Sam Greene
Encyclopedia
Samuel Saunders "Sam" Greene (August 26, 1895 – September 5, 1963) was an American sportswriter. He covered sports in Detroit, Michigan
for more than 40 years, first with the Detroit Free Press
(1922-1924) and then with The Detroit News
(1924-1963). He was the sports editor for The Detroit News from 1958 to 1963. He was the Detroit correspondent for The Sporting News
from 1924 to 1960.
in 1895. His father, George Oliver Greene, was a Virginia native and a newspaper editor and publisher. His mother Emma (Martin) Greene was also a native Virginian. At the time of the 1900 United States Census, Greene was living with his parents and three sisters (Lucy, Bernice and Marian) in Staunton, Virginia
. By 1910, the family had moved to Clifton Forge, Virginia
, and had grown to include six daughters and three sons. At Clifton Forge, Green's father owned and operated the Daily Review. Greene worked on his father's newspaper as a boy, handling responsibilities that included delivering papers, sweeping floors, setting type, collecting bills, and proofreading.
. While attending college, Greene worked as a typesetter for the Hanover Progress in Ashland. When the United States entered World War I
in 1917, Greene enlisted in the United States Navy
. After the war, Greene became a reporter for The Roanoke Times
. He began covering sports while working in Roanoke. At the time of the 1920 United States Census, Greene was living in Roanoke. He was married to Kittie (Karr) Greene, a Texas native, and his occupation was listed as a newspaper reporter.
By June 1920, Greene had moved to Beaumont, Texas
to become a sportswriter for The Beaumont Enterprise. He spent three years in Beaumont and was appointed as the editor of the sports page. While in Beaumont, his baseball writing, covering the Beaumont Exporters
of the Texas League
, came to the attention of The Sporting News
. He became the Beaumont correspondent for The Sporting News from 1920 to 1922.
in August 1922 as a sportswriter for the Detroit Free Press
. He spent a year-and-a-half with the Free Press before moving to The Detroit News
. He remained with the News for nearly 40 years. He also became the principal Detroit correspondent for The Sporting News from 1924 to 1960. Greene became known for his coverage of the Detroit Tigers
, the Michigan Wolverines football
team, the Detroit Lions
, and boxing. Respected as an expert in each of those sports, Greene was on the committee that chose the American League's Most Valuable Player, and his writing about the Tigers was "looked on by other baseball writers as the last word on the matter." He covered the Lions from their first season in the NFL and through their championship seasons in the 1950s. When the Pro Football Hall of Fame
was established in the early 1960s, Greene was one of a member of the board of selectors that chose the initial 17 inductees. He began covering the Michigan Wolverines in 1922, and was posthumously honored in 1971 as a charter inductee into the University of Michigan
's Media Hall of Fame.
His fellow sportswriters recalled him as "a gentlemanly patriarch" who "brought dignity and graciousness to the press boxes of major league sports and to his profession." Jack Dulmage of the Windsor Star
described him as follows: "He would observe the game with his hat at a rakish tilt, and clench a cigar in his teeth at an impertinent angle. He would move the cigar to laugh heartily at the quips of the day." Joe Falls
, who succeeded Greene as the dean of Detroit baseball writers (and who was inducted into the writer's wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame) wrote in his autobiography that Greene was his mentor: "My longtime mentor, Sam Greene, of The Detroit News. When I was 30, Sam was 60, and Sam taught me how to behave myself in my job by simply being nice to people, which Sam did in his every waking hour. He could also outwrite me."
Greene also befriended many of the great sports figures of his time, counting among his friends Ty Cobb
, Babe Ruth
, Jack Dempsey
, and Tex Rickard.
