Paul Purman
Encyclopedia
Paul R. Purman was an American
sportswriter
. Purman had a lengthy career in journalism, but he is best known for his work in the years from 1916 to 1918 when his sports column was syndicated in hundreds of newspapers and he selected an annual All-America football team for the Newspaper Enterprise Association.
. His father James Nelson Purman was a merchant in Montpelier, Indiana
, operating Purman, Johnston & Co.' Big Store. Purman attended preparatory school in Annapolis, Maryland
, and was appointed to the United States Naval Academy. However, he failed the physical examination "on account of an affliction of his eyes." Purman enrolled instead at Indiana University Bloomington
. In 1907, he worked for the Indiana Pipe Line Company and the Ohio Oil Company.
. In November 1907, he moved to Danville, Illinois
as a reporter for a newspaper there. He later returned to Montplier as the editor of The Evening Herald. He next joined the staff of the Marion Chronicle in approximately 1910.
From 1916 to 1918, Purman became a nationally syndicated sportswriter. He was affiliated with the Newspaper Enterprise Association, a syndicate of several hundred newspapers, and selected an annual college football All-America team for the NEA.
In the 1920s, he returned to Cleveland and became the news editor for Midweek Magazine.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sportswriter
Sports journalism
Sports journalism is a form of journalism that reports on sports topics and events.While the sports department within some newspapers has been mockingly called the toy department, because sports journalists do not concern themselves with the 'serious' topics covered by the news desk, sports...
. Purman had a lengthy career in journalism, but he is best known for his work in the years from 1916 to 1918 when his sports column was syndicated in hundreds of newspapers and he selected an annual All-America football team for the Newspaper Enterprise Association.
Early years
Purman was born in 1886 at Monroeville, IndianaMonroeville, Indiana
Monroeville is a town in Monroe Township, Allen County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,235 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Monroeville is located at ....
. His father James Nelson Purman was a merchant in Montpelier, Indiana
Montpelier, Indiana
Montpelier is an American city in Blackford County, Indiana. This small rural community, the county’s first to be platted, was established by settlers from Vermont, and is named after Vermont’s capital city – Montpelier....
, operating Purman, Johnston & Co.' Big Store. Purman attended preparatory school in Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
, and was appointed to the United States Naval Academy. However, he failed the physical examination "on account of an affliction of his eyes." Purman enrolled instead at Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington is a public research university located in Bloomington, Indiana, in the United States. IU Bloomington is the flagship campus of the Indiana University system. Being the flagship campus, IU Bloomington is often referred to simply as IU or Indiana...
. In 1907, he worked for the Indiana Pipe Line Company and the Ohio Oil Company.
Journalist
Purman began his career in journalism with The Evening Herald in his hometown of Montpelier, Indiana. In August 1907, he accepted a full-time position as a reporter for the Bluffton Banner in Bluffton, IndianaBluffton, Indiana
Bluffton is a city in Harrison and Lancaster Townships, Wells County, Indiana, United States. The population was 9,897 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Wells County.-Geography:Bluffton is located at ....
. In November 1907, he moved to Danville, Illinois
Danville, Illinois
Danville is a city in Vermilion County, Illinois, United States. It is the principal city of the'Danville, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses all of Danville and Vermilion County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 32,467. It is the county seat of...
as a reporter for a newspaper there. He later returned to Montplier as the editor of The Evening Herald. He next joined the staff of the Marion Chronicle in approximately 1910.
From 1916 to 1918, Purman became a nationally syndicated sportswriter. He was affiliated with the Newspaper Enterprise Association, a syndicate of several hundred newspapers, and selected an annual college football All-America team for the NEA.
In the 1920s, he returned to Cleveland and became the news editor for Midweek Magazine.
Selected articles by Purman
- Chick Harley Western Star of 1916 Season (Chic HarleyChic HarleyCharles William "Chic" Harley was one of the outstanding American football players of the first half of the 20th century and the player who first brought the Ohio State University football program to national attention. Harley was Ohio State's first consensus first-team All-America selection and...
