Joe Falls
Encyclopedia
Joseph Francis Falls was an American
journalist
. He began his career in his native New York City
. At the age of 17 in 1945, he took a job as a copyboy for the Associated Press
. After an apprenticeship of eight years, Falls moved to the Detroit
bureau of the AP.
In Detroit, Falls flourished. He was hired by the Detroit Times in 1956 to cover the Detroit Tigers
. He continued on the Tigers' beat with the Detroit Free Press
from 1960 to 1978. His final move was to the Detroit News where he was a columnist and eventually Sports Editor.
During his career, Falls also had a weekly column in The Sporting News
. It is said many young writers were so taken by his writing they wanted to become sportswriters. He also kept a statistic on Rocky Colavito during his years as a member of the Detroit Tigers. When Colavito stranded a runner, Falls would give him an RNBI (Run Not Batted In). This infuriated Colavito and created a tense relationship between the two for several years.
Falls won several awards during his career. In 2001, he won the J. G. Taylor Spink Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame. After his retirement in 2003, he was named to the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.
Falls died of complications from diabetes and heart failure at age 76 in Detroit.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
. He began his career in his native New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. At the age of 17 in 1945, he took a job as a copyboy for the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
. After an apprenticeship of eight years, Falls moved to the Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
bureau of the AP.
In Detroit, Falls flourished. He was hired by the Detroit Times in 1956 to cover the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. He continued on the Tigers' beat with the Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
from 1960 to 1978. His final move was to the Detroit News where he was a columnist and eventually Sports Editor.
During his career, Falls also had a weekly column in The Sporting News
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"...
. It is said many young writers were so taken by his writing they wanted to become sportswriters. He also kept a statistic on Rocky Colavito during his years as a member of the Detroit Tigers. When Colavito stranded a runner, Falls would give him an RNBI (Run Not Batted In). This infuriated Colavito and created a tense relationship between the two for several years.
Falls won several awards during his career. In 2001, he won the J. G. Taylor Spink Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame. After his retirement in 2003, he was named to the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.
Falls died of complications from diabetes and heart failure at age 76 in Detroit.
Books
- "Man in Motion," Joe Falls (School-Tech Press, 1973)
- "Detroit Tigers," Joe Falls (Macmillan, 1975)
- "The Boston Marathon," Joe Falls (Collier Books, 1979)
- "So you think you're a die-hard Tiger fan," Joe Falls (Contemporary Books, 1986)
- "Daly Life: Every Step a Struggle: Memoirs of a World-Champion Coach," by Chuck DalyChuck DalyCharles Jerome "Chuck" Daly was an American basketball head coach. He led the Detroit Pistons to consecutive National Basketball Association Championships in 1989 and 1990, and the Dream Team to the men's basketball gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics. He had a 14-year NBA coaching...
with Joe Falls (Masters Press, 1990) - "The Detroit Tigers: An Illustrated History," Joe Falls (Random House Value Publishing, 1991)
- "Steve Yzerman: Heart of a Champion," Joe Falls, Francis J. Fitzgerald (AdCraft Sports Marketing, 1996)
- "A Legacy of Champions: The Story of the Men Who Built University of Michigan Football," Joe Falls, Bob Wojnowski, John U. Bacon, Angelique S. Chengelis, Francis J. Fitzgerald, Chris McCosky (CTC Productions & Sports, 1996)
- "Joe Falls: 50 years of sports writing: (and I still can't tell the difference between a slider and a curve)," Joe Falls (Sports Publishing LLC, 1997)
- "Greatest moments in Detroit Red Wings history," Joe Falls, Jerry Green, Vartan Kupelian (Masters Press, 1997)
- "So you love Tiger Stadium too (give it a hug)," Joe Falls, Irwin Cohen (Connection Graphics, 1999)
Selected articles
- "Scribe Draws Up Gold Dust Team of Top Salaried Men," February 1950
- "For Prince Hal: A Painful Arm, Wonderful Memories" (Hal NewhouserHal NewhouserHarold "Prince Hal" Newhouser was an American pitcher for Major League Baseball who played 17 seasons from 1939 to 1955, mostly with the Detroit Tigers of the American League...