Greene developed a lung infection and underwent lung surgery in 1962. He returned to work shortly after the operation and continued to write until July 1963. His last column concerned the dedication of a plaque at Tiger Stadium
honoring Ty Cobb. He died in September 1963. The Associated Press
called him "one of America's best known sports chroniclers" and reported that he died "in his bedroom while preparing to listen to the radio report of the Detroit Tigers' game at Boston." The United Press International
wrote: "The sports world lost one of its most beloved figures yesterday when Sam Greene died at the age of 68." The Long Beach Press-Telegram
called him "Gentleman Sam" and reported: "Anybody who knew Sam Greene was grateful for the privilege. A great legion of sports-writer friends now mourn him."
Greene's son Edgar "Doc" Greene was also a sportswriter for The Detroit News. His son was appointed as the sports editor of The Detroit News in November 1963, two months after Greene's death.
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...
for more than 40 years, first 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"...
(1922-1924) and then with The Detroit News
The Detroit News
The Detroit News is one of the two major newspapers in the U.S. city of Detroit, Michigan. The paper began in 1873, when it rented space in the rival Free Press's building. The News absorbed the Detroit Tribune on February 1, 1919, the Detroit Journal on July 21, 1922, and on November 7, 1960,...
(1924-1963). He was the sports editor for The Detroit News from 1958 to 1963. He was the Detroit correspondent for 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"...
from 1924 to 1960.
Early years
Greene was born in Stuart, VirginiaStuart, Virginia
Stuart is a town in Patrick County, Virginia, United States, and its county seat. The population was 961 at the 2000 census. Due to recent boundary expansion, the town of Stuart has an estimated population of nearly 1,700 residents. The town of Stuart was named after Confederate Gen. J.E.B...
in 1895. His father, George Oliver Greene, was a Virginia native and a newspaper editor and publisher. His mother Emma (Martin) Greene was also a native Virginian. At the time of the 1900 United States Census, Greene was living with his parents and three sisters (Lucy, Bernice and Marian) in Staunton, Virginia
Staunton, Virginia
Staunton is an independent city within the confines of Augusta County in the commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 23,746 as of 2010. It is the county seat of Augusta County....
. By 1910, the family had moved to Clifton Forge, Virginia
Clifton Forge, Virginia
Clifton Forge is a town in Alleghany County, Virginia, United States which is part of the Roanoke Region. The population was 3,884 at the 2010 census. The Jackson River flows through the town, which as a result was once known as Jackson's River Station....
, and had grown to include six daughters and three sons. At Clifton Forge, Green's father owned and operated the Daily Review. Greene worked on his father's newspaper as a boy, handling responsibilities that included delivering papers, sweeping floors, setting type, collecting bills, and proofreading.
Reporter in Virginia and Texas
Greene attended Randoph-Macon College in Ashland, VirginiaAshland, Virginia
Originally known as Slash Cottage, Ashland is located on the Old Washington Highway U.S. Route One and the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad, a busy north-south route now owned by CSX Transportation...
. While attending college, Greene worked as a typesetter for the Hanover Progress in Ashland. When the United States entered World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in 1917, Greene enlisted in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. After the war, Greene became a reporter for The Roanoke Times
The Roanoke Times
The Roanoke Times is the primary newspaper in Southwestern Virginia and is based in Roanoke, Virginia, United States. It is published by Landmark Media Enterprises...
. He began covering sports while working in Roanoke. At the time of the 1920 United States Census, Greene was living in Roanoke. He was married to Kittie (Karr) Greene, a Texas native, and his occupation was listed as a newspaper reporter.
By June 1920, Greene had moved to Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont is a city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Texas, United States, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's population was 118,296 at the 2010 census. With Port Arthur and Orange, it forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the...
to become a sportswriter for The Beaumont Enterprise. He spent three years in Beaumont and was appointed as the editor of the sports page. While in Beaumont, his baseball writing, covering the Beaumont Exporters
Beaumont Exporters
The Beaumont Exporters were a franchise in American minor league baseball that played in the Texas League from 1920-49 and 1953-55. The city of Beaumont, Texas, was also represented in the Texas League from 1912-17 and 1919 as the Oilers, from 1950-52 as the Roughnecks, and from 1983-86 as the...
of the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
, came to the attention of 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"...
