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Tuesday, December 08, 2009

ESPN: Gammons Ends Hall of Fame Run with ESPN

Baseball Hall of Fame journalist Peter Gammons has decided to pursue new endeavors and will no longer be a contributor to ESPN after this week’s winter meetings.

“My decision to leave ESPN and move on at this point in my life has been conflicted. I owe a great deal of my professional life to ESPN, having spent more than half of my 40 years in journalism working for the network, and the choice to move on was made with nothing but the strongest feelings for the people with whom I worked. ESPN gave me a great deal more than I gave it, and will always be a huge part of who I am.

Tripon Posted: December 08, 2009 at 09:12 PM | 41 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
  Tags: business, fantasy baseball, hall of fame, history, media, online, red sox, rumors, special topics, television

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   1. Repoz Posted: December 08, 2009 at 09:39 PM (#3407106)
Give Harold a hug for me!
   2. robinred Posted: December 08, 2009 at 09:50 PM (#3407127)
Wonder what song this reminds Gammons of.
   3. alkeiper Posted: December 08, 2009 at 09:52 PM (#3407134)
There are positives and negatives to Gammons' writing, and he certainly lost a step the last few years. But he's one of those guys who I got the impression that he REALLY enjoyed the game.
   4. Earvin 'Gold Stars' Johnson Posted: December 08, 2009 at 09:53 PM (#3407138)
I've enjoyed Gammons' work since his SI days, but since his aneurysm in 2006 he's sort of been a ghost.
   5. Greg Goosen at 30 Posted: December 08, 2009 at 09:54 PM (#3407141)
The greatest baseball writer since Ford Frick.
   6. Infinite Yost (Voxter) Posted: December 08, 2009 at 09:56 PM (#3407145)
Yeah, he'd lost a step, but I'm still sad to see him go. I wonder what he'll get up to now.
   7. Snowboy Posted: December 08, 2009 at 10:00 PM (#3407146)
NESN is the obvious, if he wants to stay on TV.
He never could stop covering the Red Sox first, even in a national gig.
(But, yeah, he does give the impression he actually enjoys baseball, so props for that.)
   8. Tripon Posted: December 08, 2009 at 10:00 PM (#3407148)
Or MLB Network.
   9. Big Train Posted: December 08, 2009 at 10:04 PM (#3407155)
End of an era, but he didn't just lose a step, he lost all his steps.

Younger people who don't know the Gammons of even 8 years ago, let alone 28 years ago, will never know how great he was.

There is no shame in getting old though, I hope this was his decision, and there are no health issues behind it. He clearly loved baseball, and that isn't something you get from a lot of national media types.
   10. rconn23 Posted: December 08, 2009 at 10:05 PM (#3407157)
He's pulling an A-Rod, opting out to take the attention away from the Granderson deal.

At least this is what I'd like to believe.
   11. Repoz Posted: December 08, 2009 at 10:20 PM (#3407181)
Gammo had to feel like mere shitdogg nettles everytime he'd be in a deep baseball riff and some perquacky would butt-in to give an NFL update.

MLB Network had to be killing him...and that's where he belongs. Hopefully to take Heyman's spot.
   12. vortex of dissipation Posted: December 08, 2009 at 10:26 PM (#3407184)
Wonder what song this reminds Gammons of.


"You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go"?
   13. Gamingboy Posted: December 08, 2009 at 10:27 PM (#3407185)
Andrew Jackson is leaving TWWL?!?!?!?!?!?!

This day gets worst. Gammons hadn't been the same in recent years with his health problems, but it could not be denied he loves the game as much as anybody.

However, I have to wonder if he'd be able to do MLB Network. He might still be under contract to ESPN.
   14. Tripon Posted: December 08, 2009 at 10:31 PM (#3407191)
Apparently Gammons already found a new job.

