Bill
Burgess /
Research
& Analysis
SPORTS WRITERS REGISTER
By Bill Burgess III
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| blue = no birthdate red = no death date. This site is a work-in-progress. All contributions are greatly welcomed. | |||||||||
| Sports Writers | Born | Born-Died | Died | Age | Start | Retired | Born | Died | Main cities worked in; Description of career highlights; Chronology of newspaper work; |
| Henry Chadwick | Oct.3 | 1824-1908 | Apr.20 | 83 | 1856 | 1908 | Exeter, St. Thomas,Eng. | Brooklyn,NY | NY sp.wr.,author; Family moved Brooklyn, NY (Sept. 21, 1837); NY Times cricket reports (1856), Brooklyn Eagle cricket, BB ed . (1856-94), NY Herald, NY World sp wr (13yrs), NY Sun (6 yrs), Sp. News, Sp. Life, Yankee Clipper (1858-?) Ball Players' Chronicle (1867-69). |
| (Chadwick,continued), In 1896, NL voted him pension for life. Editor-in-chief of NL Spalding baseball guide until his death (1881-08), succeeded in that function by John B. Foster, who carried that job until his death ('41) in Wash. DC. d. pneumonia | |||||||||
| (Chadwick,continued) He is buried at Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn,NY | |||||||||
| Alfred L. Hector Wright | Mar.30 | 1842-1905 | Apr.20 | 63 | 1800's | Cedar Grove, NJ | NYC | Phil. Spwr.; Phil. Sunday Mercury reporter. Succeeded Henry Chadwick as New York Clipper writer. Was 1st to compile NL ave. & 1st Philadelphia A's scorer. Toured England in 1874 with Phil. Athletics. Managed the Philadelphia team in 1876 | |
| Torris Zalmon Cowles | Feb.8 | 1845-1919 | Dec.3 | 74 | Painted Post, NY; Benton,NY | West Suburban, IL | Chicago spwr.; Minnesota regiment in Civil War. St. Paul Pioneer Press managing ed. Chicago Tribune sp. ed., musical, drama ed. (1868-75) night ed. (1875-83); American Economist ed. (1898-1918). One of organizers of original Chicago BB team. d. of pneumonia in West Suburban Hospital | ||
| Lewis E. Meacham | Mar.4 | 1846-1878 | Oct.2 | 32 | 1860's | New Haven, VT | Chicago, IL | Chicago Tribune sp. ed.(1860's-70's) Helped popularized BB in Chicago. Used box scores. Along with William Hulbert, he formulated the plan to organize the National League. Was present at famous fire in 1871 on roof. Chicago Tribune reporter in 1860's. One of 1st to use box scores. | |
| (Meacham) Delta Kappa Epsilon. Prepared Phillips Academy, Andover; A. C., 1867. Tutor Christian College, Indiana, 1868; reporter and proof reader Times and Tribune, Chicago, Illinois, 1869-71; private secreta | |||||||||
| (Meacham) reporter and associated editor at the Chicago Tribune, 1875-78. Private in the Vermont Regiment and 1st Lieutenant of the New York Highlanders, 1862-65. Son of Rev. James and Mary F. d. Heart disease | |||||||||
| William M. Rankin | My.23 | 1849-1913 | Mar.29 | 64 | 1870 | Greencastle,PA | Brooklyn,NY | NY spwr.; Started in 1870 with Rockland County Journal, Nyack, NY; NY Times, NY Tribune, NY World, NY Mail, NY Express, official scorer for the Mutual club; NY Clipper ed. (30 yrs.), succeeded Al Wright as editor, d. Apoplexy, heart disease at home | |
| Oliver Perry (OP) Caylor | Dec.17 | 1849-1897 | Oct.19 | 47 | 1974 | 1997 | Dayton,OH | NYC | Cincinnati & New York sports writer; Cincinnati Enquirer sp.ed.(1874-81), Helped found Amer. Ass. & secured a Cinc. franchise in it(Nov.,1881),Cincinnati Commercial Gazette('81-87), NY Daily(1887), served as Reds Secretary / buss. man. through 1886. |
| (Caylor,continued), Carthage,MO newspaper(1888), The Sporting News(NY,ed. - 1889-1890), NY Herald(Baseball ed. 1892-1897,death). Official scorer for NY Giants. Also managed Cincinnati(AA,1885-86) & NYMetropolitans(AA,1887). | |||||||||
| (Caylor,continued),Accepted administrative job with NY Metropolitans(1886).Accepted job as on-field manager of team(June,1886-end of season).Team was in 7th & he couldn't improve team's standing by season's end.Famed for caustic sarcastic, humor & wit. | |||||||||
| (Caylor,continued), d. developed tubercular tumors in his throat, resigned his post at the Herald,NY in Sept.,'97, went to Winona,MN to recuperate 6 weeks before his death, where they burst & killed him by asphyxia. | |||||||||
