Leonard Shecter (September 5, 1926 – January 19, 1974) was an American journalist and author.[1] He edited Jim Bouton's groundbreaking Ball Four, as well as its sequel, I'm Glad You Didn't Take It Personally.[2][3][4]
Journalism career
Shecter worked as a sports journalist for the New York Post.[1] While traveling with the Yankees, in 1958, Shecter told his editors about a minor altercation between the coach Ralph Houk and the pitcher Ryne Duren; the subsequent published story, printed without a byline, was among the first in sports journalism to provide a behind-the-scenes look at professional sports team squabbles.[5]
Shecter's first book was a paperback biography of Roger Maris. It was a positive portrayal of the ballplayer, although Maris was upset that it was written without being authorized.[8]Once Upon a Time: The Early Years of the New York Mets covered the Mets' 1962 and 1963 seasons.[9][10]
Shecter, who knew Jim Bouton during the pitcher's Yankees days, suggested that Bouton keep a diary of his 1969 season. The diary, edited by Shecter, became Ball Four.[11] Shecter, in part, wanted to provide an alternative to books such as Jim Brosnan's The Long Season, which Shecter considered a sanitized version of baseball life.[12] Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn tried to get Bouton to blame the contentious book on Shecter.[13]
On the Pad, written with William Phillips, was an exposé on police corruption; Phillips had appeared before the Knapp Commission.[14]
Critical reception
Kirkus Reviews called The Jocks a "wicked, funny, and often startling expose of the games played off the field and the scores that never get posted."[15]
Death
Shecter died on January, 19, 1974, from leukemia.[1]
Bibliography
Roger Maris: Home Run Hero (1961)
Once Upon a Time: The Early Years of the New York Mets (1969)
The Jocks (1969)
Once Upon the Polo Grounds: The Mets That Were (1970)
^Didinger, Ray (June 12, 1986). "Ex-Knick has the knack as a politician: Bill Bradley scoring big as 2nd-term senator". Sports. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 116.
^Isaacs, Stan (December 15, 1985). "An Embittered, Tragic Hero Maris, dead at 51, saw fame as his curse". Sports. Newsday. p. 5.
^Appelbaum, Judith (April 10, 1983). "Travel to the Past". The New York Times. p. A43.
^Corr, John (April 17, 1983). "Paperbacks". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. P4.
^Calabria, Pat (April 10, 1988). "Ball Four: A Struggle". Sports. Newsday. p. 19.
^Stinson, Thomas (March 12, 1989). "Sports & Literature—America's Appetite for a Good Scandal and the Latest Dirt on Its Heroes—Opens a New Chapter in Sports Publishing Field". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. B16.
^Barbati, Carl (June 24, 1990). "In publishing circles, when the category is sports, it is known simply as 'The Book'". USA Today.
^Case, Dick (November 25, 1990). "Once a Crooked Cop – Bill Phillips Now Devotes His Life Sentence to Justice". Syracuse Herald American. p. I1.