), November 26, 1916 - Nap Lajoie Is Through: Master Ball Player Gives Up Baseball After 20 Years! (Nap LajoieNap LajoieNapoléon "Nap" Lajoie , also known as Larry Lajoie, was an American Major League Baseball second baseman. He was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island...
), November 26, 1916 - Chronicle's Own All-American 1916 Football Team (1916 College Football All-America Team1916 College Football All-America TeamThe 1916 College Football All-America team consists of American football players selected to the College Football All-America Teams selected by various organizations in 1916...
), December 3, 1916 - Charity Backs Prizefighter for Charity When Carpentier Boxes for French Soldiers Relief! (Georges CarpentierGeorges CarpentierGeorges Carpentier was a French boxer. He fought mainly as a light heavyweight and heavyweight in a career lasting from 1908-26. Nicknamed the "Orchid Man", he stood and his fighting weight ranged from...
), December 1916 - Ball Players With Prominent Noses Nearly Always Deliver, December 11, 1916
- Kid M'Coy, Divorce Champion, Loses Decision In Eighth Matrimonial Engagement! (Kid McCoyKid McCoyCharles "Kid" McCoy, who was born Norman Selby was an American world champion boxer.-Overview:Born in Moscow, Rush County, Indiana, McCoy would eventually weigh 160 pounds, stand 5' 11", and go on to a record 81 wins...
), December 17, 1916 - The New Woman: She Will Be Athletic and Compete with Man at His Own Game (Alexa StirlingAlexa StirlingAlexa Stirling Fraser was a North American amateur golf champion.Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Alexa Stirling was coached in golf from a young age at the Atlanta Athletic Club's East Lake Golf Club course by Stewart Maiden, the club's professional, who had learned his golf at Carnoustie, Scotland...
), December 18, 1916 - Hunting Toll Is Severe: America's Most Dangerous Sport Claims Over One Hundred Fifty lives in Fifteen States This Year, December 21, 1916
- K.O. Punch! Only Two Places Real Knockout Can Be Landed, Says Johnny Kilbane, Featherweight Champion of the World! (Johnny KilbaneJohnny KilbaneJohn "Johnny" Patrick Kilbane was a featherweight boxer in the early part of the 20th century. He held the featherweight title from 1912 to 1923, the longest period in the division's history...
), December 23, 1916 - Stars Haven't 'Old Fire', December 31, 1916
- What Will 1917 Bring To Sport? 1916 Produced New Records, January 4, 1917
- Fultz In the Fight to a Finish (Dave FultzDave FultzDavid Lewis Fultz was a center fielder in Major League Baseball who played in the National League with the Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles , and for the Philadelphia Athletics and New York Highlanders of the American League. He batted and threw right-handed...
), January 27, 1917 - Dode Paskert Invents Plan To Fool Fielders (Dode PaskertDode PaskertGeorge Henry "Dode" Paskert , was a professional baseball player who played outfield in the Major Leagues from 1907 to 1921. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, and Chicago Cubs.-External links:...
), January 30, 1917 - Why Alexander Wants More Coin! Phillies Great Pitcher Is Paid Less Than Any Other Great Baseball Star (Grover Cleveland AlexanderGrover Cleveland AlexanderGrover Cleveland Alexander , nicknamed "Old Pete", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and St. Louis Cardinals and was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1938.-Career:Alexander was born in Elba, Nebraska, one of thirteen...
), February 18, 1917 - Sothoron Looks Like Iron Man: Recruit Pitcher of Browns May Prove Star (Allen SothoronAllen SothoronAllen Sutton Sothoron was a spitball pitcher who spent 11 years in the major leagues, playing for the St. Louis Browns, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians and the St. Louis Cardinals. His best season came in 1919, where he went 20-13 with a 2.20 ERA. After the spitball was outlawed, he was one of...