. He became the Beaumont correspondent for The Sporting News from 1920 to 1922.
Sports writer in Detroit
Greene moved to Detroit, MichiganDetroit, 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...
in August 1922 as a sportswriter for 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"...
. He spent a year-and-a-half with the Free Press before moving to The Detroit News
The Detroit News
The Detroit News is one of the two major newspapers in the U.S. city of Detroit, Michigan. The paper began in 1873, when it rented space in the rival Free Press's building. The News absorbed the Detroit Tribune on February 1, 1919, the Detroit Journal on July 21, 1922, and on November 7, 1960,...
. He remained with the News for nearly 40 years. He also became the principal Detroit correspondent for The Sporting News from 1924 to 1960. Greene became known for his coverage of 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...
, the Michigan Wolverines football
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
team, the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
, and boxing. Respected as an expert in each of those sports, Greene was on the committee that chose the American League's Most Valuable Player, and his writing about the Tigers was "looked on by other baseball writers as the last word on the matter." He covered the Lions from their first season in the NFL and through their championship seasons in the 1950s. When the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
was established in the early 1960s, Greene was one of a member of the board of selectors that chose the initial 17 inductees. He began covering the Michigan Wolverines in 1922, and was posthumously honored in 1971 as a charter inductee into the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
's Media Hall of Fame.
His fellow sportswriters recalled him as "a gentlemanly patriarch" who "brought dignity and graciousness to the press boxes of major league sports and to his profession." Jack Dulmage of the Windsor Star
Windsor Star
The Windsor Star is the regional newspaper of Windsor, Ontario , and is owned by the Postmedia Network Inc. Since 1923, the publication's main office is located at 167 Ferry Street in the downtown area...
described him as follows: "He would observe the game with his hat at a rakish tilt, and clench a cigar in his teeth at an impertinent angle. He would move the cigar to laugh heartily at the quips of the day." Joe Falls
Joe Falls
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...
, who succeeded Greene as the dean of Detroit baseball writers (and who was inducted into the writer's wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame) wrote in his autobiography that Greene was his mentor: "My longtime mentor, Sam Greene, of The Detroit News. When I was 30, Sam was 60, and Sam taught me how to behave myself in my job by simply being nice to people, which Sam did in his every waking hour. He could also outwrite me."
Greene also befriended many of the great sports figures of his time, counting among his friends Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
, Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
, Jack Dempsey
Jack Dempsey
William Harrison "Jack" Dempsey was an American boxer who held the world heavyweight title from 1919 to 1926. Dempsey's aggressive style and exceptional punching power made him one of the most popular boxers in history. Many of his fights set financial and attendance records, including the first...
, and Tex Rickard.
Greene developed a lung infection and underwent lung surgery in 1962. He returned to work shortly after the operation and continued to write until July 1963. His last column concerned the dedication of a plaque at Tiger Stadium
Tiger Stadium
Tiger Stadium was a stadium located in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. It hosted the Detroit Tigers Major League Baseball team from 1912 to 1999, as well as the National Football League's Detroit Lions from 1938 to 1974...
honoring Ty Cobb. He died in September 1963. 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...
called him "one of America's best known sports chroniclers" and reported that he died "in his bedroom while preparing to listen to the radio report of the Detroit Tigers' game at Boston." The United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
wrote: "The sports world lost one of its most beloved figures yesterday when Sam Greene died at the age of 68." The Long Beach Press-Telegram
Long Beach Press-Telegram
The Press-Telegram is a daily newspaper published in Long Beach, California. Tracing its history to 1897, it is currently published by the Los Angeles Newspaper Group, a division of newspaper conglomerate MediaNews Group, which purchased the newspaper from Knight Ridder in 1997; Ridder and Knight...
called him "Gentleman Sam" and reported: "Anybody who knew Sam Greene was grateful for the privilege. A great legion of sports-writer friends now mourn him."
