He went to work as a helper on a delivery truck for the Cambria's Bugle Coat and Apron Company that same year his father died.
[1] He graduated from Baltimore City College high school in 1939, where he was classmates with future Maryland governors Marvin Mandell and William Donald Schaefer, who both said Eckman retained the same colorful personality throughout his life.
[3][1] He was drafted by the Washington Senators after graduating from Baltimore City College and played in their farm system, but never made it to the majors.
[4] Eckman's career got sidetracked for two years when he was drafted into the US Army and was later transferred to the Army Air Corps, and was ultimately stationed in Yuma, Arizona, serving as a physical training instructor, and refereeing basketball games in his spare time.
He continued to officiate basketball games, this time with the American League West Coast, while working for the Phoenix office of the War Assets Administration.
[6] In 1967, after 29 years and over 3,500 collegiate and professional basketball games, Eckman, announced his retirement from officiating, after experiencing leg problems.
In his third season as head coach, Eckman led the Pistons to the playoffs, where they lost to the Minneapolis Lakers in the semifinals.
Eckman became an award-winning radio sportscaster, handling color commentary for the Baltimore Bullets, Orioles and Colts.