"Keepers Of The Game" by Dennis D'Agostino

Has anyone read it?

Former AP desker/Mets PR/Knicks PR has written an oral history of baseball writing from the 1960s through the Internet age. It's the successor to Jerome Holtzman's "No Cheering In the Press Box" from 40 years ago.

One chapter per writer: Stan Isaacs, Ross Newhan, Joe Goddard, Murray Chass, Russell Schneider, Jim Henneman, Peter Gammons, Maury Allen, Hal McCoy, Hal Bock, Tracy Ringolsby, Bob Elliott, Phil Pepe, Dave van Dyck, Jim Ferguson, Nick Peters, Gordon Verrell, Bill Madden, Wayne Minshew, Stan Hochman, Joe Giuliotti, Bob Hertzel, Rick Hummel. He also interviewed Conlin, but dropped that chapter after the child abuse allegations against Conlin.

 

That's a must-buy. Glad there's finally a second version.

Who's doing the book? You left his name out.

 

I think the Northeast needs more representation. Not enough writers from NYC or New England.

 

Subject line?

 

Hah. Ya got me there.

 

Six NY guys, but tell me who doesn't belong? Two from Boston.

I'd argue for Dick Kaegel and Sheldon Ocker over Ferguson and Minshew, but that has nothing to do with NE emphasis.

 

If only women were allowed to write about baseball, that would be so cool.

 

I've known Dennis for many years and I'm sure he did a lot of research on the book. I will read it with great interest since I also know most of the people he's featuriing. And believe me, there could be a couple of follows with other baseball writers featured.

 

It's too bad a couple of generations of sportswriters have been skipped.

 

Agreed. A book with the '50s-'60s group between Holtzman's book and this one would have been great.