Jeff Idelson’s introduction
- IT’S AN HONOR TO INTRODUCE THE 2012 J.G. TAYLOR SPINK AWARD WINNER, BOB ELLIOTT.
- THE J.G. TAYLOR SPINK AWARD WAS BORN A HALF CENTURY AGO IN 1962 AND IS NAMED FOR THE LONG-TIME PUBLISHER OF THE SPORTING NEWS. THE AWARD IS ANNUALLY BESTOWED UPON A NEWSPAPER REPORTER FOR MERITIROUS CONTRIBUTION TO BASEBALL WRITING.
- THIS YEAR’S AWARD WILL BE PRESENTED TO BOB ON JULY 21ST AT DOUBLEDAY FIELD IN COOPERSTOWN, WHERE HE WILL SHARE THE STAGE WITH TIM MCCARVER, THE WINNER OF THE FORD FRICK BROADCAST AWARD.
- THE FOLLOWING DAY, JULY 22, RON SANTO AND BARRY LARKIN WILL BE ENSHRINED AS THE TWO NEWEST MEMBERS OF THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME.
- BOB’S RESUME STANDS TALL. HE IS THE VOICE OF RECORD NORTH OF THE BORDER WITH HIS UNBRIDLED PASSION AND KNOWLEDGE OF ALL THINGS BASEBALL IN CANADA, BOTH AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL ALIKE, SEEMINGLY IN EVERY PROVINCE.
- HE’S BEEN A REPORTER AND COLUMNIST IN MONTREAL AND TORONTO SINCE 1979. AN ADORING PUBLIC FOLLOWS HIM MORE THAN ANY OTHER JOURNALIST IN CANADA. HE IS WIDELY RESPECTED.
- BOXER’S HALLMARKS ARE HIS UNSURPASSED WORK ETHIC AND UNCANNY ABILITY TO CULITVATE AND MAINTAIN RELATIONSHIPS.
- THESE TRAITS HAVE ASSURED THAT HE’S ALWAYS ACCURATE, ENTERTAINING AND AHEAD OF THE PACK IN REPORTING, AND THAT HE RARELY SLEEPS. FOR THOSE OF US WHO WORK IN BASEBALL, WE KNOW THAT SLEEP CAN BE VERY OVERRATED. BOB’S THE POSTERCHILD.
- BOB’S COVERED BASEBALL IN CANADA WITH A TENACIOUS KNACK FOR LEAVING NO STONE UNTURNED, WHILE PROVIDING A COLORFUL LOOK INTO THE SPORT’S BIGGEST PERSONALITIES.
- HE’S AS PROUD OF HIS REPORTING ON A STANDOUT GRADE SCHOOLER LIKE JOEY VOTTO, AS HE IS THE 1992 AND 1993 WORLD CHAMPION BLUE JAYS.
- BOB’S DEVOTION TO BASEBALL HAS TURNED MANY CANADIAN HOCKEY FANS INTO BASEBALL FANS, AND MADE HIM AN ICON, IN THE SAME VEIN AS DON CHERRY, NEIL YOUNG, JIM CARREY, ALEX TREBECK, FERGIE JENKINS AND THE MAPLE LEAF ITSELF.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE WELCOME THE 2012 J.G. TAYLOR SPINK AWARD WINNER AND THE PRIDE OF CANADA, THE VERY DESERVING BOB ELLIOTT.
