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| ==Early life== | ==Early life== | ||
| Richard Lowell Hummel was born on February, 25, 1946.<ref name="Birth date source for Rick Hummel">{{cite web |title=Rick Hummel: Media |url=https://www.stlshof.com/rick-hummel/ |website=St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame |access-date=December 6, 2021}}</ref> in ].<ref name=KWMU>{{cite web|url=http://www.stlouissportshalloffame.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=154:rick-hummel&catid=29&Itemid=691 |title=Rick Hummel: Media |website=St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame |access-date=February 28, 2015}}</ref> He graduated from ] in 1964.<ref name=Quincy/> At first Hummel remained in his hometown for higher education, attending ] before transferring to the ] to attend their ]. Hummel expressed an interest in sports journalism and broadcasting at an early age, having auditioned for a job at Quincy station ] when he was twelve years old.<ref name=Quincy/> Hummel did not get the announcing job, but later in high school he worked as a spotter for former ] player and coach ] and his twin brother Melvin as they broadcast Quincy High School games.<ref name=Quincy/> |
Richard Lowell Hummel was born on February, 25, 1946.<ref name="Birth date source for Rick Hummel">{{cite web |title=Rick Hummel: Media |url=https://www.stlshof.com/rick-hummel/ |website=St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame |access-date=December 6, 2021}}</ref> in ].<ref name=KWMU>{{cite web|url=http://www.stlouissportshalloffame.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=154:rick-hummel&catid=29&Itemid=691 |title=Rick Hummel: Media |website=St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame |access-date=February 28, 2015}}</ref> He graduated from ] in 1964.<ref name=Quincy/> At first Hummel remained in his hometown for higher education, attending ] before transferring to the ] to attend their ]. Hummel expressed an interest in sports journalism and broadcasting at an early age, having auditioned for a job at Quincy station ] when he was twelve years old.<ref name=Quincy/> Hummel did not get the announcing job, but later in high school he worked as a spotter for former ] player and coach ] and his twin brother Melvin as they broadcast Quincy High School games.<ref name=Quincy/> Melvin Tappe encouraged Hummel to pursue a career as a sports writer. While attending the University of Missouri, Hummel returned home during two summers to work for the '']''.<ref name=Quincy/> At Mizzou, he worked on the Sports Information department's statistics crew for football games alongside another future sports notable, John Walsh, now executive vice president and executive editor of ].<ref name=Review>{{cite magazine |last=Pollack|first=Joe|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Hummel+inducted+into+baseball+hall+of+fame.-a0160482253|title=Hummel inducted into baseball Hall of Fame|magazine=St. Louis Journalism Review|date=February 1, 2007|access-date=May 13, 2013 |via=The Free Library}}</ref> | ||
| ==Professional career== | ==Professional career== | ||
Revision as of 21:15, 22 May 2023
American journalist (1946-2023)
| Rick Hummel | |
|---|---|
| Born | Richard Lowell Hummel (1946-02-25)February 25, 1946 Quincy, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | May 20, 2023(2023-05-20) (aged 77) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Occupation | Sportswriter |
| Employer | St. Louis Post-Dispatch |
| Spouse(s) | Connie Karr Melissa |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | J. G. Taylor Spink Award |
Richard Lowell Hummel (February 25, 1946 – May 20, 2023) was an American author and sports columnist best known for his work for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Hummel was honored in 2007 with the J. G. Taylor Spink Award for baseball writing. Known throughout baseball by his nickname "The Commish", he was a former president of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
Early life
Richard Lowell Hummel was born on February, 25, 1946. in Quincy, Illinois. He graduated from Quincy Senior High School in 1964. At first Hummel remained in his hometown for higher education, attending Quincy College before transferring to the University of Missouri to attend their School of Journalism. Hummel expressed an interest in sports journalism and broadcasting at an early age, having auditioned for a job at Quincy station WGEM (AM) when he was twelve years old. Hummel did not get the announcing job, but later in high school he worked as a spotter for former Major League Baseball player and coach Elvin Tappe and his twin brother Melvin as they broadcast Quincy High School games. Melvin Tappe encouraged Hummel to pursue a career as a sports writer. While attending the University of Missouri, Hummel returned home during two summers to work for the Quincy Herald-Whig. At Mizzou, he worked on the Sports Information department's statistics crew for football games alongside another future sports notable, John Walsh, now executive vice president and executive editor of ESPN.