| Timothy Hayes Murnane | Jun. 4 | 1851-1917 | Feb. 7 | 65 | 1872 | F 17 | Naugatuck,CT | Boston,MA | Boston sports writer; former ML 1B(1872-78,84), Founded Boston Referee(1885), Boston Globe spwr. & sp.ed.(1888-1917,Feb.7, death). President: New England L. : 24 yrs. Buried: Old Calvary Cemetery, Roslindale, MA |
| Frank Brunell | (52)-1933 | Nov.13 | 81 | Yarmouth, England | Magnolia Springs,AL | Chicago spwr.; Chicago Tribune sp. ed., Chicago Inter-Ocean (1890's); Conceived The Racing Form, Players Brotherhood secretary | |||
| John Henry Gruber | Sept.22 | 1853-1932 | Dec.18 | 79 | 1880 | 1932 | New Albany,IN | West View,PA | Pittsburgh sports writer,Pirates scorekeeper; Pitts. Times(1880-?),Pitts. Post(promoted to sp.ed 1890-1905, Pitts. Gazette('05-12), Moreland News Bureau('13-14),Pittsburgh Leader,Pittsburgh official scorer(1893-1932). Began sp. dept. in early newspapers. |
| Samuel Newhall Crane | Jan. 2 | 1854-1925 | Jun.26 | 71 | 1875 | 1925 | Springfield,MA | NYC | NY sp. wr.; Studied civil engineering at MIT for 2 yrs.,ML best 2nd baseman(1880-90), managed Buffalo in NL(1879-80) & Cincinnati(U,1884). Old Atlantic League Pres.(1895), New York Press sp.wr.(1890-98), NY Journal(1898-1925). |
| (Crane,continued), one of McGraw's closest friends, fought with him often.Made all road trips with Giants. Arguably most beloved sp.wr.of his day. d. developed pneumonia during Giants western swing.Arrived home in Bronx, went right to bed,couldn't rally. | |||||||||
| (Crane,continued), When Tim Murnane of Boston died Feb.7,1917, Crane became the new "Dean of Sports Writers". Knew many things due to his close proximity to McGraw, never was known to take advantage of it to "scoop" rival writers. | |||||||||
| Francis Charles Richter | Jan. 26 | 1854-1926 | Feb.12 | 72 | 1868 | 1926 | Phil.,PA | Phil., PA | Phil. sportswriter; Was editor-in-chief of Reach Official American League Base Ball Guide(1902-1926,Feb.12, death); Died the day after the manuscript of the 1925 Reach Guide was completed. |
| (Richter,continued), drew up National Agreement(1883), helped place Phil Club in AA(1882), Helped place Phil club in NL(1883),helped assimilate AA into NL(1891), drew up Millennium Plan which ended BB war.Richly deserves BB Hall of Fame.Whole existence-BB | |||||||||
| (Richter,cont.),For a long lifetime of service to BB at its highest levels,I nominate him for the Taylor Spink Award. His every waking moment was happily devoted to BB. In Apr. '46, he & 11 others were elected to H of F as sp. writers( Honor Rolls). | |||||||||
| (Richter,continued) In 1880, he started the 1st sports dept. ever in a newspaper, The Public Ledger. Mr. Richter was offered the Presidency of the National League in 1907. He declined due to his obligations to the AL Reach Guide & his own Sporting Life. | |||||||||
| (Richter,continued) For many years, he ws one of the official scorers for the World's Series games, sharing the honor with JG Taylor Spink, publisher of the Sporting News. | |||||||||
| (Richter,continued) He founded Sporting Life in 1883, a weekly baseball paper, which became a great force in BB until he disposed of it in 1917, during the War. The motto of his publication, "Devoted to the Baseball Men and Measures, With Malice Toward None and Charity for All," sums up the character of Mr. Richter. | |||||||||
| (Richter,continued) He was a columnist for Sporting News from Dec.8, 1921 - Sept., 1925. His column, Casual Comment was often addressed to administrative matters. He was always at the top of the BB world, albeit behind the scenes, working for the betterment of the game he loved so much. His every waking hour was devoted to BB. | |||||||||
| Alfred Henry Spink (Taylor's uncle) | Aug.24 | 1854-1928 | My.27 | 74 | 1886 | 1895 | Quebec Provence,Can. | Oak Park,IL | St. Louis, Sp. N. Publisher; His family were from Quebec, Canada. After the Civil War, the family moved to Chicago, IL. In 1875, Al moved to St. Louis, and became a great fan of the St. Louis Stockings. Sp. ed. of 3 papers; Globe-Democrat, Missouri Republican, Post-Dispatch. Founded The Sporting News on March 17, 1886-95 |
