Two people with the same name, job and lived in New Jersey died on the same day? That's horrible.

Isn't that Tony Soprano's neighborhood

Isn't that Tony Soprano's neighborhood

I believe he was in North Caldwell.

[2] Isn't that Tony Soprano's neighborhood

The arson investigator originally ruled the fire was a hit, but finding no evidence of mob involvement, later called it an error.
(j/k)

One neighbor placed a ladder up to the second floor to reach Shannon. But a neighbor says the 69-year-old told them he couldn’t break the window and he disappeared into the thick smoke.

God I'm glad I'm not that neighbor. From that description I don't know that I would ever be able to get that image out of my head.

I came here to post this, if it hadn't already been put up.
Just horrible to hear this. Bill was extremely gracious to me when I first made my way into a major league press box, introduced himself, welcomed me. It will be strange to hear anyone else call the official scoring- he had a unique style.

This wouldn't have happened if he was more stats-friendly

...because then he would have been living in his mother's basement.

(too soon?)

Along with the late Red Foley, Bill Shannon had a reputation for being one of the better official scorers around.

I know there's no way to know what was going on but I read something like this and I wonder how the person on the ladder couldn't break the window.

How ####### terrible.

I know there's no way to know what was going on but I read something like this and I wonder how the person on the ladder couldn't break the window.

From the snippet above it's not clear to me that the person was on the ladder.

I guess it also depends what kind of a window it was. Some windows are not easily breakable without a device to assist.

Seems like something could have been done -- especially by Shannon -- but as you say, without knowing the facts it's hard to tell.

Ray, I saw your name as the most recent poster and for a moment feared a repeat of the Harwell thread. Glad to say I was wrong.


A very sad story. My sympathies to all who knew Mr. Shannon.

Ray, I saw your name as the most recent poster and for a moment feared a repeat of the Harwell thread. Glad to say I was wrong.

Yeah, I guess the people who decided to act like asshats in that thread haven't shown up here yet. But give them time.

I hope the smoke got him before the fire did.

(too soon?)

Yes.

I hope the smoke got him before the fire did.

I daresay it's probable a combination of smoke and heat shut down all consciousness and higher brain functioning a while before the fire got to him. Particularly if the fire itself was on the first floor.

fuller obit

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/Bill_Shannon_sports_writer_dies_in_house_fire.html

This was the one never-changing guy in the NYC press boxes for 30+ years (Bob Shepard was in another room basically, doing his thing at Yankees games).

The "Runyonesque" comment was a good one. Who had sideburns like that? Met him 25 years ago and thought he was 60. Gone today and he was 69.

The massive loss of encyclopedic knowledge of NYC baseball history (and many other sports) is incalculable. Some young guy 15 years from now might be writing what could be a great book, but without Shannon to interview, it's just not going to be the same.

This is kind of behind the scenes, I know, but this is terrible for any sports fan, trust me....

Keith Olbermann paid him a nice tribute on "Countdown" tonight.

This story reminds me that there are a lot of people who will never be known that bring baseball to me.

They will never make the Hall of Fame, will never hold a trophy, or have a parade in their honour.

I know the players. I read, listen, and watch. I could probably, feet-to-the-fire, name the 109 players elected by the BBWAA (given enough time!) I could name a bunch of the others who had to wait for the Vet C'tee, and before that I would fire off a bunch who slid in during the Frankie Frisch days.

I don't know the Executives. 31, according to the official site (which has apparently changed it's url, but not preserved the old one to fwd me, I guess I need to update my bookmark). But I find no easy link that lists them. I am probably wrong, but I figure election in this category is as much about an affable personality as it is about ability or innovation. Some of them deserve to be inducted, but some of them were just around for a long time.

In between the players and the executives/owners...there are a lot of terrific people. Some field managers get noted, some media now have a recognition process. But there are many more. Dedicated, skilled people. People who log 126,000 miles/year in a Cavalier (formerly a Javelin) to report on 17 year olds playing ball, or wrap tape around bent-back wrists. Or watch&decide; whether that muffed grounder to the 2B was a hit or an error. People in Spokane, and Binghampton, and San Pedro de Macoris, that I'll never meet.

I don't know Bill Shannon. Have never heard his name until today, and today may be the only time. I won't pretend that my condolences to his family mean anything. But I want to thank him for being a part of baseball. People like Bill Shannon have made baseball better.

@17. Well said.

Yeah, I guess the people who decided to act like asshats in that thread haven't shown up here yet.

One of them did, in post #12.

Who had sideburns like that?

Upon review, they are pretty sweet.

I too have never heard of Bill Shannon before today and it appears that the world is a lesser place for his passing. If he was a part of baseball then he was one of the family and peace to him and his.

I don't want to come across as preaching but do want to remind everyone of the importance of having functioning smoke detectors and the need to replace the batteries in them on a regular basis.

Thank you 17. After some ill-advised snark earlier in the thread, that was well said.