Greene's son Edgar "Doc" Greene was also a sportswriter for The Detroit News. His son was appointed as the sports editor of The Detroit News in November 1963, two months after Greene's death.
Selected works by Greene
- Texas League Develops Wealth Of Talent for Major Diamonds: Lone Star Belt Boasts Thirty-Odd Players in Big Time (Greene's first by-line for Detroit Free Press), Detroit Free PressDetroit Free PressThe 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"...
, September 3, 1922 - Michigan And Vanderbitt Play To Scoreless Tie In Commodores' Stadium (1922 Michigan Wolverines football team1922 Michigan Wolverines football teamThe 1922 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1922 college football season. The head coach was Fielding H. Yost, in his 22nd season as head coach. The team went through the 1922 season without a defeat and compiled a record of 6–0–1...
), Detroit Free Press, October 15, 1922 - History Shows Tys Gallant Finishers: Return of Blue Will Give Detroit Full Strength Again (Greene's first story from Detroit for The Sporting News), The Sporting NewsThe Sporting NewsSporting 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"...
, September 4, 1924, page 3 - Ty Waits 20 Years For Greatest Feat: Five Home Runs in Two Days Sets Modern Batting Mark (Ty CobbTy CobbTyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
), The Sporting News, May 14, 1925, page 1 - Some Kind Words for Tiger Fat Boy: Greene Thinks Fothergill Is an Underestimated Player (Bob FothergillBob FothergillRobert Roy Fothergill , nicknamed "Fats" or "Fatty," was an outfielder in Major League Baseball who played twelve seasons with the Detroit Tigers , Chicago White Sox , and Boston Red Sox ....
), The Sporting News, November 26, 1925, page 1 - http://paperofrecord.hypernet.ca/paper_view.asp?PaperId=834&RecordId=9&PageId=7774608&iZyNetId={EA70CAD0-99AB-481D-AE82-B10840AF15FF}&iOrder=2&iOrderDir=0&iCurrentBlock=1http://paperofrecord.hypernet.ca/paper_view.asp?PaperId=834&RecordId=2&PageId=7776923&iZyNetId={CBCB32EB-087F-462B-B4CF-4ABD46AEADBE}&iOrder=2&iOrderDir=0&iCurrentBlock=1Cobb Is Still Cobb, Detroiters Agree: Sam Greene Says Georgian Looks Better Physically Than in Five Years; Fine Honors Paid Veteran] (Ty CobbTy CobbTyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
), The Sporting News, May 19, 1927, page 1 - Detroit Owes Much of Fame To Star Back: Lloyd Brazil One of Best Ball Carriers in Nation; Has Good Memory (Lloyd BrazilLloyd BrazilLloyd Brazil was an American athlete, coach and athletic director at the University of Detroit for 38 years. He played halfback for the University of Detroit football team from 1927–1929 and was selected as an All-American in 1928 and 1929. After graduating, he remained at the University of...
), The Atlanta Constitution, November 28, 1928 - Joe Jackson Still Hopes For Pardon (Shoeless Joe JacksonShoeless Joe JacksonJoseph Jefferson Jackson , nicknamed "Shoeless Joe", was an American baseball player who played Major League Baseball in the early part of the 20th century...
), The Baltimore Sun (excerpts from Greene's article in The Detroit News, December 28, 1933 - Cochrane Cracks Training Whip To Get Tigers Into Fighting Trim: Puts Men on Rations, Also Orders Curfews (Mickey CochraneMickey CochraneGordon Stanley "Mickey" Cochrane was a professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers...
), The Sporting News, March 8, 1934, page 1 - Visiting the Major Parks -- Navin Field: Home of Tigers Was Battleground of N.L. Champs in 1887 (Tiger StadiumTiger StadiumTiger Stadium was a stadium located in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. It hosted the Detroit Tigers Major League Baseball team from 1912 to 1999, as well as the National Football League's Detroit Lions from 1938 to 1974...