| (Spink, continued) 1st Pres. Of western League, started a number of ball clubs & leagues before launching Sporting News. Authored several books. Ed. Reach Guide '88. Press agent of Chris Von der Ahe, interested him in BB. Called brother Charles to St. Louis from S. Dakota to be bus. man. of Sp. N. | |||||||||
| William Walter Naughton | Jul.31 | 1854-1914 | Mar.10 | 1886 | 1914 | Auckland,NZ | San Francisco,CA | SF,Chi.; San Francisco Chronicle spwr. (1886-?), New Zealand Herald (1870-?), San Francisco Examiner (1888-1914), Chicago Examiner (2 yrs.), baseball & boxing authority. Chicago American sp.ed. Wrote "Kings of the Queensberry Realm." A foremost boxing authority. Covered major boxing bouts of his time. | |
| (Naughton, continued) d. at home from heart disease aggravated by acute indigestion | |||||||||
| Simon (Si) Goodfriend | 1856-1939 | Nov. 6 | 84 | 1876 | NYC | NYC | NYC spwr.; Grad. City College, 1876. NY Sun (1885-?) Regarded Ruth greatest player, McGraw, greatest manager, Mathewson, greatest pitcher. | ||
| Gerhard Otto (George) (Roger) H. Tidden | Aug. | 1856-1913 | Jun.30 | 58 | 1913 | Brooklyn,NY | NYC | NY sp. wr.; NY Morning World, NY World (1893-13). d. complications involving both lungs and heart, occasioned by a chill he contracted early in BB season. | |
| William Blythe (Bill) Hanna | Oct. | (56)-1930 | Nov.20 | 74 | 1884 | My '30 | Nebraska | Newfoundland,NJ | NY, Kansas City spwr.; Grad.Lafayette College, Easton,PA (1878); Kansas City Star, Arrived NYC (1888), NY Herald, NY Press (1893),NY Sun (1900-16), NY Herald ('16-24), Herald-Tribune ('24-May,'30,death); Acknowledged expert on baseball, football & billiards. |
| Alonzo Joseph Flanner | (54)-1924 | Dec.23 | 68 | 1892 | 1921 | New Bern, NC | Cincinnati,OH | St. Louis spwr.; St. Louis Post-Dispatch BB ed. (1892-95), Sporting News ed.(1895-1906), Moved Cinc.('12), serving as secretary to August Herrmann, chairman of National Commission,1906-1921), until Landis became Commissioner. Retired on pension. d. Heart disease after long illness. | |
| (Flanner, continued) South Dakota homesteader. Finished law apprenticeship, served as first state's attorney for Lawrence County. In 1892, after 16 yrs at the bar, left South Dakota, for St. Louis, Mo. Named sp. Ed. Of St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Joined Sporting news 3 yrs. later. | |||||||||
| Charles F. Mathison | (56)-1933 | Jun.22 | 77 | NYC | Detroit, New York sp. ed.: NY Press(1914), Had been sports writer for NY newspapers, and then turned to boxing referee. Had refereed the Jack Sharkey/Max Schmeling fight. He voted for Schmeling and was much criticized for it. He died a yr. later. | ||||
| (Mathison, continued) d. At home in Brooklyn, NY. He had been in ill health since the death of his wife a year before. Had been best known for his work with the Evening Mail. | |||||||||
| Harry M. Weldon | Dec. | 1855-1902 | Jan.27 | 45 | Circleville, OH | Circleville, OH | Cincinnati sp.ed.; Cinc. Enquirer sp. ed. (1880-1900), trained many of the early 19th century sports writers while a sp. ed at Enquirer. Heavily into boxing. Devastating stroke Feb.25, 1900, at 290 lbs. ended his work. When Harry died, he was replaced by Ren Mulford. Burial: Forest Cemetery, Circleville, OH | ||
| (Weldon, continued) Was Chris Von Ahe's secretary until Oct. 22, 1886, then became secretary of the Cincinnati baseball team under Mr. Stern. | |||||||||
| Thomas (Tom) Clark | (57)-1933 | Dec.19 | 76 | Bardstown,KY | Louisville,KY sp.wr.; Louisville Times sp. wr. | ||||
| Charles Dryden | Mar.10 | 1857-1931 | Feb.11 | 74 | 1893 | 1921 | Monmouth,IL | Biloxi,MS | Chicago sp.wr.; US Navy; Chicago Sunday Times reporter(1889-1890), San Francisco Examiner sp.wr.(1890), NY Evening Journal(1898-99), Phil. North American(1899-1905), Chicago Tribune('06-08), Chicago Examiner('08-17), Chicago Herald & Examiner('18-21). |
| (Dryden, continued), He was one of the 1st, most popular & most influential baseball writers who ever lived. Humorist influenced a generation of following baseball writers. Suffered devastating stoke('21) left him disabled. Awarded Spink award('65). | |||||||||
