J. G. Taylor Spink
Encyclopedia
John George Taylor Spink (October 6, 1888 - December 7, 1962) was the publisher of The Sporting News
from 1914 to 1962.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri
, he inherited the newspaper from his father and ran it from April 22, 1914 until his death. During his tenure, Spink expanded the paper's coverage from just baseball
to include other sports, particularly boxing and football.
Following his death, the Baseball Writers Association of America
inaugurated the J. G. Taylor Spink Award in his honor, awarded annually at the induction ceremonies of the Baseball Hall of Fame; Spink was the first recipient. The annual award is given for meritorious service in baseball coverage in print.
Around the same time, Minor League Baseball
likewise instituted a J.G. Taylor Spink Award, for the Topps
/Minor League Player of the Year.
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
from 1914 to 1962.
Born 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 inherited the newspaper from his father and ran it from April 22, 1914 until his death. During his tenure, Spink expanded the paper's coverage from just baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
to include other sports, particularly boxing and football.
Following his death, the Baseball Writers Association of America
Baseball Writers Association of America
The Baseball Writers' Association of America is a professional association for baseball journalists writing for daily newspapers, magazines and qualifying Web sites. The BBWAA was founded on October 14, 1908, to improve working conditions for sportswriters in the early part of the 20th century...
inaugurated the J. G. Taylor Spink Award in his honor, awarded annually at the induction ceremonies of the Baseball Hall of Fame; Spink was the first recipient. The annual award is given for meritorious service in baseball coverage in print.
Around the same time, Minor League Baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
likewise instituted a J.G. Taylor Spink Award, for the Topps
Topps
The Topps Company, Inc., manufactures chewing gum, candy and collectibles. Based in New York, New York, Topps is best known as a leading producer of baseball cards, football cards, basketball cards, hockey cards and other sports and non-sports themed trading cards.-Company history:Topps itself was...
/Minor League Player of the Year.