Watson Spoelstra Explained

Watson Spoelstra
Birth Date:	April 5, 1910
Birth Place:	Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
Death Place:	Largo, Florida, U.S.
Known For:	Waddy's World (1947–1973) Founder and leader, Baseball Chapel (1973–1982)
Education:	Hope College
Employer:	The Detroit News (1945–1973)
Occupation:	Sportswriter
Children:	Jon Spoelstra
Relatives:	Erik Spoelstra (grandson)

Watson N. "Waddy" Spoelstra (April 5, 1910 – July 20, 1999) was an American sportswriter for The Detroit News from 1945 to 1973. He served as the president of the Baseball Writers' Association of America in 1968. After retiring from The Detroit News, he founded Baseball Chapel, a Christian ministry for professional baseball players, which he led from 1973 to 1982.

Spoelstra was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1910. He attended Hope College where he played baseball and basketball. He became Hope College's all-time leading scorer in basketball. He graduated from Hope College in 1932.^[1]

After graduating from college, Spoelstra was hired as a sportswriter by the Associated Press, assigned to Detroit. In approximately 1945, Spoelstra was hired by The Detroit News, where he remained for nearly 30 years.^[1]

His son Jon Spoelstra is a former National Basketball Association executive and his grandson Erik Spoelstra is the current head coach of the Miami Heat.^[2]

Selected articles by Spoelstra

• Penn Victory Would Be Heart-Rending for Wolverines, October 25, 1940
• Harmon Within One Touchdown of Red Grange's Record (Tom Harmon), November 17, 1940
• Joe Louis Trains for Simon Bout in Down-Town Ballroom (Joe Louis), March 13, 1941
• Texas Star Replaces Gehringer (Dutch Meyer), July 17, 1941
• Tigers Rookie Star Seeking First Win (Floyd Giebell), July 19, 1941
• Yost Suspects Michigan May Get Back Jug (Little Brown Jug), October 21, 1941
• Dorais Has Ace Passer in Soph (Gus Dorais/"Tippy" Madarik), November 10, 1941
• Gehringer Nearing End of Playing Days (Charlie Gehringer), November 18, 1941
• Wartime Sports Program Slated, December 29, 1941
• Kuzma Seen as Key to Michigan Success (Tom Kuzma), September 24, 1942
• Tigers Name O'Neill To Succeed Baker as Pilot (Steve O'Neill), November 29, 1942
• Dorais to Coach Detroit Lions (Gus Dorais), January 10, 1943
• Jake LaMotta Rations Sugar (Jake LaMotta), February 6, 1943
• Detroit Tigers Expect To Be Strong Contender (1943 Detroit Tigers), February 8, 1943
• Call Overmire Another Kerr (Stubby Overmire), June 9, 1943
• Ford Industrial Empire Boasts Sports Notables (Harry Bennett), July 12, 1943
• War Worker Is Hockey Flash (Syd Howe), February 4, 1944
• He Can Still Run! (Jesse Owens), March 8, 1944
• Michigan, Detroit Bid For Westfall: Big Back Is Out of Army (Bob Westfall), May 21, 1944
• One-Two Gives Zip To Tigers) (Hal Newhouser/Dizzy Trout), June 1, 1944
• Stay-at-Home 'Ivory Hunter' Bags Big Prizes for Tigers (Wish Egan), July 8, 1944
• It's Open Season for Trout as Talker (Dizzy Trout), The Sporting News, January 3, 1946
• Hank Whacks Tiger Pitch for $60,000: Greenberg Signs Contract Without Any Fuss in Press (Hank Greenberg), February 21, 1946, page 3
• $100 Gold Rings Given to Members of '45 Club, The Sporting News, June 26, 1946
• "Clouter Kell Rings Bell With Detroit's Fandom", The Sporting News, August 14, 1946, page 7
• Here's How to Break in Your Glove, Baseball Digest, July 1947
• "Those Drives to Left Surprise Ted, Too" (Ted Williams), The Sporting News, June 30, 1948, page 3
• "Rolfe Pledges 'Hard Work' by Tigers" (Red Rolfe), The Sporting News, November 24, 1948, page 3
• Michigan Sets Sights on Third Title in Row (1949 Michigan Wolverines football team), September 17, 1949
• "Kuzava Says Snider's Pop-Up Decided Classic" (Bob Kuzava), The Sporting News, January 7, 1953, page 3
• "Keen Play of Kuenn Tigers' Top '53 Tale" (Harvey Kuenn), The Sporting News, September 16, 1953, page 6
• "McHale Served Six Years as Farm Aide" (John McHale), The Sporting News, November 11, 1953, page 2
• 'Hardest loser' Martin made the difference (Billy Martin/1972 Detroit Tigers), October 6, 1972

Notes and References

1. Web site: Benjamin . Hoak . Watson Spoelstra (1910–1999): 'Player, Writer, Visionary' . World Journalism Institute . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110929123837/https://www.worldji.com/resources/view/45 . 2011-09-29 .
2. News: Spoelstra Raised to Be in N.B.A., and Rising to Challenge. Jonathan . Abrams . May 29, 2011 . . SP1 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110531155817/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/29/sports/basketball/spoelstra-has-heat-right-where-it-wanted-to-be.html . 2011-05-31 .