| Frank Leonardo Hough | Jul.6 | 1858-1913 | Sept.15 | 55 | 1913 | PA | Germantown,Phil,PA | Philadelphia Inquirer Sp. ed.; 25% owner of Phil. Athletics from 1901 until fall 1912, sold his shares to Connie Mack. Had good knowledge of many sports. Phil. Press Secretary of Athletics (1905) d. at home, was ill for some months, interred at West Laurel Hill Cemetery, | |
| Ren J. Mulford, Jr. | Nov.30 | 1859-1932 | Dec.30 | 73 | Cincinnati,OH | Cincinnati,OH | Cincinnati sports writer; Cincinnati Post editor, When Henry Weldon died in 1890's, Ren replaced him on the Cinc. Enquirer. Sporting Life's Cincinnati's correspondent, around 1911. d. acute intestinal obstruction, buried Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, OH | ||
| (Zuber, continued) After several years on the Cincinnati Enquirer, Ren quit to work for an advertising agency till his death. | |||||||||
| Elmer Ellsworth Bates | My.22 | 1860-1930 | Feb.18 | 69 | 1880 | 1930 | Madison,OH | Madison,OH | Cleveland sports writer; Started on Painesville Telegraph(1880-?),Sporting Life correspondent(1897), Cleveland Press sp. ed.(20 yrs).(also wrote column "Little Old Man", loved for it's intimate feel. Also Cleveland Leader('11),World, Herald, News. Founded |
| (Bates, continued), Madison News('18-27), Lake County Republican Herald associate editor('27- 30,death). He espoused writing brevity, accuracy and warmth. He called many famous people friend. Graduated Madison Seminary, Madison Kiwanis sec.many yrs. | |||||||||
| Jacob Charles (Jake) Morse | Jun.7 | 1860-1937 | Apr.12 | 76 | Concord,NH | Brookline,MA | Boston sports writer; Grad. Roxbury Latin Sch.(1877), Harvard College(1881), Boston U. Law Sch.(1884); Boston Herald(1884-1907, sp.ed.1884-1901), Secretary of New England Baseball League, became insurance man(1915), | ||
| (Morse, continued) Wrote a history of Baseball(Sphere & Ash,1888).Helped launch Baseball Magazine('08) & was one of its' Presidents & editors 'til 1912. Boston Traveler( ?-37, death).Managed Boston Nationals(U,1884). D. Heart attack at home, cremated. | |||||||||
| Walter Saunders Barnes, Jr. | Nov.26 | 1860-1940 | Feb.13 | 79 | 1889 | Ja'40 | Boston, MA | Brookline,MA | Boston sports writer; Boston Post reporter(1889-1891), Boston Journal sp.ed.(1891-06,Oct.), Boston Herald sp.ed.('06-11), Boston Globe('11-33)(sp.ed.'14-33)(Emeritus,'33-40). |
| Charles Bentley Power | (61)-1913 | Feb.5 | 52 | Pittsburgh, PA | Pitts. spwr. for many years, NL umpire,1902; (Sporting News, Jan.1,1914, death roll of 1913; d. at home of nervous breakdown. | ||||
| John Sanburn Phillips | Jul.2 | 1861-1949 | Feb.28 | 87 | Council Bluffs, IA | Goshen, NY | NY spwr.; editor of The American Magazine; at least as early as 1908; ed. of McClure's. | ||
| James C. O'Leary (Uncle Jim) | Sept.14 | 1861-1948 | Mar.17 | 86 | 1888 | 1938 | Charleston,NH | Boston, MA | Boston spwr.; Started as a telegrapher in Boston (1882), Pittsburgh, Buffalo. Boston Globe telegrapher (1890-92), copy desk ('92-13), spwr. (1913-38). |
| (Hanna, continued) m. Eva A. Baker on Dec. 25,1884 in Maryville,Nodaway,MO; d. Stricken with stroke (apoplexy) May 24,1930, was taken to Army cadet hospital for 3 wks, and transferred to Idylease sanitarium,Newfoundland,NJ at his wishes to be near his | |||||||||
| (Hanna, continued), brother, Thomas K. Hanna. His style was noted for his eschewing of slang such as "swat,pill,horsehide",etc. His choice of words were those less chosen,terse,precise,kind. His style was succinct, his knowledge encyclopedic. | |||||||||
| Paul Webster Eaton | Dec.27 | 1861-1943 | Jun.25 | 81 | 1896 | Maine | Washington, DC | Wash.DC free-lance sp. wr.; Sporting Life; around 1910-20, at least Sporting News until 1931; Towards the end of his life, he did government work as a correspondent for the State Dept.. | |
| George Leonard Moreland | 1862-('34-37) | England | Pittsburgh sp.wr; Pittsburgh / Allegheny directory, reporter (1886) Pitts. Post (1896); BB statistician, wrote baseball history (Balldom, 1914); Managed Canton in Tri-State League (1890). Original member BWAA (1908), representing Pittsburgh. Involved with Louisville club (1890's) ; Organized Inter-State minor League (fall, 1894). | ||||||
