Hal McCoy's run is ending...

[Shaggy]

If McCoy is indeed in institution there, I hope the city of Dayton riots upon hearing this news. Make the beancounters squirm.

 

[Rhody31]

So is he still going to cover home games?
I have zero connection with the Reds, but don't mind reading a McCoy gamer once in a while just to dream of writing like that someday.
Would they drop him from the Reds and tell him it's preps or retirement?

 

[Birdscribe]

i can't see mlb.com not hiring him in some capacity, probably with him writing national columns from home, making it to the park when he can get a ride.

I could see MLB itself doing something with him like they did with Jerome Holtzman.

That's a great point, AQB.

I've never met Hal and I'm not a Reds fan, but like WriteStuff, I remember reading Hal's stuff in The Sporting News because I read all the teams' capsules so I would know what was going on in MLB.

I remember hearing the stories about Aaron Boone and Hal's deteriorating vision in the days leading up to his Cooperstown enshrinement and now I read all of the above from people in the sandbox who know Hal and his work better than I do.

But I do know this: Hal's work and knowledge of one of the most demanding beats in all of journalism is worthy of a call from the Hall. That works for me, thanks.

Unfortunately for the readers of the DDN, it doesn't work for some functionary, who defies logic by saying with a straight face the Cincinnati Reds aren't local. Why can't he cover home games?

Baron Scicluna is right. Management at the DDN has forfeited its right to utter the words "We want to improve the paper by doing. . . " Because they have taken their best asset and cast it aside.

 

[DirtyDeeds]

Damn. I'm late hearing this news, but MrBSquared said it better than I could in his tremedous post. A huge blow, but McCoy handled it with class. From what I've heard and read of the man, I expected nothing less. One of the saddest in a string of too many sad days for this busniess.

 

[jeff.pearlman]

One of the most decent people I've ever met—in the job, outside the job, whatever. A true shame ...

 

[dixiehack]

If he was a radio announcer, a la Ernie Harwell, there probably would be an outcry among fans, but given that he worked out of Dayton, and that the paper, not the Reds, made this call, it'll be much easier for most people outside the business not to care.

Hal is part of the rotation of writers that goes on the radio broadcast every night in the top of the second inning. And I expect Marty may raise all kinds of heck about this on the air.

 

[longtimecomin]

Never have met the man personally, but have admired him tremendously from afar. I second just about everything on here. The class and dignity he's shown in dealing with what must have felt like a stab in the heart is a great example for all us. . .Baseball Tonight did a nice interview with him last night. ESPN gets ripped on a lot -- sometimes understandably -- but kudos to them for not letting this go unnoticed.

 

[Drip]

My best to Hal. He's a good guy who taught me a lot about MLB.
I truly hopes that he finds something to do that he enjoys.
At 68, Hal can now enjoy life without listening to an agent whining or a player bitching. He will be imitated but not duplicated.

 

[John Kaltefleiter]

Hal's departure is just another example of how tits up my former and beloved biz is these days.

 

[Cousin Jeffrey]

Great stuff from Hal McCoy, entering what could be his last month covering baseball as a beat writer. The first three or so blogs were great stuff, especially the Brandon Phillips stuff and the notes from a doubleheader between the Pirates and Reds.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/o/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/cincinnatireds/index.html

a great line here:

SAW TWO AMAZINGLY rare things in one inning at Great American Ball Park Saturday - Craig Tatum and Paul Janish hit home runs in the same inning and Pete Rose signed an autograph for free.

 

[Drip]

Great stuff from Hal McCoy, entering what could be his last month covering baseball as a beat writer. The first three or so blogs were great stuff, especially the Brandon Phillips stuff and the notes from a doubleheader between the Pirates and Reds.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/o/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/cincinnatireds/index.html

a great line here:

SAW TWO AMAZINGLY rare things in one inning at Great American Ball Park Saturday - Craig Tatum and Paul Janish hit home runs in the same inning and Pete Rose signed an autograph for free.

He may be leaving but he won't be forgotten.

 

[JBHawkEye]

Hal McCoy's last day...

http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/cincinnatireds/entries/2009/10/04/post_3.html