), Associated Press, July 1953 - "Kid Bobo Wins 200th" (Bobo NewsomBobo NewsomLouis Norman Newsom was an American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. Also known as "Buck", Newsom played for a number of teams from 1929 through 1953...
), Associated Press, September 1953 - "Believe Lions 'Greatest Team'" (1954 Detroit Lions1954 Detroit Lions seasonThe 1954 Detroit Lions season was their 25th in the league. The team failed to improve on their previous season's output of 10-2, winning only nine games. They qualified for the playoffs for the third consecutive season.-Schedule:-Playoff schedule:...
), Associated Press, November 1954 - "Tigertown Wonder-City for Young Bowen: 19-Year-Old Catcher Finds Lakeland Farm Base an Exciting Place" (Jack Bowne), [The Sporting News]], March 20, 1957
- "Lary Lived It Up While Downing Yanks: First in 42 Years to Top N.Y. 7 Times; Detroit Moundsman Mystery in Mastery Over Champs; Other Clubs Clobber Him" (Frank LaryFrank LaryFrank Strong Lary is a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers , New York Mets , Milwaukee Braves , and Chicago White Sox . He led the American League with 21 wins in 1956 and ranked second in the same category with 23 wins in 1961...
), [The Sporting News]], March 18, 1959 - "Two Boys from the Bronx: Reminiscing with Rocky Colavito" (Rocky ColavitoRocky ColavitoRocco Domenico "Rocky" Colavito, Jr. is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball best known for his years with the Cleveland Indians. He wore a #6, #7 or #21 jersey during his MLB career...
), Baseball Digest, July 1960 - "Meet the New Kaline" (Al KalineAl KalineAlbert William "Al" Kaline is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Kaline played his entire 22-year baseball career with the Detroit Tigers. Kaline still works for the Tigers as a front office official. Because of his lengthy career and...
), Baseball Digest, April 1961 - "A Confident Young Tiger" (Steve BorosSteve BorosStephen Boros Jr. was an American infielder, coach, manager, advance scout, and farm system official in Major League Baseball....
), Baseball Digest, May 1961 - "The Loneliest Man in the World," Baseball Digest, June 1961
- "Tigers Are Armed to the Teeth: Their outfield throwing is rated best in the game" (Al KalineAl KalineAlbert William "Al" Kaline is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Kaline played his entire 22-year baseball career with the Detroit Tigers. Kaline still works for the Tigers as a front office official. Because of his lengthy career and...
/Bill BrutonBill BrutonWilliam Havon Bruton was a Major League Baseball center fielder who played for the Milwaukee Braves in 1953 through 1960, and for the Detroit Tigers in 1961 through 64. Bruton batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
/Rocky ColavitoRocky ColavitoRocco Domenico "Rocky" Colavito, Jr. is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball best known for his years with the Cleveland Indians. He wore a #6, #7 or #21 jersey during his MLB career...
), Baseball Digest, June 1961 - "Runs Eaten In: Chicken and dumplings sometimes mean hits," Baseball Digest, July 1961
- "Plane Talk: Players Liven Up 25,000 Miles," Baseball Digest, August 1961
- "Tigers' Business on a Cash Basis" (Norm CashNorm CashNorman Dalton Cash was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who spent almost his entire career with the Detroit Tigers...
), Baseball Digest, August 1961 - "Spring Training Can Be Like This: It's sun, sand, sweat -- and peril," Baseball Digest, April 1962
- "Most Difficult Part of Managing: It's blasted part of changing pitchers" (Jimmy DykesJimmy DykesJames Joseph Dykes was an American third and second baseman, manager and coach in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia Athletics and Chicago White Sox from 1918 to 1939...
), Baseball Digest, May 1962 - "How About Orange Sweaters for Scorers?," Baseball Digest, March 1963
- "What Ten Years in the Majors Have Done to Kaline" (Al KalineAl KalineAlbert William "Al" Kaline is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Kaline played his entire 22-year baseball career with the Detroit Tigers. Kaline still works for the Tigers as a front office official. Because of his lengthy career and...