| John B. Foster | Jul. 16 | 1863-1941 | Sept.29 | 78 | 1888 | 1941 | Norwalk,OH | Wash.,D.C. | NY spwr.; Norwalk HS, OH; st. ed.; Clev. Press gen. rep. & state ed., Clev. Leader sp.ed.(?-1888), Arrived NYC (1896), NY Evening Telegraph sp.ed. & city ed.(1896-11), NY Journal, NY Herald, NY Sun (1920-31), Consolidated Press Ass. (1918-20), |
| (Foster) Credited with promoting Army Navy game at the Polo Grounds into national interest. Years on BB 's rules committee. Considered an authority on BB law, rules, admin. Credited with answering 500,000 questions on BB rules, | |||||||||
| (Foster) laws, and various phases of BB. Wrote digest of rules for the French. Was named official authority for rules for Japan. Official scorer at Polo Grounds. Couldn't attend games after '32, due to right side paralyzed. Followed BB via radio,papers. | |||||||||
| (Foster) Giants' Secretary & business manager(Jan. 6, '13-1919, Dec. 4);Father:Francis Boardman:Mother;Flora Ann Beebe. Paralyzed on his right side his last 9 yrs., Buried: funeral services in NYC, cremated, ashes buried Rock Hill Cemetery, Foxboro, MA | |||||||||
| (Foster,continued), Editor-in-Chief of Spalding Official NL Base Ball Guide (1908-1941).Foster was a close second to his friend F. Richter in the baseball accomplishments he was able to achieve in a long BB lifetime.Like Richter, a must for Spink Award. | |||||||||
| (Foster, continued) When John was 18, for his 1st job, he was appointed the Postmaster of his village of Norwalk, OH. After the next election, he was left without a job, and went to work for the Cleveland Press. | |||||||||
| John Hadley Doyle | (63)-1946 | Sept.12 | 83 | Wash.D.C. | Wash. sp. wr.; Wash. Evening Star, Wash. Post, Wash. Sunday Herald (1894-?) Boston Herald. | ||||
| Otto Clement Floto | Jan.12 | 1863-1929 | Aug.4 | 66 | Cincinnati, OH | Denver, CO | Denver, CO sp.ed.; Raised in Chicago,IL, Managed boxers & promoted prize fights, Chicago White Stockings GM (1886), Arrived Denver,CO in 1883, at age of 20 & stayed all his life. Became sports columnist for Denver Post within weeks of | ||
| (Floto, continued) arriving in Denver. As boxing manager, he guided Bob Fitzsimmons and Jack Dempsey. As sports editor, he guided Gene Fowler and Damon Runyon. Was regarded as a Dean of Sports Writers. Colorful, knew famous sp. figures, Ruth, McGraw. | |||||||||
| (Floto) since last Sept., when stricken with epilepsy. Organized. Otto Floto dog and pony show, out of which grew Selis-Gloto circus.Huge fight fan, saw most heavy-weight cham. fights. Schooled at Jesuit inst. in Dayton, OH. Kansas City, MO sp.ed. 2 yrs. | |||||||||
| Byron Bancroft Johnson | Jan. 5 | 1864-1931 | Mar.28 | 67 | 1886 | 1927 | Norwalk,OH | St. Louis,MO | Chi. Riverside Cemetery,Spencer,Owen County,Indiana |
| Hugh Edmund (Hek) Keough | Jan.24 | 1864-1912 | Jun.9 | 48 | 1888 | Hamilton,Ont.,Canada | Chicago,IL | Chicago sp.wr.; Hamilton Spectator (Ontario) reporter, 1881, Sporting Journal (1888-1890), Chicago Times reporter, sp.ed. (1891-94), San Francisco Chronicle sp.ed. (1895), New Orleans Item (1896), Lake County Times man.ed. (1900-05), d. after 6 wk. illness | |
| (Keough, continued) Chicago Tribune sp. wr. & columnist (1905-12). While at The Chicago Tribune, he started and made famous The Wake of the News from 1905-12. It's thought to be the oldest, continuous sports column in the US. Worked newspapers 31 yrs. | |||||||||
| Caspar Whitney | Sept.2 | 1864-1929 | Jan.18 | 64 | 1888 | Mr.'27 | Boston,MA | Irving-on-Hudson,NY? | NY spwr.; Covered amateur athletes, was credited with creating All-America FB team, appearing for the 1swt time in 1889; authored books on sports, contributed to many outdoor publications, as free lance writer. |
| Dr. Alfred R. Cratty | 1862-1954 | Apr.30 | 90 | 1885 | Mar.20 | Saxonburg, PA | Overbrook, PA | Pittsburgh spwr.; Raised Pittsburgh in his early youth. Pittsburgh Chronicle Telegraph sp. ed.,(1885-06) Also covered boxing under pen name Jim Jab. Began medical studies '06, U. of Pittsburgh, '10 medical degree. Practiced medicine into his 80's. Had worked in newspapers for 50 yrs | |
