Rick Hummel
Born
Richard Lowell Hummel

(1946-02-25)February 25, 1946
Quincy, Illinois, U.S.
DiedMay 20, 2023(2023-05-20) (aged 77)
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
OccupationSportswriter
EmployerSt. Louis Post-Dispatch
Spouses
  • Connie Karr
    ​
    (before 2008)​
  • Melissa
Children3
AwardsJ. G. Taylor Spink Award

Richard Lowell Hummel (February 25, 1946 – May 20, 2023) was an American author and sports columnist best known for his work for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Hummel was honored in 2007 with the J. G. Taylor Spink Award for baseball writing.[1] Known throughout baseball by his nickname "The Commish", he was a former president of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.[2]

Early life

Richard Lowell Hummel was born on February, 25, 1946,[3] in Quincy, Illinois.[4] He graduated from Quincy Senior High School in 1964.[1] At first Hummel remained in his hometown for higher education, attending Quincy College before transferring to the University of Missouri to attend their School of Journalism. Hummel expressed an interest in sports journalism and broadcasting at an early age, having auditioned for a job at Quincy station WGEM when he was twelve years old.[1]

Hummel worked as a spotter for former Major League Baseball (MLB) player and coach Elvin Tappe and his twin brother Melvin as they broadcast Quincy High School games.[1] Melvin Tappe encouraged Hummel to pursue a career as a sports writer. While attending the University of Missouri, Hummel returned home during two summers to work for the Quincy Herald-Whig.[1] At Mizzou, he worked on the Sports Information department's statistics crew for football games alongside another future sports notable, John Walsh, now executive vice president and executive editor of ESPN.[5]

Professional career

Following graduation from the University of Missouri in 1968, Hummel served three years in the U.S. Army.[1] While stationed in Colorado he also worked as a part-time employee for two years on the Colorado Springs Free Press-Sun.[5] After his discharge from the Army in 1971, Hummel was hired by fellow Mizzou alum Bob Broeg to work for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Broeg, who himself would earn the Spink award and be inducted into Cooperstown in 1979, at first assigned Hummel to cover secondary and St. Louis regional teams for the newspaper.[5] Hummel worked as a beat writer for the St. Louis Stars of the North American Soccer League, Spirits of St. Louis of the American Basketball Association, and Saint Louis University hockey, among others.[5] Hummel earned his nickname "The Commish" or "The Commissioner" for running an APBA board game with colleagues[6] and for his exhaustive knowledge of the rules involved in the softball, football, and bowling leagues he and Post-Dispatch teammates participated in.[4][5]

The first of Hummel's big breaks at the Post-Dispatch came in 1973 when he covered around eight St. Louis Cardinals (MLB) home games for the newspaper, his first being a 1–0 rain-shortened victory over the Montreal Expos.[5] Another milestone came in 1978 when long-time Cardinals beat writer Neal Russo was unable to make a trip to Cincinnati, Ohio. Hummel was sent in his place and ended up covering a historic game as Hall of Famer Tom Seaver pitched his only career no-hitter in a 4–0 victory for the Reds.[5] In 1994 his peers elected Hummel President of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. He has also served on the Baseball Hall of Fame Overview Committee, reviewing the careers of potential inductees by the Veterans Committee.[1] Hummel continued to work as the game-day beat reporter until 2002 when he transitioned to the primary role of weekly baseball columnist.[7]

In 2007, Hummel won the J.G. Taylor Spink Award.[8] He was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame the following year. Hummel was a three-time "Missouri Sportswriter of the Year" as selected by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association,[1] and was inducted into the Quincy High School Blue Devils Hall of Fame.[1]

Personal life

Hummel had three children, one son and two daughters.[5] One of Hummel's ex-wives, Connie Karr, the mother of his daughter Lauren, was one of five people murdered during the Kirkwood City Council shooting in February 2008.[9] Hummel's last wife was Melissa.[10]

Hummel died at his home on May 20, 2023, at the age of 77.[10][11]

Books

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Hall of Fame inductee Rick Hummel". Quincy High School Blue Devil Sports Hall of Fame. 2010. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Rick Hummel biography". BookReporter. 2013. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  3. ^ "Rick Hummel: Media". St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Rick Hummel: Media". St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Pollack, Joe (February 1, 2007). "Hummel inducted into baseball Hall of Fame". St. Louis Journalism Review. Retrieved May 13, 2013 – via The Free Library.
  6. ^ "Rick Hummel, esteemed St Louis-based baseball writer, dead at 77". AP NEWS. May 22, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  7. ^ "Longtime Cardinals, MLB writer Hummel dies". ESPN.com. May 22, 2023.
  8. ^ Curry, Jack (January 9, 2007). "Two Elected to Hall of Fame; McGwire Misses". The New York Times.
  9. ^ "Slain councilwoman planned race for mayor". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. February 8, 2008. Retrieved February 8, 2008.
  10. ^ a b Goold, Derrick (May 22, 2023). "Hall of Fame baseball writer Rick 'The Commish' Hummel dies at 77". STLtoday.com. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  11. ^ "Rick Hummel, esteemed St Louis-based baseball writer, dead at 77". AP NEWS. May 22, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
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