Bob Broeg
Encyclopedia
Robert William Patrick Broeg (March 18, 1918 – October 28, 2005) was an American sportswriter.
Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri
, he officially covered the St. Louis Cardinals
for forty years. He graduated from Grover Cleveland High School (Class of '36) and the University of Missouri
before entering the United States Marines
. He served in Washington as a result of an eye injury suffered at birth.
After the war, Broeg joined the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
. He was privy to many important events in baseball history. Broeg was partially responsible for the famous picture of Eddie Gaedel
at the plate in 1951. He told the photographer to stay at the game until Gaedel came to the plate and the picture was taken.
Later, he helped Bob Gibson
win the 1967 World Series
. Gibson was unable to get breakfast at the Cardinals' hotel in Boston, so Broeg delivered a ham and egg sandwich to the star right-hander. Gibson pitched a complete game and carried his team to victory.
Among other things, Broeg is known for coining the nickname "Stan the Man" for Cardinal baseball player Stan Musial
, championing the Hall of Fame causes of Cardinals Red Schoendienst
, Enos Slaughter
and Chick Hafey
and helping to devise, and successfully push for the first pension plan for veteran major-league players.
Broeg was named to the Board of Directors of the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972, a position he held for 28 years. He was also a long time member of the Committee on Baseball Veterans
. His knowledge was reported to be encyclopedic, even into his 80s. He penned his last column in 2004.
The St. Louis chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research
is named for Bob Broeg. He was awarded the J. G. Taylor Spink Award in 1979. He was elected to the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters
Hall of Fame in 1997.
Broeg said he wished his epitaph to read, "Hopefully, he was fair, as in just, not as in mediocre." Appropriately, Bob Broeg died five hours after the final game of the 2005 World Series
. He was 87.
Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, he officially covered the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
for forty years. He graduated from Grover Cleveland High School (Class of '36) and the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
before entering the United States Marines
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
. He served in Washington as a result of an eye injury suffered at birth.
After the war, Broeg joined the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is the major city-wide newspaper in St. Louis, Missouri. Although written to serve Greater St. Louis, the Post-Dispatch is one of the largest newspapers in the Midwestern United States, and is available and read as far west as Kansas City, Missouri, as far south as...
. He was privy to many important events in baseball history. Broeg was partially responsible for the famous picture of Eddie Gaedel
Eddie Gaedel
Edward Carl Gaedel was an American with dwarfism who became famous for participating in a Major League Baseball game....
at the plate in 1951. He told the photographer to stay at the game until Gaedel came to the plate and the picture was taken.
Later, he helped Bob Gibson
Bob Gibson
Robert "Bob" Gibson is a retired American professional baseball player. Nicknamed "Hoot" and "Gibby", he was a right-handed pitcher who played his entire 17-year Major League Baseball career with St. Louis Cardinals...
win the 1967 World Series
1967 World Series
The 1967 World Series matched the St. Louis Cardinals against the Boston Red Sox in a rematch of the 1946 World Series, with the Cardinals winning in seven games for their second championship in four years and their eighth overall...
. Gibson was unable to get breakfast at the Cardinals' hotel in Boston, so Broeg delivered a ham and egg sandwich to the star right-hander. Gibson pitched a complete game and carried his team to victory.
Among other things, Broeg is known for coining the nickname "Stan the Man" for Cardinal baseball player Stan Musial
Stan Musial
Stanley Frank "Stan" Musial is a retired professional baseball player who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals . Nicknamed "Stan the Man", Musial was a record 24-time All-Star selection , and is widely considered to be one of the greatest hitters in baseball...
, championing the Hall of Fame causes of Cardinals Red Schoendienst
Red Schoendienst
Albert Fred "Red" Schoendienst is an American Major League Baseball coach, former player and manager, and 10-time All-star. After a 19-year playing career with the St...
, Enos Slaughter
Enos Slaughter
Enos Bradsher Slaughter , nicknamed "Country", was an American Major League Baseball right fielder. During a 19-year baseball career, he played from 1938–1942 and 1946-1959 for four different teams, but is noted primarily for his time with the St...
and Chick Hafey
Chick Hafey
Charles James "Chick" Hafey was an American player in Major League Baseball. Hafey was part of two World Series championship teams as a St. Louis Cardinal, and was selected by the Veteran's Committee for the Hall of Fame in .Playing for the St...
and helping to devise, and successfully push for the first pension plan for veteran major-league players.
Broeg was named to the Board of Directors of the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972, a position he held for 28 years. He was also a long time member of the Committee on Baseball Veterans
Veterans Committee
The Veterans Committee is the popular name of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Committee to Consider Managers, Umpires, Executives and Long-Retired Players, a committee of the U.S...
. His knowledge was reported to be encyclopedic, even into his 80s. He penned his last column in 2004.
The St. Louis chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research
Society for American Baseball Research
The Society for American Baseball Research was established in Cooperstown, New York, in August 1971 by Bob Davids of Washington, D.C. The Society's mission is to foster the research and dissemination of the history and record of baseball, while generating interest in the game...
is named for Bob Broeg. He was awarded the J. G. Taylor Spink Award in 1979. He was elected to the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters
National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association
The National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association, or NSSA, is an organization of sports media members in the United States. It constitutes the American chapter of the International Sports Press Association ....
Hall of Fame in 1997.
Broeg said he wished his epitaph to read, "Hopefully, he was fair, as in just, not as in mediocre." Appropriately, Bob Broeg died five hours after the final game of the 2005 World Series
2005 World Series
The 2005 World Series, the 101st Major League Baseball championship series, saw the American League champion Chicago White Sox sweep the National League champion Houston Astros four games to none in the best-of-seven-games series, winning their third championship and first since 1917.Home-field...
. He was 87.
Awards and honors
- 1964 Sportswriter of the Year award - Rockne Club
- 1969 University of Missouri Faculty Alumni Award
- 1971 University of Missouri journalism medal
- 1978 Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
- 1979 Cooperstown Baseball Writers Hall of Fame
- 1979 J. G. Taylor Spink Award - National Baseball Hall of Fame
- 1997 Sportswriters & Sportscasters Hall of Fame
- 1998 National Baseball Congress Hall of Fame