), April 22, 1917 - Old Orioles' Base Stealing Quartet (Hughie JenningsHughie JenningsHugh Ambrose Jennings was a Major League Baseball player and manager from 1891 to 1925. Jennings was a leader, both as a batter and as a shortstop, with the Baltimore Orioles teams that won National League championships in 1894, 1895, and 1896. During the three championship seasons, Jennings had...
, John McGrawJohn McGrawJohn McGraw may refer to:* John McGraw , , New York lumber tycoon, and one of the founding trustees of Cornell University* John McGraw , , Governor of Washington state from 1893–1897...
, Willie KeelerWillie KeelerWilliam Henry Keeler in Brooklyn, New York, nicknamed "Wee Willie", was a right fielder in professional baseball who played from 1892 to 1910, primarily for the Baltimore Orioles and Brooklyn Superbas in the National League, and the New York Highlanders in the American League.- Biography :Keeler's...
, Joe KelleyJoe KelleyJoseph James Kelley was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball who starred in the outfield of the powerful Baltimore Oriole teams of the 1890s.-Career:...
), May 6, 1917 - Batting Faces: Watch Your Favorite Next Time He Takes A Wallop At The Ball, You Won't Recognize Him, July 23, 1917
- Cobb Sets Huge Task For Self: Hopes To Tie Jess Burkett's Record by Batting Over 400 for Trio of Seasons (Ty CobbTy CobbTyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
), July 24, 1917 - Lefty Williams May Be Dark Horse of Series (Lefty WilliamsLefty WilliamsClaude Preston "Lefty" Williams was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball. He is probably best known for his involvement in the 1919 World Series fix, known as the Black Sox scandal.-Career:...
), September 26, 1917 - Cicotte Tells The Secret of the 'Shine Ball' (Eddie CicotteEddie CicotteEdward Victor Cicotte , nicknamed "Knuckles", was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball best known for his time with the Chicago White Sox...
), September 26, 1917 - Sisler Only Ball Player Who Can Hope to Fill Ty Cobb's Shoes as a Super-star (George SislerGeorge SislerGeorge Harold Sisler , nicknamed "Gentleman George" and "Gorgeous George," was an American professional baseball player for 15 seasons, primarily as first baseman with the St. Louis Browns...
), March 16, 1918 - If White Sox Are Beaten Out, It Will Be the Biggest Surprise in Baseball (1918 Chicago Black Sox1918 Chicago White Sox seasonDepleted of most of their stars due to World War I, the Chicago White Sox had a relatively bad year in , going 57-67 and finishing in the second division. They had won the American League pennant in 1917 and would win another in 1919.- Roster :...
), April 10, 1918 - Place Hitting: Ty Cobb Airs His View on Most Contested Question in Baseball (Ty Cobb), July 9, 1918
- War Conditions Give Schoolboy Phenom Early Chance With Giants (Waite HoytWaite HoytWaite Charles Hoyt was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, one of the dominant pitchers of the 1920s, and the winningest pitcher for the New York Yankees during that decade...
), August 19, 1918 - Cubs Lead In Box, Behind Bat and In Offensive Strength: That's Why They Should Win -- Says Purman (1918 Chicago Cubs1918 Chicago Cubs season- Roster :- Starters by position :Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in- Other batters :Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg...
), September 3, 1918 - Knowledge of Baseball Wins Cross for Soldier 'Over There' (Pvt. George W. Holly), September 4, 1918
- How Our Soldiers and Sailors Play the 'Rescue Relay', September 26, 1918
- How Our Soldiers Play -- The 'Human Wheelbarrow Race', October 3, 1918
- The John L. of Wrestling: Farmer Burns at 57 as Young as He Was 30 Years Ago (Farmer Burns), October 6, 1918
- How Our Soldiers and Sailors Play 'Medicine Ball Rounders', October 7, 1918
- Why He Was 'Terrible Terry': High Spots in Career of Greatest Bantam of Them All (Terry McGovernTerry McGovern (boxer)Terrible Terry McGovern , born John Terrence McGovern in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, United States, was a boxer who held the world bantamweight and featherweight titles.-Professional career:...
), December 18, 1918