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Jerome Holtzman Obituary
Obituary
CHICAGO (AP) — Jerome Holtzman, a longtime baseball writer who made the Hall of Fame, created the saves rule and later became Major League Baseball's official historian, has died. He was 81.
Holtzman died Saturday in Evanston, according to a release from the Chicago White Sox.
Holtzman won the J.G. Spink Award, an award given annually to the one baseball writer who exhibited "meritorious contributions" to baseball writing, and a spot in the Hall of Fame in 1989.
Known as "The Dean," Holtzman worked at the Chicago Sun-Times and the Daily Times, its predecessor, before joining the Chicago Tribune in 1981. He retired in 1999, when he was named MLB's official historian.
Holtzman began his career as a 17-year-old copy boy in 1942, and served two years in the Marine Corps during World War II before returning to journalism. He was assigned the baseball beat in 1957.
Feeling that earned run averages and won-lost records were not the most accurate reflection of relievers' effectiveness, Holtzman created the formula for "saves" in 1959. A decade later, in 1969, it was adopted by the game's Official Rules Committee.
Holtzman also wrote six books, including "No Cheering in the Press Box," in which he interviewed other well-known writers.
Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press
10 Entries
Steve Daley
August 12, 2008
Jerome was a generous and supportive colleague. We got to the Tribune sports department the same year, but of course he was Jerome Holtzman. I had to buy the books, but I got to spend a lot of memorable afternoons talking baseball with him in the old Wrigley Field press box. Like Ben Bentley and a few others, he was an American orginal, Chicago style.
PETER RANOIA
July 27, 2008
SEMPER FI MARINE. THATS WHY YOU WERE GREAT. YOU HAD MARINE IN YOU.
Joel Bierig
July 23, 2008
Jerome became like a second father to me.
I grew up reading his baseball coverage in the Chicago Sun-Times and aspired to follow in his footsteps. The dream came true in 1983.
Jerome was with the Tribune by then, but he was great to me. It was an honor to compete against him as a baseball writer in Chicago. I even started smoking his brand of cigars. He gave me a lot of great advice. He told me to talk with everyone, not just the high-profile stars. "Never just breeze past the coaches on the way to the manager's office," he said. "Third-base coaches become managers."
After I retired from the Sun-Times to go into business, The Sporting News hired me to cover a Braves-Pirates playoff series. There was a crowd of reporters in Pittsburgh manager Jim Leyland's office when Jerome and I walked in. "Sorry, but I've got to talk with these guys first," Leyland said of the two visitors from Chicago. "These guys talked with me when I was just a no-name coach!"
Jerome's words have served me well in business. Young assisant buyers become department heads and merchandise managers. I talk with them all.
Jerome always talked about his family and how important it was to have a supportive and understanding wife. After listening to Jerome and then meeting Marilyn, I understood the definition. In 1984, I found the same kind of loving mate in Barbara, and we will celebrate our 24th anniversary this December. (We had to make sure the wedding didn't conflict with the baseball season.) Jerome was there when we took our vows.
He was disappointed when I left the newspaper. Ironically, just as he had influenced me to become a baseball writer, he also played a role in my decision to leave. On the long airline flights, Jerome used to tell me that all the weekends and holidays he had worked over his long baseball career totaled several years away from his family. I guess he figured I wasn't listening. But in 1990, when Becky was 4 and Brian 1, I decided it was time to make a change. I could always continue to write as a free-lancer.
Marilyn, my condolences to you and your family. Jerome was a great mentor, a great friend and a great man who positively influenced my life in more ways than he realized.
Love,
Joel
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Kathy Mallo
July 23, 2008
Jerry was a high school buddy of my dad's. I only had the pleasure of meeting him once in Oct. 2006, at my dad's wake. Jerry was not in the best of health at that time, however, he came anyway to pay respects to my dad and our family. I was truely touched that he made the effort to come see my dad for the last time.
Thomas Widgeon
July 23, 2008
Jesus Loves Me!!
Anonymous
July 22, 2008
In My Pocket
I have memories in my pocket.
They rattle among the change.
My memories of you are treasures I carry wherever I go.
They are stored in bits and pieces, parts of a beautiful whole
They give me comfort when I think I am alone.
Yes, I have memories in my pocket, like so much other stuff I keep there.
But of all the treasures I have, it’s the memories of you that are the most precious.
J Mikell
July 22, 2008
May the God of comfort, comfort the family during this time of deep sadness. May you all find peace today and forever. Psalms 83:18
D.L. ZIMMERMAN
July 22, 2008
REST IN PEACE, JEROME HOLTZMAN
Leo Krupp
July 22, 2008
Fond memories from a good friend of almost 70 years. Fellow High School and Home Room pal of Crane Tech-Class of June 1943
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