), Baseball Digest, June 1963 - "Polished Pro at 21" (Bill FreehanBill FreehanWilliam Ashley Freehan is a former professional baseball player. He played his entire Major League Baseball career as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers...
), Baseball Digest, July 1963 - "He's Getting the Williams Treatment" (Dick StuartDick StuartRichard Lee Stuart was a Major League Baseball first baseman from 1958 to 1966 and 1969. In 1967 and 1968, he played in Japan for the Taiyo Whales. Throughout his baseball career, Stuart was known as a fine hitter, but a subpar fielder, garnering the unique nickname of "Dr. Strangeglove" for his...
), Baseball Digest, March 1964 - "A Character Out of Character" (Charlie Dressen), Baseball Digest, May 1964
- "Alice in Tigerland" (Alice Sloane), Baseball Digest, May 1964
- "Horatio Horton: Tigers' prize rookie had Alger-like rise" (Willie HortonWillie HortonWilliam R. "Willie" Horton is an American convicted felon who, while serving a life sentence for murder, without the possibility of parole, was the beneficiary of a Massachusetts weekend furlough program...
), Baseball Digest, June 1964 - "One Inning: 17 Runs!" (Steve GromekSteve GromekStephen Joseph Gromek was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He played seventeen seasons in the American League with the Cleveland Indians and the Detroit Tigers . He was a native of Hamtramck, Michigan.An All-Star in 1945, Gromek posted a 19-9 won-loss record with a 3.26 ERA...
), Baseball Digest, June 1964 - "A Most Forgettable Moment" (Paul FoytackPaul FoytackPaul Eugene Foytack is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from to .During his eleven year career, he played with the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels, posting a record of 86-87 with a 4.14 ERA...
), Baseball Digest, July 1964 - "Looie Is Queek In Head Too" (Luis AparicioLuis AparicioLuis Ernesto Aparicio Montiel is a former shortstop in professional baseball. His career in Major League Baseball spanned three decades, from through . Aparicio played for the Chicago White Sox , Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox . He batted and threw right-handed...
), Baseball Digest, August 1964 - "Stepped-On Hand Stepping Stone to Mound for Rakow" (Ed RakowEd RakowEdward Charles "Rock" Rakow was a pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1960 to 1967. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania....
), Baseball Digest, September 1964 - "Game's Next Super Star?" (Bill FreehanBill FreehanWilliam Ashley Freehan is a former professional baseball player. He played his entire Major League Baseball career as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers...
), Baseball Digest, May 1965 - "He's Pitched 6,750 Home Run Balls" (Spud Murray), Baseball Digest, June 1965
- "The One Page in History That Revised Entire Book" (Johnny SainJohnny SainJohn Franklin Sain was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who was best known for teaming with left-hander Warren Spahn on the Boston Braves teams from 1946 to 1951...
), Baseball Digest, June 1965 - "The Wall That Defies All" (Green MonsterGreen MonsterThe Green Monster is a popular nickname for the thirty-seven foot , two-inch high left field wall at Fenway Park, home to the Boston Red Sox baseball team...
), Baseball Digest, July 1965 - "Real Cleanup Men at the Plate: Vinegar and honey help Clete Boyer's bat" (Clete BoyerClete BoyerCletis Leroy "Clete" Boyer was a Major League Baseball player.A third baseman who also played shortstop and second base occasionally, Boyer played for the Kansas City Athletics , New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves...
), Baseball Digest, September 1965 - "The Two Faces of Joe Peptitone: The Clown -- and the Pro" (Joe PepitoneJoe PepitoneJoseph "Joe" Anthony Pepitone is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder who played the bulk of his career for the New York Yankees. He also played several seasons with the Chicago Cubs and had short stints with the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves...
