Leonard Shecter Explained

Leonard Shecter
Birth Date:5 September 1926
Birth Place:New York City, US
Death Place:New York City, US
Known For:Ball Four
Education:New York University
Occupation:Journalist, author

Leonard Shecter (September 5, 1926 – January 19, 1974) was an American journalist and author.[1] He edited Jim Bouton's groundbreaking Ball Four, as well as its sequel, I'm Glad You Didn't Take It Personally.[2] [3] [4]

Journalism career

Shecter worked as a sports journalist for the New York Post.[1] While traveling with the Yankees, in 1958, Shecter told his editors about a minor altercation between the coach Ralph Houk and the pitcher Ryne Duren; the subsequent published story, printed without a byline, was among the first in sports journalism to provide a behind-the-scenes look at professional sports team squabbles.[5]

Shecter also wrote for Look, The New York Times, and Esquire, where he published a famous profile of Vince Lombardi.[6] [7]

Literary career

Shecter's first book was a paperback biography of Roger Maris. It was a positive portrayal of the ballplayer, although Maris was upset that it was written without being authorized.[8] Once Upon a Time: The Early Years of the New York Mets covered the Mets' 1962 and 1963 seasons.[9] [10]

Shecter, who knew Jim Bouton during the pitcher's Yankees days, suggested that Bouton keep a diary of his 1969 season. The diary, edited by Shecter, became Ball Four.[11] Shecter, in part, wanted to provide an alternative to books such as Jim Brosnan's The Long Season, which Shecter considered a sanitized version of baseball life.[12] Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn tried to get Bouton to blame the contentious book on Shecter.[13]

On the Pad, written with William Phillips, was an exposé on police corruption; Phillips had appeared before the Knapp Commission.[14]

Critical reception

Kirkus Reviews called The Jocks a "wicked, funny, and often startling expose of the games played off the field and the scores that never get posted."[15]

Death

Shecter died on January, 19, 1974, from leukemia.[1]

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. News: Leonard Shecter, Sportswriter, 'Ball Four' Co-Author, Is Dead. Steve. Cady. January 20, 1974. The New York Times.
  2. News: Sports Section. Ted. Cox. May 25, 2000. Chicago Reader.
  3. News: 40 Years After 'Ball Four,' Baseball Still Breaks Hearts. NPR.
  4. With any luck, this review will appear in Jim Bouton's third treatise, 'Son of...'. Frank. Deford. Sports Illustrated.
  5. News: Leonard Shecter's Secret Led to Candid Sports Reporting. Alan. Schwarz. September 13, 2008. The New York Times.
  6. Web site: Curtis . Bryan . No Chattering in the Press Box: The lost tribe of sportswriters known as the Chipmunks . Grantland . March 26, 2022.
  7. News: Didinger . Ray . Ex-Knick has the knack as a politician: Bill Bradley scoring big as 2nd-term senator . Philadelphia Daily News. June 12, 1986 . Sports . 116.
  8. News: Isaacs . Stan . An Embittered, Tragic Hero Maris, dead at 51, saw fame as his curse . Newsday . December 15, 1985 . Sports . 5.
  9. News: Appelbaum . Judith . Travel to the Past . The New York Times . April 10, 1983 . A43.
  10. News: Corr . John . Paperbacks . The Philadelphia Inquirer . April 17, 1983 . P4.
  11. News: Calabria . Pat . Ball Four: A Struggle . Newsday . April 10, 1988 . Sports . 19.
  12. News: Stinson . Thomas . Sports & Literature—America's Appetite for a Good Scandal and the Latest Dirt on Its Heroes—Opens a New Chapter in Sports Publishing Field . The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . March 12, 1989 . B16.
  13. News: Barbati . Carl . In publishing circles, when the category is sports, it is known simply as 'The Book'. . USA Today . June 24, 1990.
  14. News: Case . Dick . Once a Crooked Cop – Bill Phillips Now Devotes His Life Sentence to Justice . Syracuse Herald American . November 25, 1990 . I1.
  15. The Jocks. Kirkus Reviews.

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