Gammons excited about his new job. Left ESPN on good terms. As you would expect. #redsox #wbztv #mlb #wbz


http://twitter.com/RochieWBZ
   15. base ball chick Posted: December 08, 2009 at 10:39 PM (#3407210)
i always liked gammo (even if he is an obvious evil empire jr fan) and i think lots of it is that he really doesn't think it is uncool to make it obvious that he LOVES baseball and LOVES getting paid to talk about it

especially when he did a LOT more on BBTN

not real too surprised he got himself a new job immediately.
   16. Tom Nawrocki Posted: December 08, 2009 at 10:52 PM (#3407229)
One of his fellow sportswriters (I can't remember who) said a few years back, "I don't know anybody who likes anything as much as Peter Gammons like baseball."
   17. Stately, Plump Buck Mulligan Posted: December 08, 2009 at 10:56 PM (#3407233)
I'll admit he loves baseball. Unfortunately, he also loves making #### up. Maybe they'll get Will Carroll to replace him? He's shown real potential in that area.
   18. Tripon Posted: December 08, 2009 at 11:56 PM (#3407321)
Aisle424

No reason left to watch ESPN Baseball Tonight. RT @TheBlogfines: RT @dsportsdaily: AP reporting that Peter Gammons will join the MLB network
   19. cercopithecus aethiops Posted: December 09, 2009 at 12:17 AM (#3407345)
it could not be denied he loves the game as much as anybody

That's unpossible; Joe Buck says that nobody loves the game as much as Bud Selig.
   20. Mister High Standards Posted: December 09, 2009 at 12:31 AM (#3407359)
ESPN: Gammons Ends Hall of Fame Run with ESPN


More like Willie Mays with the mets.
   21. puck Posted: December 09, 2009 at 01:15 AM (#3407402)
From Jim's new twitter feed thingie:

Pete Abraham: Peter Gammons headed to MLB Network. Maybe a Boston-based gig, too.
   22. J. Bowman, upon reflection, does hate pants Posted: December 09, 2009 at 01:15 AM (#3407403)
I've been looking for the Primey-winning classic from Fake Peter Gammons. Sadly, I have come up with nothing after minutes - minutes, I say! - of searching.
   23. Ray (RDP) Posted: December 09, 2009 at 01:43 AM (#3407425)
He served a niche for a while. I loved his Sunday Globe column growing up outside of Boston, having discovered baseball in the mid to late '80s. A decade later, in the mid-90s, I realized he left a lot to be desired. But after that point he did show a willingness to improve, being one of the first mainstream writers I can recall to at least reference things like OBP. His aneurysm slowed him, but in many ways he was still better after it than he had been decades earlier.

His Diamond Notes segment on ESPN, back when I used to waste time watching ESPN and SportsCenter, was something to look forward to.

Yes, he sometimes made things up, including trades. But he had many good qualities. He didn't seem to hold a grudge against Baseball Prospectus, even though around the inception of BP Gary Huckabay had a regular column fisking Gammons's sunday column.

I never did share his fascination with putting music notes into his columns.
   24. Avoid running at all times.-S. Paige Posted: December 09, 2009 at 01:57 AM (#3407436)
Is this one of the two huge announcements Carroll was talking about?
   25. Tripon Posted: December 09, 2009 at 02:32 AM (#3407463)
Somebody released fake news beforehand!

PeteAbe

Now it can be told as press release is in: Gammons to NESN and NESN.com.


Perhaps somebody else will claim that Gammons actually died 10 years ago, and this is just his clone trying to make news.

edit: Actually, he's working for both MLB.com/MLB Network, and NESN/NESN.com.
   26. Howie Menckel Posted: December 09, 2009 at 02:54 AM (#3407490)
Secaucus, NJ and New York, NY, December 8, 2009 – MLB Network and MLB Advanced Media today announced that Hall of Fame baseball writer Peter Gammons has joined MLB Network and MLB.com as an on-air and online analyst. As part of a multi-year deal, Gammons will offer analysis and commentary on MLB Network for breaking news and special events like the Trade Deadline, First-Year Player Draft, Winter Meetings and Postseason. Gammons will also serve as a signature and regularly featured writer for MLB.com’s new columnist initiative, writing commentary on breaking news and posting several articles online each week.

During the 2009-2010 offseason, Gammons will appear on Hot Stove, MLB Network’s nightly offseason studio show featuring updates and analysis of the moves all 30 clubs are making and planning in preparation for the upcoming season. He will also contribute to MLB Network’s Spring Training program 30 Clubs in 30 Days and do studio work on short documentary-style pieces and other select programming. Gammons will also be a regular analyst on MLB Tonight, MLB Network’s signature nightly studio show.

