Jerome Holtzman, one of my favoriteĀ sports writers, a long time reporter & columnist in the Chicago newspapers and upon retirement, MLB’s historian (the inventor of the “save”), died at the age of 82.
Jerome Holtzman was writing in Chicago way back when I was growing up.He and John Carmichael (“The Barber Shop”) were my favorites. My memory fades. Did Holtzman write for the old Chicago American? Or the Chicago Daily News? Those papers don’t exist anymore (and hardly do I).
Remember the jingle? “Chicago American. Always on top of the news.” I could sing it for you to this day.
I appreciate his contributions in developing my love for baseball. And for the enjoyment he contributed to my youth through reading his work.
He also wrote an interesting book, “(There’s) No Cheering in the Pressbox” about the newspaper sports writers of note.
One of the last summers I lived in Chicago: Pete Rose said, “Not only did Ken Holtzman shut us down in the afternoon game, I pick up the paper the next morning and he’s WRITING about it.” Pete obviously read only the last name.
Jerome Holtzman’s save statistic has made a lot of money for a lot of relievers.
DonS.