| George Ade | Feb.9 | 1866-1944 | My.16 | 78 | 1890 | 1900 | Kentland, IN | IN | Chicago spwr.; Chicago Record (1890-1900) covered many sports. Grad. Purdue U. 1887, did newspaper work from 1887, moved Chicago June, 1890, moved quickly from cub to star reporter. In '93, collaborated with illustrator partner John McCutcheon at Chicago Morning News on editorial page columns |
| (Ade, continued) describing Columbian Exposition, then he began his regular column "Stories of the Streets and of the Town". Paper became the Record. Began "fables in slang" in 1897. The Record published 8 collections of his columns. Left journalism in 1900, did plays, musicals, screenplays. Was acknowledged as great master humorist. | |||||||||
| Robert W. Curtis | Aug.15 | 1866-1939 | Feb.21 | 72 | 1889 | 1939 | Oswego,NY | Little Neck,Queens,NY | NY sports writer; arrived NYC(1889), NY Sun(1889-95), NY Recorder(1895-1901), NY Herald ass. sp.ed.('01-20), NY Times day assistant to sp.ed.(March 5,'22-39). |
| Irving E. (Sy) Sanborn | Nov. 28 | 1866-1934 | Jul.18 | 67 | 1900 | 1930 | Albany,VT | Canandaigua, NY | Chi. |
| Joseph Spencer Vila | Dec.16 | 1866-1934 | Apr.27 | 67 | Boston,MA | Brooklyn,NY | NYC SP WR 1893-1934 | ||
| Frank S. Cooke | (67)-1945 | Apr.25 | 78 | 1885 | Toledo,OH | Detroit,MI | Det.,Toledo, Cinc. sportswriter; Toledo, OH, Cincinnati, Detroit Free Press, city ed. & sp. ed., Detroit Journal, sp. ed, Detroit News, sp. ed., | ||
| Finley Peter Dunne | Jul.10 | 1867-1936 | Apr.24 | 69 | 1890's | Chicago,IL | NYC | Chicago writer; Political cartoonist created Mr. Dooley, saloon owner, wry observations on issues entertained readers for 30 yrs. His cartoons are collected in book forms. Chicago Daily News editorials & sports(1884-88), Chicago Times('1888-89) | |
| Dunne, continued), as political reporter,ed.wr. ,city ed.,Chicago Tribune reporter,ed.Sunday ed., Chicago Herald reporter(1890), Chicago Evening Post ed. page(1892), Chicago Journal managing ed.(1897-00), NYC Harper's Weekly/collier's Weekly('00-02), | |||||||||
| Dunne,continued),NY Morning Telegraph('02-04),American Magazine wrote dialect essays & monthly ed. In the Interpreter's House('06-13),Collier's Weekly political commentary('13-15,editor-in-chief '17-19).Payne Whitney died('24) & gave $500K to | |||||||||
| Dunne), When Payne Whitney died in 1924, he bequeathed $500,000. to Dunne, far more than enough to enable Dunne to live the rest of his life in high lavish fashion without need of further work. d. throat cancer hemorrhaging after long battle. | |||||||||
| Joseph Akin (Judge) Murphy | 1866-1951 | Mar.28 | 84 | 1936 | Missouri | Coral Gables,FL | St. Louis, Chicago sp. ed.; St. Louis Globe-Democrat sp. ed., Chicago Tribune sp. ed.(?-36). Called Judge due to his officiating at many race tracks in the US & Canada. | ||
| Edward Farguhar Balinger | Nov.21 | 1868-1966 | Mar.14 | 97 | 1900 | 1946 | Damascus,OH | Wilkinsburg,PA | Pittsburgh sp. wr.; Pittsburgh Post('03-27), Pittsburgh Post-Gazette('27-46). Never wrote an unkind word about a player, extremely popular sp.wr. around league. |
| William Henry Locke | Aug.27 | 1869-1913 | Aug.14 | 43 | 1893 | 1913 | Pittsburgh,PA | Ventnor, NJ | Pittsburgh Press sp. ed.(1893-1903),Pirates secretary('03-12,fall),Phil. Phillies owner & President('13).On Jan.15,'13,he headed a group that included his cousin,William F. Baker & Governor Tener of Penn. that bought the Phillies.Locke named Pres.,d. '13. |
| (Locke, continued) He became ill in Feb. '13, and had to give up duties in May, | |||||||||
| Edward W. Smith | (69)-1936 | Feb.23 | 67 | Hollywood,CA | Chicago sp. ed.; Chicago Times sp. ed. in the early 1890's, Chicago Chronicle sp. ed., Chicago American sp. ed. (1907-1927), Los Angeles sp. ed.; Moved to California around 1927 for his health. Had been a well-known boxing/wrestling referee. | ||||
