2024-Roger Kahn

Roger Kahn, was often called the dean of American sports writers and the best baseball writer in the country. He earned this praise as a newspaper reporter, magazine writer, columnist, and author for more than 50 years. Growing up in Brooklyn, he developed a deep passion for the Dodgers, eventually joining the New York Herald Tribune in 1948 as a copyboy, and by 1952, he was living his dream; he became the newspaper's star sports reporter by covering the Dodgers.

Transitioning to Newsweek magazine in 1956 as sports editor and later serving as editor at large for The Saturday Evening Post from 1963 to 1969, Kahn expanded his reach. He contributed a monthly column to Esquire magazine for ten years, winning the E.P. Dutton prize five times. Beyond sports, Kahn also covered fiction and nonfiction, exploring politics, social issues, and racial inequality. His heartfelt writings on Jackie Robinson's groundbreaking entry into major league baseball in 1947 skyrocketed his following.

At that point in his career, Kahn realized his passion and hard work were admired; he used this to his advantage, writing 17 nonfiction books, two novels, and countless articles in such national publications as Esquire, Sports Illustrated, Time, and The Saturday Evening Post. Recognized for his thoughtful commentary, Kahn's writings captivate readers by dissecting the greatness and flaws of sports figures.

"Roger Kahn is one of the most eloquent sportswriters ever," said John Mark Eberhart in the Kansas City Star. "All his pieces make for great reading as they address the greatness and shortcomings of everyone from Jack Dempsey to the late, great, obnoxious Yankees manager, Billy Martin."

In 1972 Roger Kahn became a national sensation after publishing his book The Boys of Summer. The book became a popular bestseller, and other authors used it hundreds of times each baseball season. Through March of 2024, The Boys of Summer had sold over 300 million copies. In addition to memorable meetings with Hall of Famers Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese, and Duke Snider, as well as other notable Brooklyn Dodgers from the 1950s, the book trails Kahn's early years as a sports reporter in New York City. According to a review, the book captured the attention of readers. “It's not simply another story about a youngster who grows to love baseball or baseball in general, but a book about pain and defeat and endurance, about how men, anywhere, must live.“

Kahn taught writing at various colleges and lectured at such universities as Yale, Princeton, and Columbia. In 2004, he was appointed the Ottaway Professor of Journalism at SUNY New Paltz. He emphasized the importance of mentorship in journalism and shared insights from his career. While at SUNY New Paltz, he also taught a class called "Beyond the Boys of Summer," where he discussed his approach to writing. Kahn was honored in 2006 by being inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, and Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig praised him as an "icon of our game."

Reflecting on his career, Kahn expressed his desire to pass his journalism knowledge to the next generation. Roger Kahn passed away on February 6, 2020, at 92.

He was inducted into the NSMA Hall of Fame on July 1st, 2024.