JG Taylor Spink

Birthdate	11/6/1888
Death Date	12/7/1962
Debut Year	1906
Year of Induction
Teams	The Sporting News
Position	Publisher

JG Taylor Spink was the publisher of The Sporting News from 1914 until his death in 1962; since then until 2021, the Hall’s award for writers bore his name.

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JG Taylor Spink sent complimentary copies of TSN to troops overseas in both World Wars

Under the guidance of publisher JG Taylor Spink, The Sporting News became known as the Bible of Baseball. In charge of TSN from 1914 until his death in 1962, Spink was so well respected that he earned the nickname, “Mr. Baseball”. In 1962 the Baseball Hall of Fame created The JG Taylor S

JG Taylor Spink supported America's military throughout his career

After Lieutenant Roach received the complimentary publications that Spink sent, Roach apparently sent the journalism giant a thank-you note. In this letter dated May 16, 1945, a month after the first, Spink assures Roach that he’ll be taken care of. Spink writes, “If you should wish any

19th-century star Bill Dahlen tells TSN who he thinks are the greatest players ever

The Sporting News often enlisted the help of active players and other baseball men in gathering information and opinions on baseball. In this letter, 19-century shortstop and perennial Veterans Committee candidate Bad Bill Dahlen identifies his two choices for greatest players ever. In doing so, Dah

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The William J. Slocum Award is one of MLB’s most prestigious honors

October 3rd, 2020 Leave a comment

The oldest professional sport in the United States, baseball remains America’s National Pastime to this day. The game’s current leagues were flourishing soon after the end of the 1800s. Every city with a team had multiple newspapers reporting their games. Sportswriters worked from stadium press boxes describing their team’s contests in great detail. The widespread news coverage helped grow the game.
In 1908 writers banded together to form the Baseball Writers Association of America. The BBWAA’s founding mission was to “ensure professional working conditions for beat writers at all MLB ballparks and to promote uniformity of scoring methods.
Early in the 1900s New York City boasted three big league teams, the Giants and Dodgers of the National League, and the Highlanders – who later became the Yankees – in the American League. The Big Apple soon became the hub of the baseball world.
One of the writers who covered the New York teams was William J. Slocum. Respected for his baseball knowledge and writing ability, Slocum quickly rose to the top of his profession. Well-liked, he helped organize the New York chapter of the BBWAA.
The Bill Slocom Award is one of the most prestigious awards baseball has to offer. The little-known honor has been given to more than 50 members of the Hall of Fame.