), The Sporting News, March 22, 1934, page 6 - Greenberg Slated for Clean-Up Post: Punch of Tiger First Sacker Puts Him Ahead of Goslin (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...
/Mickey CochraneMickey CochraneGordon Stanley "Mickey" Cochrane was a professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers...
), The Sporting News, April 5, 1934, page 7 - The Schoolboy! He's in a Class by Himself: Rowe Likes Plaudits, Plays to Fans and Puts Over Heroics (Schoolboy RoweSchoolboy RoweLynnwood Thomas "Schoolboy" Rowe was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, primarily for the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies...
), The Sporting News, August 30, 1934, page 3 - Greenberg's Punch Gains Clean-Up Job (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...
/Rosh HashanahRosh HashanahRosh Hashanah , , is the Jewish New Year. It is the first of the High Holy Days or Yamim Nora'im which occur in the autumn...
), The Sporting News, September 20, 1934, page 1 - Tigers and Cardinals Paint Series With Color: Mickey Carries Out His Own Prophecies (1934 World Series1934 World SeriesThe 1934 World Series matched the St. Louis Cardinals against the Detroit Tigers, with the Cardinals' "Gashouse Gang" winning in seven games for their third championship in nine years....
), The Sporting News, October 4, 1934, page 1 - Little Tom Bridges Tigers' Big Support: Right-Hander Scores Five Wins in May Without Defeat (Tommy BridgesTommy BridgesThomas Jefferson Davis Bridges was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers from 1930 to 1946...
), The Sporting News, June 6, 1935, page 2 - Greenberg Modest About His Homers: Big First Sacker Remains One of Tigers' Best Team Players (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...
), The Sporting News, July 4, 1935, page 2 - Tigertown on Toes for World's Series: Plans Completed by City for Big Home-Coming Celebration (1935 World Series1935 World SeriesThe 1935 World Series featured the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago Cubs, with the Tigers winning in six games for their first championship in five Series appearances. They had lost in , , , and ....
), The Sporting News, September 19, 1935, page 3 - Briggs, Auto Magnate, Acquires Navin's Interest in Detroit Club (Walter Briggs, Sr.), The Sporting News, November 21, 1935, page 1
- Vezina Great Goalie in His Time, But Jack Adams Rates Gardiner, Thompson and Roach Right Beside Them (hockey's greatest goalies), The Sunday Sun, February 1, 1936
- Misfortune Dulls Claws of Tigers: Cochrane's Illness Climaxes Ill Luck (Mickey Cochrane), The Sporting News, June 11, 1936, page 1
- Gehringer To Be Feted As Detroit Civic Hero (Charlie GehringerCharlie GehringerCharles Leonard Gehringer , nicknamed “The Mechanical Man,” was a German-American Major League Baseball second baseman who played 19 seasons for the Detroit Tigers...
), The Sporting News, October 7, 1937, page 1 - Detroit Honks Sad Farewell To Goose (Goose GoslinGoose GoslinLeon Allen "Goose" Goslin was a left fielder in Major League Baseball known for his powerful left-handed swing and dependable clutch hitting. He played 18 seasons with the Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns, and Detroit Tigers, from until...
), The Sporting News, October 14, 1937, page 5 - Al Benton Proving Lion for Tigers Working by His Bullpen Work (Al BentonAl BentonJohn Alton Benton was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who played with the Philadelphia Athletics , Detroit Tigers , Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox ....
), The Sporting News, August 1, 1940, page 1 - Baker Fires Salute To Bengals' Spirit in Upset Victory: 'I'm Proud of Them' Says Pilot of Biggest 'If' Champs, The Sporting News, October 3, 1940, page 1
- Hurlers Fling Detroit Into Flag Frenzy: Overmire Aiding Aces Diz and Hal (OvermireStubby OvermireFrank W. Overmire was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played ten seasons for the Detroit Tigers , St. Louis Browns , and New York Yankees . In ten seasons, Overmire won 58 games and lost 67 with a 3.96 earned run average...