), Baseball Digest, October 1965 - "Tilt a Foul Line, Signal from Center, But Cheat? Never!," Baseball Digest, October 1965
- "46 Years Later -- A Visit with Ed Cicotte" (Ed Cicotte), Baseball Digest, February 1966
- "Ump GETS This Decision: Ashford 'safe' as first Negro arbiter in majors" (Emmett AshfordEmmett AshfordEmmett Littleton Ashford , nicknamed "Ash", was the first African American umpire in Major League Baseball, working in the American League from 1966 to 1970....
), Baseball Digest, July 1966 - "Pitcher That Set Distance Records: Foytack threw world's longest homers, but was fun" (Paul FoytackPaul FoytackPaul Eugene Foytack is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from to .During his eleven year career, he played with the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels, posting a record of 86-87 with a 4.14 ERA...
), Baseball Digest, August 1966 - "Yastrzemski Still Ranks No. 1 in the AL" (Carl YastrzemskiCarl YastrzemskiCarl Michael Yastrzemski is a former American Major League Baseball left fielder and first baseman. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989. Yastrzemski played his entire 23-year baseball career with the Boston Red Sox . He was primarily a left fielder, with part of his later career...
), Baseball Digest, February 1969 - "Tiger Pitchers Were Patsies for Li'l Nel" (Nellie FoxNellie FoxJacob Nelson Fox was a Major League Baseball second baseman for the Chicago White Sox. Fox was born in St. Thomas Township, Pennsylvania. He was selected as the MVP of the American League in...
), Baseball Digest, July 1969 - "Kaline, A Cinch To Be Elected to the Hall of Fame" (Nellie FoxNellie FoxJacob Nelson Fox was a Major League Baseball second baseman for the Chicago White Sox. Fox was born in St. Thomas Township, Pennsylvania. He was selected as the MVP of the American League in...
), Baseball Digest, September 1970 - "Baseball's Greatest Clutch Hitter" (Mickey MantleMickey MantleMickey Charles Mantle was an American professional baseball player. Mantle is regarded by many to be the greatest switch hitter of all time, and one of the greatest players in baseball history. Mantle was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.Mantle was noted for his hitting...
), Baseball Digest, August 1974 - "Remember Rip Sewell and the 'Ephus Ball'?" (Rip SewellRip SewellTruett Banks "Rip" Sewell was a right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played 13 years in the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates...
), Baseball Digest, July 1975 - "Hank Greenberg: The Upper Deck Was His Target" (Hank GreenbergHank GreenbergHenry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
), Baseball Digest, February 1977 - "What's It Like Inside Major League Dugouts," Baseball Digest, November 1978
- "The Story of Mickey Mantle's Famous Tape-Measure Homer," Baseball Digest, December 1978
- "Casey Stengel: He Was One of a Kind!" (Casey StengelCasey StengelCharles Dillon "Casey" Stengel , nicknamed "The Old Perfessor", was an American Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in ....
), Baseball Digest, December 1979 - "Here's a Memory Test for 'Old Time' Fans," Baseball Digest, February 1981
- "What If ...? Here's a Revised View of Baseball History," Baseball Digest, October 1981
- "Darrell Evans: The Making of a Home Run Hitter" (Darrell EvansDarrell EvansDarrell Wayne Evans is a former third baseman and first baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1969 to 1989 with the Atlanta Braves , San Francisco Giants and Detroit Tigers . He is also the former manager and director of player personnel for the Victoria Seals of the Golden Baseball...
), Baseball Digest, July 1986 - "'Characters' Have Always Brightened Baseball Scene," Baseball Digest, September 1986
- "Jack Morris Reflects on His Long, Varied Pitching Career" (Jack MorrisJack MorrisJohn Scott "Jack" Morris is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. He played in 18 big league seasons between 1977 and 1994, mainly for the Detroit Tigers, and won 254 games throughout his career...
), Baseball Digest, June 1994 - "Hall of Famer Jim Bunning Kept a 'Book' on Batters" (Jim BunningJim BunningJames Paul David "Jim" Bunning is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and politician.During a 17-year baseball career, he pitched from 1955 to 1971, most notably with the Detroit Tigers and the Philadelphia Phillies. When he retired, he had the second-highest total of career...
), Baseball Digest, December 1996 - "Why I Like Baseball," Baseball Digest, November 2002