Professional career
Following graduation from the University of Missouri in 1968, Hummel served three years in the U.S. Army. While stationed in Colorado he also worked as a part-time employee for two years on the Colorado Springs Free Press-Sun After his discharge from the Army in 1971, Hummel was hired by fellow Mizzou alum Bob Broeg to work for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Broeg, who himself would earn the Spink award and be inducted into Cooperstown in 1979, at first assigned Hummel to cover secondary and St. Louis regional teams for the newspaper. Hummel worked as a beat writer for the St. Louis Stars of the North American Soccer League, Spirits of St. Louis of the American Basketball Association, and Saint Louis University hockey, among others. Hummel earned his nickname "The Commish" or "The Commissioner" for his exhaustive knowledge of the rules involved in the softball, football, and bowling leagues he and Post-Dispatch teammates participated in.
The first of Hummel's big breaks at the Post-Dispatch came in 1973 when he covered around eight St. Louis Cardinals home games for the newspaper, his first being a 1–0 rain-shortened victory over the Montreal Expos. Another milestone came in 1978 when long-time Cardinals beat writer Neal Russo was unable to make a trip to Cincinnati, Ohio. Hummel was sent in his place and ended up covering a historic game as Hall of Famer Tom Seaver pitched his only career no-hitter in a 4–0 victory for the Reds. Hummel continued to work as the game-day beat reporter until 2002 when he transitioned to the primary role of weekly baseball columnist, while still covering the occasional Cardinals game. In activities away from the Post-Dispatch, in 1994 his peers elected Hummel President of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. He has also served on the Baseball Hall of Fame Overview Committee, reviewing the careers of potential inductees by the Veterans Committee. In addition to his print media career Hummel was often called upon for his baseball expertise and opinions by St. Louis radio and television stations as well as being a frequent on-camera contributor to Fox Sports Midwest's St. Louis Cardinals pre-game and post-game broadcasts. His commentary has also been featured on various ESPN shows and documentaries.
In 2007, Hummel won the J.G. Taylor Spink Award. He was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame the following year. Hummel was a three-time "Missouri Sportswriter of the Year" as selected by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association, and was inducted into the Quincy High School Blue Devils Hall of Fame.
Personal life
Hummel had three children, one son and two daughters. Hummel's ex-wife Connie Karr, the mother of his daughter Lauren, was one of five people murdered during the Kirkwood City Council shooting in February 2008. Hummel married Melissa. He had three children.
Hummel died at his home on May 20, 2023, following a brief illness.
Books
- 2012 – One Last Strike: Fifty Years in Baseball, Ten and a Half Games Back, and One Final Championship Season, written with Tony La Russa ISBN 978-0062207388
- 2007 – The Commish and the Cardinals: The Most Memorable Games, as Covered by Hall of Famer Rick Hummel for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch ISBN 9780966139792
- 1989 – Tom Seaver's Scouting Notebook written with Tom Seaver and Bob Nightengale ISBN 978-0892043019
References
- ^ "Hall of Fame inductee Rick Hummel". Quincy High School Blue Devil Sports Hall of Fame. 2010. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
- ^ "Rick Hummel biography". BookReporter. 2013. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
- "Rick Hummel: Media". St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ "Rick Hummel: Media". St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
- ^ Pollack, Joe (February 1, 2007). "Hummel inducted into baseball Hall of Fame". St. Louis Journalism Review. Retrieved May 13, 2013 – via The Free Library.
- Curry, Jack (January 9, 2007). "Two Elected to Hall of Fame; McGwire Misses". The New York Times.
- "Slain councilwoman planned race for mayor". St. Louis Post Dispatch. February 8, 2008. Retrieved February 8, 2008.
- ^ Goold, Derrick (May 22, 2023). "Hall of Fame baseball writer Rick 'The Commish' Hummel dies at 77". STLtoday.com. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
- "Rick Hummel, esteemed St Louis-based baseball writer, dead at 77". AP NEWS. May 22, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
| Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2007 | |
|---|---|
| BBWAA Vote |
|
| Veterans Committee |
|
| J. G. Taylor Spink Award | |
| Ford C. Frick Award | |
| St. Louis Cardinals in the National Baseball Hall of Fame | |
|---|---|
| Inducted as a Cardinal | |
| Inductees who played for the Cardinals |
|
| Cardinals managers | |
| Others | |
| Ford C. Frick Award | |
- 1946 births
- 2023 deaths
- People from Quincy, Illinois
- Writers from Missouri
- Writers from Illinois
- Quincy University alumni
- Missouri School of Journalism alumni
- BBWAA Career Excellence Award recipients
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch people
- United States Army soldiers
- Journalists from Illinois
- Sportswriters from Illinois