| (Smith, continued) Refereed many memorable fights. As a writer, he specialized in boxing/wrestling with occasional incursions into racing. d. In Hollywood Hospital, CA, from a paralytic stroke. Refereed Jack Johnson/Jim Flynn, Arthur Pelkey/LutherMCCarthy, both Totch/Hackenschmidt wr. matches, Benny Leonard/Charley White. | |||||||||
| John Joseph (Jack) Doyle | Oct.25 | 1869-1958 | Dec.31 | 89 | 1889 | 1958 | Killorglin,Ireland | Holyoke,MA | |
| George Herbert Daley | Dec.26 | 1869-1938 | Feb.8 | 68 | 1897 | 1938 | NYC | NYC | NY sp.ed; NY Evening Post(1897-03), NY Tribune('04-16), NY World sp.ed.('16-31), NY World Telegram for 6 months, NY Herald Tribune('31-38). Introduced all-star FB games to NY, started the Herald-Tribune FB school. d. complications pneumonia, pleurisy |
| Gustave W. Axelson | Feb.7 | 1869-1927 | Feb.2 | 57 | Sweden | Chicago,IL | Chicago sports writer; Born Sweden, came to US @ 1883, worked way through Univ. of Chicago as newspaper correspondent, graduated in 1896. 20 yrs. sp. ed. Chicago Record-Herald, During war, did govern. work, Washington Herald('18-23). d. Pleurisy | ||
| ( Axelson, cont.),wrote bio. of White Sox owner Charles Comiskey(Commy,1919),Chicago Daily Journal (1923-26). He was also a member of the Masons,University Club,White Paper Club,National Press Club,original member Baseball Writers Association('08). | |||||||||
| John Brinsley (Sherry) Sheridan | Jan.22 | 1870-1930 | Apr.14 | 60 | 1888 | 1930 | County Meath,Ireland | St. Louis,MO | St. Louis spwr. (1888-1929); Arrived US 1888; Sporting News column, "Back of Home Plate", (Dec. 5, 1918 - Apr. 18, 1929); Started on St. Louis Globe-Democrat (1888-96), Post-Dispatch(1896-?), The Republic, Globe-Democrat. Missouri Committee on Public Utility Information manager,1921-. |
| (Sheridan) While on Committee, he blew the whistle on some corrupt practices, and then tendered his resignation. Shortly thereafter he suffered nervous disorders, and received profess. care in sanitarium. Buried: Catholic Calvary Cemetery., St. Louis, MO | |||||||||
| (Sheridan, cont.) Sherry's column for Sporting News "Back of Home Plate", 1917-29, gained for him national respect as a baseball writer. He also wrote with authority on boxing, golf, and most sports. Personally, I suspect that his physical problems, | |||||||||
| (Sheridan) which started soon after he exposed government corruption,was a result of sabotage. I also suspect his so-called "suicide" may have been unsuspected homicide. He was found hanging in his room at Alexian Brothers Hospital, by a bathrobe cord. | |||||||||
| Julius Edgar (J. Ed) Grillo | 1870-1920 | My.27 | 49 | 1890's | 1917 | Germany | Wash.D.C. | Cinc.. Washington sp. wr.; Cincinnati Commercial Gazette sp.ed. (1890's), Pres. Amer. Ass. (Western League, Jan. 1, 1904 - Mar., 1905), Pres. Toledo BB club ('05-06), Washington Post, Washington Star (1911-17). d. 4 yrs. battle against softening of the brain. | |
| James R. (Jim) Price | 1870-1929 | Jan.29 | 60 | Boston,MA | Baltimore, New York, Boston sports writer; Baltimore sp. wr.(1890's), New York Press sp. ed.(@1911-1916), Pres. of Newark BB club(International League), Newark BB team (Federal League) grounds manager (1916-24), AL eastern representative (NYC). | ||||
| (Price,continued) Secretary of Boston Red Sox(Jan., 1924 - 1929,Jan.29,death). Close friend of Ban Johnson. d. suicide, cut his throat with a razor at Fenway Park, when no one was there due to illness, note in pocket to wife. | |||||||||
| William W. Douglas | (70)-1912 | My.11 | 42 | Kentucky | Louisville, KY | Louisville, KY sp.ed.; Louisville Courier-Journal sp.ed. for 22 yrs. Known as a turf writer. | |||
| W. H. (Harry) James | (70)-1936 | Jul.14 | 66 | St. Louis Globe-Democrat sports columnist; d. heat stroke | |||||
| John Walter Leonard | Mar.31 | 1870-1944 | Jan.25 | 73 | PA | Los Angeles,CA | Los Angeles sp.wr. & sp. ed.: Los Angeles sp. ed.; Had retired several years earlier. | ||
| Herman Nickerson | My.15 | 1870-1954 | Jun.10 | 84 | 1907 | 1915 | Boston,MA | Lincolnville,MO | Boston sports writer,editor; Boston News cub reporter (?-1894), Boston Journal reporter (1894-00), Boston Herald copy desk head (1902-07), Boston Journal sp.ed. (1907-12), Boston Braves secretary (1912-15), Boston Globe news ed. (1925-45). |