, 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...
, TroutDizzy TroutPaul Howard "Dizzy" Trout was a Major League Baseball pitcher primarily for the Detroit Tigers. Born in Sandcut, Indiana, he first played professionally in 1935 with the Terre Haute Tots in the Three-I League before signing with Detroit in 1939.Trout played for the Tigers for fourteen seasons,...
), The Sporting News, August 31, 1944, page 1 - Detroit in Series Delerium as Tigers Near Flag: Seat Requests Turned Down by Thousands (1945 World Series1945 World Series-Game 1:Wednesday, October 3, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan-Game 2:Thursday, October 4, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan-Game 3:Friday, October 5, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan...
), September 27, 1945, page 2 - Greenberg Hit in Celery Loop (Hank Greenberg), The Sporting News, October 18, 1945, page 5
- Tops in Relieving: Marberry's Getting Traynor in 1925 (Firpo MarberryFirpo MarberryFrederick "Firpo" Marberry was an American right-handed starting and relief pitcher in Major League Baseball from to , most notably with the Washington Senators...
), Baseball DigestBaseball DigestBaseball Digest is a baseball magazine resource, published in Evanston, Illinois by Lakeside Publishing Company. It is the oldest and longest-running baseball magazine in the United States....
, November 1949, page 14 - County Fair Games Started Gehringer to Fame: He By-Passed Farm Chores to Play Ball (Charlie GehringerCharlie GehringerCharles Leonard Gehringer , nicknamed “The Mechanical Man,” was a German-American Major League Baseball second baseman who played 19 seasons for the Detroit Tigers...
), The Sporting News, August 22, 1951, pages 2, 8 - Hockey's Greatest Showman (Maurice RichardMaurice RichardJoseph Henri Maurice "the Rocket" Richard, Sr., was a French-Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League from 1942 to 1960. The "Rocket" was the most prolific goal-scorer of his era, the first to achieve the feat of 50 goals in 50...
), The Montreal Gazette, January 29, 1953 - Ump Stories High on List of Yarn-Spinner Tighe (Jack TigheJack TigheJohn Thomas Tighe , pronounced "tie", was an American coach, manager and scout for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball....
), The Sporting News, October 31, 1956, page 2 - "Negro Praised by Other Players" (Ozzie Virgil, Sr.Ozzie Virgil, Sr.Osvaldo José Virgil broke the color barrier for Detroit in 1958. He served in the U.S. Marines from 1950 to 1952...
), Detroit's first African-American player), The Detroit NewsThe Detroit NewsThe Detroit News is one of the two major newspapers in the U.S. city of Detroit, Michigan. The paper began in 1873, when it rented space in the rival Free Press's building. The News absorbed the Detroit Tribune on February 1, 1919, the Detroit Journal on July 21, 1922, and on November 7, 1960,...
, June 6, 1958 - Narleski Fan Club Chorus Led by Dykes (Ray NarleskiRay NarleskiRaymond Edmond Narleski is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played with the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers . He batted and threw right-handed...
), The Sporting News, January 27, 1960, page 16 - No Sleeping There Now (Joe CroninJoe CroninJoseph Edward Cronin was a Major League Baseball shortstop and manager.During a 20-year playing career, he played from 1926–45 for three different teams, primarily for the Boston Red Sox. Cronin was a major league manager from 1933–47...
), Baseball Digest, September 1960, page 69 - Hardwaremen to Tool Up Orioles (Billy HitchcockBilly HitchcockWilliam Clyde Hitchcock was an American infielder, coach, manager and scout in Major League Baseball. He also served as president of the class AA Southern League from 1971-80...
), Baseball Digest, February 1962, page 63