, “Charles was not the most universally-loved person, but my first industry job was working for him. I was a scorephone announcer in 1986 and worked again for Dial Sports in the summer of 1987 while completing my degree. It was the most important job I’ve ever had because it was the stepping stone to being a pro handicapper.

It was appropriate that he would own the first company I worked for in sports handicapping. I was a lifelong sports fan, but his radio show (on WCAU) got me obsessed with sports handicapping.”

One of his earliest and most loyal employees, Will Springer noted, “He always pushed us to be better, faster, greater. I learned a lot from Mickey and thank him for giving this young Temple U. guy a chance.” Springer rose to Managing Editor of TSN.

Mickey Charles Tucker is survived by a wife, Rosiland, three children, and four grandchildren. He was 83.