| Peter Francis Kelley | Jun.26 | 1870-1944 | Jan.20 | 73 | 1890 | 1944 | Boston,MA | Milton,MA | Boston sports writer; Boston Journal(1890-?), Boston Record, Boston Braves Secretary('09-11), Boston Post, Pittsburgh Pirates secretary('16-17), Boston American, Boston Globe |
| Abraham (Abe) Yager ? | Jul.13 | 1870-1930 | Aug.22 | 60 | Lt. 80's | 1930 | Brooklyn, NY | NYC | Brooklyn spwr. & sp. ed. ; Brooklyn Eagle (1885-1930),sp.ed. (1896-30). Official scorer of Brooklyn home games for 30 yrs. d. Jewish Hosp. of cancer. Had been ill several months and hoarse in throat. |
| William Kennedy (Judge) McKay | Nov.16 | 1870-1944 | Sept.23 | 73 | 1894 | 1944 | New Orleans,LA | Oak Park,IL | Chi. sp wr.;Dubuque,IA reporter(1884-?),Chicago Mail(1894-1895),Chicago Times-Herald(1895-?),Chicago Journal((1899-'04),Detroit Tribune,Cleveland News('05-12),Louisville Herald, Chicago Evening Post,Chicago Tribune(March 3,1918-44,death).Man.ed.(1899-18). |
| Guy McI. Smith | Dec.2 | 1870-1950 | Jun.12 | 77 | Indianapolis,IN | Danville,IL | Dannelle,IL | ||
| Joseph M. McCready | Feb. | 1870-1924 | Aug.2 | 53 | 1924 | Philadelphia,PA | Philadelphia,PA | Phil. spwr; Press Bureau of Philadelphia from at least 1911-14. His own News Bureau 1917-24. Served as secretary of Baseball Writers Ass. from Dec. 7, 1917 to his death. Helped found the Phil. Sp. Writers Ass. Closely associated with Athletics. d. Pneumonia at his home in Philly. | |
| (McCready, continued) Had an office in the Keith Building. Did specialty PR work. Did inspection work for several insurance companies. Did PR for number of organizations. Prepared PR work for Atlantic City pageant last yr. And also Pr for Salvation Army drive several yrs. ago. Charter member Penn Athletic Club. One of owners of "Sportlife", published in Philly. | |||||||||
| Frederick Courtenay Barber ? | (71)-1937 | Jan.1 | 66 | Augusta,Ga | NYC | NY sp. wr; Family moved NYC(1882); New York Sun reporter,Subsequently worked as reporter, feature writer, columnist, city ed.(NY Morning Telegraph, New York World, NY Press, New York Times copy reader('08-13). Novelist, short stories, serials, song-writer | |||
| Bart B. Howard | My.13 | 1871-1941 | Feb.12 | 69 | 1910 | 1941 | North Brookfield,MA | St. Louis,MO | St. Louis sp.wr.; Schenectady,NY(1890's), Joplin,MO 2 papers ed. (News-Herald & Globe), Columbus(OH) Sun man. ed.('08-09), St. Louis Post-Dispatch(1910), St. Louis Republic( '10-16), Daily Oklahoma('16-19,My.), St. Louis Post-Dispatch(My.6,1919-41,death) |
| David Leroy Reeves | My.27 | 1871-1949 | Aug.12 | 77 | 1902 | 1921 | Cape May,NJ | Cape May,NJ | Phil. Times(?-02), Phil. Phillies secretary & Treasurer (Dec. 1, 1904 - Jan. 25, 1909), NL secretary to President John H. Tener (Dec. 12, 1913 -16), Phil. Public Ledger sp.ed. ('11-16, at least0), Lafayette College graduate manager of athletics ('21-46, retired). |
| Joseph Samuel Jackson | Jul.25 | 1871-1936 | My.19 | 64 | 1901 | 1921 | Providence,RI | San Francisco,CA | Detroit sp. wr; Detroit Free Press sports editor(1901-10),Washington Post sports editor('10-13),Detroit News-Tribune sp. ed.(1913-21) moved California('21),worked for various newspapers there. 1st President of Baseball Writers Ass. of America(1908-1919). |
| Fred W. Mosebach | Aug. 20 | 1871-1951 | Feb.8 | 79 | San Antonio,TX | San Antonio,TX | San Antonio,TX spwr.; St. Mary College, Rpt, San Antonio Express, 1892: rpt and news ed, San Antonio Light, 1894-06: Gazette, 1906-08; ed, Laredo Record, 1915; San Antonio correspondents bureau, Austin (Tex) Amer, 1916; ed, Eagle Pass Guide, 1918-21. W S: | ||
| (Mosebach, continued) recruiting service: Finance Dept. Q M D, USA. MEM: Tex Edl Assn. San Antonio Express sp. ed. And later a feature writer. San Antonio, Tex. Sp. Ed., San Antonio (Tex) Express, Feb, 1924-41). | |||||||||
| Frederick Bushnell (Jack) Ryder | Nov.16 | 1871-1936 | Jun.5 | 65 | JL'09 | Je'36 | Oberlin, OH | Avondale,OH | Cincinnati sports writer; In 1905, Jack replaced Charles Webb Murphy on the Cincinnati Enquirer as sports writer and served there for more than 30 yrs. |
| Henry Pierrepoint Edwards | <|||||||||