May 29, 2017 frank deford, who mined the sports world for human stories and told them with literary grace over six decades in sports illustrated, a shelf of books and many years of radio and television. In addition, he was a correspondent for hbos real sports with bryant gumbel and a regular wednesday commentator for national public radios morning edition. May 30, 2017 sports illustrated writer and npr commentator, frank deford died on may 28 at the age of 78. Frank deford is among the most versatile of american writers. Frank deford knows more baseball and writes with more graceful good humor than any man i know. Frank deford on why the 1905 season is considered a turning point for modern baseball.
May 29, 2017 frank deford pictured, the awardwinning sports writer and commentator whose elegant reportage was a staple for years at sports illustrated, has died aged 78 at his home in key west, florida. He died sunday in key west, florida, his family said monday. In frank defords new novel, the entitled, a major league superstar is accused. However, after reading frank defords work the entitled. Writer and commentator frank deford is the author of sixteen books. The 1905 world series was really the first official championship. At the turn of the twentieth century, christy mathewson was one of baseballs first superstars. He is the author of 15 books, and his latest,the enitled, a novel about celebrity, sex and baseball, was. Frank deford books list of books by author frank deford thriftbooks.
Frank deford audio books, best sellers, author bio. On television he is a regular correspondent on the hbo show real sports with bryant gumbel. A rollicking sampler of one of nprs most popular segments, id know that voice anywhere is perfect for sports enthusiastsas well as sports skepticsand a mustread for any frank deford fan. He has also appeared often on television and has been a commentator on npr since 1980. Apr 03, 2017 since baseball is so romantic, many have tried their hand at writing a novel on the subject. May 31, 2016 new sports books include a biography of dick allen, frank defords work on npr, and a look inside st. Frank deford has 43 books on goodreads with 10920 ratings. The old ball game is a masterful chronicle of the early days of baseball from americas most beloved sportswriter. Frank deford books list of books by author frank deford. By frank deford apr 9, 2014 sometimes the most disparate of people end up as pairs.
Deford was a friend and admirer of the tennis player arthur ashe, and he describes how most people wrongly viewed him. Its hard to distill 37 years of frank defords sports commentaries down to a. How john mcgraw, christy mathewson, and the new york giants created modern baseball by frank deford. The author of more than fifteen books, frank deford b. Baseball s proposed changes are not so good, says frank deford. The entitled is a baseball masterpiece, like the natural and field of the entitled is a baseball masterpiece, like the natural and field of dreams. Deford had announced his retirement from npr after 37 years earlier this month.
Frank deford for 37 years, frank deford was a commentator on nprs morning edition. Over time, a memoir by frank deford the new york times. Alcazar proclaims his innocence, and the book has readers. The thoughtful voice of frank deford the baseball bloggess.
In his nonfiction he has chronicled everything from roller derby to the miss america pageant, while his novels have used sport as a background for historical fiction and explorations of what athletic competition can mean. Frank deford of sports illustrated and npr passes today. Perhaps bernard mulamuds classic work the natural, since turned into a movie, is the best known of baseball novels. Jan 01, 2007 the entitled, by frank deford, begins with howie traveler, who had spent a lifetime in baseball as an unimpressive player and then as a longtime coach and manager in the minor leagues. Defords wife confirmed to the washington post that he. He wrote more than a dozen books and in 20 he was the first sportswriter to receive a national humanities medal.
He finally landed a major league manager position with the cleveland indians when he was in his midfifties. The legendary npr sports commentator and sports illustrated journalist retells. Frank deford began with sports illustrated in 1962 writing many stories for the publication. From 1980 until his death in 2017, he was a regular sports commentator on npr s morning edition radio program. How john mcgraw, christy mathewson, and the new york giants created modern baseball by. He would go on to spend another 33 years as a commentator on morning edition. Frank deford is a sixtime national sportswriter of the year, senior writer for sports illustrated, commentator on npr s morning edition, correspondent for hbos realsports with bryant gumbel and the author of 14 books. Deford wrote for sports illustrated magazine from 1962 until his death in 2017, and was a correspondent for the real sports. The heros life, on the old ball game one of our more melodious sportswriters. Frank deford, the longtime sports commentator for npr and sports illustrated writer, died on may 28 at the age of 78 deford, six times national sportswriter of the year in the united states, was. At the turn of the twentieth century, christy mathewson was one of baseball s first superstars. Benjamin franklin deford iii december 16, 1938 may 28, 2017 was an american sportswriter and novelist. He won both an emmy and a peabody award for his broadcasting.