Also today, NESN announced that Gammons has entered into a multi-year agreement to join the network in January 2010 to serve as a studio analyst and reporter.
   27. Repoz Posted: December 09, 2009 at 04:36 AM (#3407594)
Peter Gammons has joined MLB Network

And no effin' Insider!
   28. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: December 09, 2009 at 04:51 AM (#3407601)
Is that "column initiative" going to be behind a pay wall?
   29. PreservedFish Posted: December 09, 2009 at 05:03 AM (#3407607)
He didn't seem to hold a grudge against Baseball Prospectus, even though around the inception of BP Gary Huckabay had a regular column fisking Gammons's sunday column.


Gammons, to his credit and in direct contrast to most of his crusty old colleagues, had an open mind about statistics and changed his opinions on the value of sabermetrics over the years.

And, for better or worse, he is certainly a passionate fan of Adult Contemporary music. His writing about music always fascinated me because I loathed most of his recommendations, but it was clear that he was a real fan, with a studied ear.

One day I hope to wish a person that really loves Smooth Jazz - I don't mean a man that just listens to the smooth jazz radio station, but a man that knows all of the artists, knows all of the history, has all the important albums, can speak intelligently about trends, etc.
   30. Score Bard Posted: December 09, 2009 at 05:52 AM (#3407624)
I've been looking for the Primey-winning classic from Fake Peter Gammons.
Gammons may not have a peer
With his groundbreaking writing career.
Though few of us make it,
Others can fake it,
Like this: what you're seeking is here.
   31. OCF Posted: December 09, 2009 at 06:19 AM (#3407634)
Score Bard! Long time no see.

On my first stab at following that link, I got "But A.J. Hinch insists that Kevin Mulvey will be back soon from his chemically imbalanced pelvis, and that Dan Haren can at least do a careless job resembling a pimento loaf while he fills in."
   32. Snowboy Posted: December 09, 2009 at 06:26 AM (#3407640)
ScoreBard sighting, and Voros sighting, same day!
Puttin' the band back together...
   33. Hang down your head, Tom Foley Posted: December 09, 2009 at 06:31 AM (#3407643)
And Mike Crudale.
   34. meatwad Posted: December 09, 2009 at 06:46 AM (#3407651)
* J.C. Ramirez, whose favorite clubhouse downtime activity is making up anagrams, will have a lot of time to think up some more (his favorite for "Lance Carter" is "Art canceller"), after injuring his kidney in a freak collision with a popsicle in one of the biggest planetariums in Seattle, adn will have to hope he isn't Wally Pipped when his innings are taken by Ryan Rowland-Smith, who is feeling very elegant right now because of his pencil sharpener, and Ryan Feierabend.

monty another one for me was "No one has seen anything as cheerful as Manny Delcarmen since "Smooth Grape" by 68 Tangerines hit the charts in 1968."
seems like repoz to me
   35. Hang down your head, Tom Foley Posted: December 09, 2009 at 06:52 AM (#3407659)
Will Jo-Jo Reyes and his jello pudding cup please come home?
   36. vortex of dissipation Posted: December 09, 2009 at 06:56 AM (#3407661)
If the Angels get Albert Pujols in an imminent swap with St. Louis for Matt Palmer, they will turn around and send him to the Diamondbacks in a three-way swap with New York. Arizona will send Daniel Stange to the Yankees, while Los Angeles ends up with Michael Dunn and Ryan Franklin.
   37. Good cripple hitter Posted: December 09, 2009 at 07:06 AM (#3407665)
"The Rangers would like to acquire Miguel Cabrera, but they have to move salary in order to do so. This, and not the rumored yak incident, is the reason Elvis Andrus could become available."
   38. franoscar Posted: December 09, 2009 at 03:03 PM (#3407773)
The Sunday Globe column was a great feature. But Gammons became such a sanctimonious & self-righteous shill for the Red Sox, I don't even think he belongs on NESN.
   39. J. Bowman, upon reflection, does hate pants Posted: December 09, 2009 at 04:44 PM (#3407880)
Like this: what you're seeking is here.


Random Diamond Notes returns!
I was actually thinking of the "my columns are word art" post. But my day is made nonetheless.

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