Congrats to Bill Conlin, Hall of Famer
Conlin wins Spink award
Congrats to Bill Conlin, Hall of Famer
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
It has been, as you well know, a difficult week for the Daily News sports staff. The passing of longtime Hall of Fame basketball writer Phil Jasner on Friday night has hit everyone pretty hard. Phil will be buried on Wednesday, and the emotions are still pretty raw, as you might understand. In some ways, it seems an odd time to celebrate.
But we've all heard good news on Tuesday morning: Bill Conlin has been chosen as the 2011 winner of the J.G. Taylor Spink Award. I wrote the other day in Phil's obituary how he was the definitive basketball voice in Philadelphia. Well, Conlin is the definitive baseball voice in Philadelphia, and has been for decades, and now he has been recognized by the Baseball Writers of America and will be honored at the Baseball Hall of Fame this summer in Cooperstown, NY.
Not to brag on the place I work or anything, or the era in which I have worked, but it is hard to overstate what it means to have been surrounded over the years by people like Jasner (in the Basketball Hall of Fame), Ray Didinger (in the Pro Football Hall of Fame) and Conlin. These are giants in the business, all with different personalities and different approaches but all of whose influence has been unquestioned.
Conlin might be the most unique of that distinctive bunch: more opinionated, more elegant as a writer, more controversial, and an absolute must-read. That is true today, and it was true a decade ago, and it was true four decades ago. When Conlin hits it a long way, you really do need a tape measure.
And now, for the body of his work, he is being honored in Cooperstown. It is as big an award as a baseball writer can receive. For more information, here is the link at the BBWAA web site: bbwaa.com/
Congratulations & all the best to Bill!!! Finally, a well-deserved honor for the gentleman whose insights & historical perspectives are always appreciated. Next stop, the Meteorological Hall of Fame!!!— gakski- Congratulations, Mr. Conlin!— ejc527
Ha! My favorite Philly sports writer! Congrats Conlin!..."I told ya so."
Congrats Bill!!— gibby58- I've been reading your work for at least 48 years, best that I can recall. Maybe a little longer. Clear, insightful, cerebral, and your preparation....obvious. (although I probably didn't consider those qualities way back when).When your name appeared on the byline heading, I went there first. Appreciate you. Well deserved recognition!— leecee
- Congrats Bill!— gophils1
Mr. Hofmann - One of the phrases Bill Conlin probably never wrote was "most unique." Something is either unique or it is not. It cannot be "more unique" than something else. Likewise, one species cannot be "more extinct" than another. For example, consider how many sportswriters can actually write a cohesive column devoid of common grammatical errors. Those folks are rare, but the species is not yet extinct because Bill Conlin is still around.
I'll agree that Bill is and always has been unique. The sports fans of Philadelphia have been fortunate to have a number of excellent columnists over the years. And yes, Mr Hofmann, each has been unique in his own way.- Congratulations, Bill.— andrewfrombrooklyn
- When I'm King of the World, Bill Conlin will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.— spider9
- When I'm King of the World, Bill Conlin will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.— spider9
- Seriously? Remember Bill on The Sports Reporters? He showcased his Philly negativity for the entire nation to see and it was a resounding failure.
You get to the HOF by writing about how everything in sports sucks? Amazing. I guess if you write anything long enough and they have to pick someone new every year you're bound to get this eventually.— smfree31 - @Al Wilson is more smartest than you. Al, a person can be described as "most unique" in that he display more unique qualities than the other memebers of the group being described. No? Perhaps you'd prefer Hoffman to describe him as "closest to unique"? That'd make for fine copy. For the record, I think Conlin's a great writer and I enjoy his stuff pretty consistently. Some out there criticize him for the "old" stories he uses to bring context to the present. Without all of that context, he'd just be another blogger, making it up as he goes along. Thank god he's not that.— B in DC
- Congratulations Mr. Conlin! Always a must-read indeed.— kazoob
- leecee, I can echo your comments exactly....started following Bill's work 48 years agi myself. I've lived in FL like Bill for the last 30 years and raised a family here, but I always log on looking for his byline first and start reading. This is a great day for Bill and all Philadelphians.....congrats, doesn't begin to say it Bill....thank you.— Mark1npt
- Congratulations, Bill! A well-deserved honor.— The Pack Leader
