David Halberstam was killed Monday morning in San Francisco and I’m more than a little bummed.
For a fuller obit, read the one from his former paper, The New York Times.
Halberstam was my favorite writer and I suppose he still is. The first book of his that I read was “The Summer of ’49” a wonderfully researched and written tale of an epic battle for the American League title.
“The Breaks of the Game” about the 1979 Portland Trail Blazers is another classic.
“October 1964“? Terrific
Yes, the man wrote about much more than sport but that was how I was introduced to him.
I did have the pleasure of being in the same room with the man once. It was the fall of 1994 and my wife and I were in a theater in downtown Chicago waiting for the film “Quiz Show” to begin. Before the lights were dimmed I noticed Halberstam sitting across the theater from me.
I knew then that I needed to say something to him and would regret that I didn’t take advantage of the opportunity. But I felt like I’d be bothering him and chose not to do anything.
Today I regret that decision even more.
11:15 a.m. PT Update:
Others weigh in: Peter Gammons on “The greatest journalist of my lifetime.”
Will Carroll in BaseballProsectus.com.
Mike McClary 