In the old ball game, frank deford, npr sports commentator and sports illustrated journalist retells the story of an unusual friendship between two towering figures in baseball history. As baseball begins, heres your 2014 allstar odd couple. Frank deford wrote for sports illustrated for three decades. A member of the national sportscasters and sportswriters association hall of fame, deford was six times vot. The best of frank deford, according to frank deford. May 03, 2017 baseball s proposed changes are not so good, says frank deford. Frank deford, shown in 1984, wrote for sports illustrated for 50 years, reported for hbos real sports with bryant gumbel and was a radio commentator, primarily on npr.
The old ball game in the old ball game, frank deford, npr sports commentator and sports illustrated journalist retells the story of an unusual friendship between two towering figures in baseball history. Over six feet tall, clean cut, and college educated, he didnt pitch on the sabbath and rarely spoke an ill word. Deford can be heard as a commentator each week on morning edition. May 29, 2017 deford also wrote 18 books, nine of them novels such as everybodys allamerican in a wideranging career. May 29, 2017 this entry was posted in baseball and tagged frank deford, sports writing, writing by jackie, the baseball bloggess. Jacques barzun, the esteemed cultural historian, lived a. Baseballs proposed changes are not so good, says frank deford. Commentator frank deford thinks some of the proposed changes to make professional baseball more exciting wont help. He was a gifted man, who delighted us as a sports commentator and writer for over four decades.
Jacques barzun, the esteemed cultural historian, lived a hundred and four years and wrote multitude of. Frank deford 19382017 was an author, commentator, and senior contributor to sports illustrated. Frank deford has 43 books on goodreads with 110 ratings. From legendary sixtime national sportswriter of the year and npr commentator frank deford comes a richly detailed, pageturning tale that takes you deep into americas game. Deford was a writer, a contributor to hbos real sports and a commentator for nprs morning edition. May 29, 2017 frank deford, who cultivated a distinct style of sports journalism at sports illustrated and national public radio, had died. A baseball novel in frank defords new novel, the entitled, a major league superstar is accused of rape and his manager is faced with a decision that could end both. March 1, 2017 commentator frank deford thinks some of the proposed changes to make professional baseball more exciting wont help. His latest novel, bliss, remembered, is a love story set at the 1936 berlin olympics and in world war ii.
Named a best sports book of 2016 by buffalo news frank deford definitely is worthy of a spot on the mt. This column is also awardwinning writer frank defords weekly sports commentary on npr. Benjamin franklin deford iii was an american sportswriter and novelist. From 1980 until his death in 2017, he was a regular sports commentator on nprs morning edition radio program. See all books authored by frank deford, including the old ball game. He has been elected to the hall of fame of the national association of sportscasters and sportswriters and has been awarded both an emmy and a peabody. Deford wrote for sports illustrated magazine from 1962 until his death in 2017, and was a correspondent for the real sports with bryant gumbel television program on hbo.
Frank deford, who as a journalist for sports illustrated was known as a master of longform storytelling and as a regular commentator for national public radio brought sports to life for many. Find out more about his prosperous career, cause of death, and more in our frank deford wiki. Frank deford is a sixtime national sportswriter of the year, senior writer for sports illustrated, commentator on nprs morning edition, correspondent for hbos realsports with bryant gumbel and the author of 14 books. What we accepted as great art whether the book, the script, the. Inthe old ball game, frank deford, npr sports commentator andsports illustrated journalist retells the story of an unusual friendship between two towering figures in baseball history. His work has appeared in virtually every medium, including print, where he has written eloquently for sports illustrated since 1962. He is the author of 20 books, both fiction and nonfiction. Defords new book underscores his brilliance as a writer. May 30, 2017 frank deford, the awardwinning sports writer and commentator whose elegant reportage was a staple for years at sports illustrated and national public radio, has died. From 1980 until his death in 2017, he was a regular sports commentator on npr s morning edition radio program deford wrote for sports illustrated magazine from 1962 until his death in 2017, and was a correspondent for the real sports with bryant gumbel television program on hbo. A baseball novel in frank defords new novel, the entitled, a major league superstar is accused of rape and his manager is faced with a.
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