Elliott: Remembering Bill Lankhof
November 11, 2025
By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network
In the summer of 2007, the legendary Buck O’Neil had the crowd at the Clark Sports Center in the palm of his hand.
A total of 17 Negro Leaguers were inducted that day, but not O’Neil. What would his reaction to being shunned be?
“They always say to me Buck, ‘I know you hate people for what they did to you or what they did to your folks.’” O’Neil told the crowd. “I say, ‘No, man, I never learned to hate.’ I hate cancer. Cancer killed my mother. My wife died 10 years ago of cancer.”
To paraphrase O’Neill ... I hate ALS ... and cancer, too, for that matter.
ALS put our pal Bill Lankhof through years of pain until he passed on Thursday in Fergus, Ont. And Wednesday his friends will say their final goodbyes and share stories of this great man and even a greater writer in Orangeville at Dods & McNair Funeral Home (21 First Street). And on Thursday, he will be laid to rest, alongside his late brother Matthew, whose funeral was in 1993, the day before Joe Carter homered in Game 6.
* * *
First things first: Bill’s copy was 10 times cleaner than mine (zero typos, zero spelling mistakes) and his game stories were better than mine. Bill enjoyed the games, enjoyed interaction with players -- the give and take there used to be in the old days way back in the early 1990s. He did not enjoy the off season. He’d go downstairs for lunch and he’d miss the return call from an agent.
After the Blue Jays won in 1992, they had a huge turnover. The departed included Tom Henke, Jimmy Key, David Cone, Dave Winfield, Candy Maldonado and Manny Lee. Of the 40 1992 Blue Jays only 19 returned.
So, the office sent two people to the winter meetings in Galt House in Louisville, Ky. Bill and myself.
Marty Noble of Newsday had the great line about the Galt House on Day 4 when he received messages from Day 1 courtesy of a switchboard operator and tried to type with a 40-watt bulb in his room. Marty took six of his 40 watt bulbs to the front desk to exchange for one 250. The desk refused.
“The good thing about collecting Galt House points,” Marty said, “is that if you get enough points, you never have to stay at the Galt House again.”
Bill and I arrived on Saturday Dec. 5. Sunday was a short day. Zero action. Although the Blue Jays did have a meeting with Paul Molitor’s agent which was news we had. Joe Carter was a free agent and when he departed to his home in Kansas City at the end of the season, told writers he would either return to play for the Blue Jays or sign with his hometown Royals.
Monday was another slow day. Our first deadline in those days was 11 p.m. We both filed our stories in plenty of time. Our second deadline was 12:30 a.m. and our final was 2 a.m.
Sometime after midnight, the Blue Jays signed free-agent Molitor when the Milwaukee Brewers decided not to bring him back. About 40 minutes later, Blue Jays crack P.R. man Howard Starkman summoned the Toronto scribes to a room. Carter was on a speaker phone answering questions. He was staying because he saw “Devon White in a dream.”
We pounded away sulfurously until about 1:55 a.m. Our stories for first edition were tossed in the garbage.
Tuesday was another slow day. Until after midnight. That’s when the Blue Jays signed free-agent Dave Stewart to a two-year deal as Key left for the New York Yankees and a four-year contact.
Again we finished at 1:55 a.m. We packed up our stuff, Bill pushed his chair back and let loose with John Fitz-Ge would later describe as a ‘Lankhofian sigh’ and asked “Is it like this every year?”
I answered, “Bill, I have been to every winter meetings or general meetings since 1981 -- except Hawaii -- and I have never had one night like this, never mind two straight.”
Bill sighed again and said, “Well, we better sleep fast then to get ready for today.”
* * *
One night in Baltimore at old Memorial Stadium, Bill was having troubles with his trusty Tandy 200. He called the Blue Room (where our IT department -- usually manned by Doug Smith) was based.
Now I could only hear one end of the conversation, but it went like this as Bill said after discovering Smitty was not there:
“Yes, I turned it on and off.”
“Yes, I tried that.”
“Yes, IT IS PLUGGED IN.”
“Well, what should I do now?”
WHAM! Bill, calm, good natured, even-tempered, Bill had spiked the phone in anger.
What happened Bill?
“The guy on the other end told me to get a pen and paper, then find a homing pigeon.”
Luckily enough I had a news story (which would stand for all editions). I loaned Bill my machine and he was able to finish his notes and game story. On time. As usual. No pigeon needed.
* * *
Deeepest sympathies to sons Ryan (and wife Alison) and Phil (and wife Lisa). As well as grandchildren Lily, Nolan (of the Brampton Royals), Avery and Jocelyn. Plus Bill’s brothers Gerry (Christine) and John (Brenda).
* * *
In 29 1/2 years we shared the baseball beat for at least a season some fine people and writers: Ken Fidlin, Lance Hornby, Mike Zeisberger, Mike Rutsey, Mike Ganter, Jack Saunders and Bill.
It would be impossible to name who I enjoyed working with the most.
I do know who I miss the most.
* * *
Comments and memories from Bill’s friends and acquaintances ...
“The thing about Bill many didn’t know was he may not have been outspoken or controversial but he listened loudly and was a true professional. He will be missed.” _ Gord Ash, vice-president Milwaukee Brewers, former Blue Jays GM, member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, class of 2019.
“He was a professional and a student of the game. Bill was no body’s mouthpiece, he wrote as he saw it and he was always a man of integrity. I believe everyone that had any interaction with Bill came away thinking that they received a fair shake and as any executive that’s all you can ask for -- bias did not enter into it.” _ Paul Beeston, former Blue Jays president, member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, class of 2002.
“Condolences on the passing of your pal, Bill. I recall he was a feisty columnist who didn’t suffer any fools (fools in his mind) lightly.” _ Howie Birnie, Leaside, keeper of the Shrine, Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer, class of 2024, Baseball Ontario Hall of Fame, 2017.
“Very sorry to hear about Bill’s passing. I know he was a good friend of yours. You had mentioned he was very sick with ALS, a battle no one is going to win. Still remember the times he would gear up with the catcher’s equipment to catch his son Phil as Phil threw his bullpen sessions in Mississauga.” _ Remo Cardinale, former Junior National Team pitching coach.
“Sorry to hear about Bill Lankhof, RIP. I will always remember him as a quiet but very cordial, soft spoken gentleman “ _ Former Blue Jays 1B Carlos Delgado, franchise’s all-time home run leader with 338.
“Back in the day when the Sun sports department was humming on all cylinders, Billy Lankhof was our Swiss Army Knife. In an age of specialists, he could do anything and everything better than most of us and in the process, made us all a little bit better than we actually were. In the office, Billy was, naturally enough, nicknamed Lanky: tall, slim, angular, looking maybe like he could use a good meal. But when he stepped on the ball field as the third baseman for the Sun Flashers, he became Brooks, named after the immortal Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson. I was a pitcher with the Flashers and Brooks Lankhof greedily vacuumed up my mistakes, diving for balls he had no business getting close to. It was a reflection of the kind of person he was: no task too big or too small. We’re all better for having known him.” _ Ken Fildin, former Sun sports scribe, former Jack Graney winner.
“The thing about Bill is the exterior rarely matched the interior. You would walk into the office, see Bill, and your first thought was often, ‘Oh, Bill looks a little pissed today. Maybe steer clear.’ A minute later you’re having a conversation with him wondering how you ever had that impression. Always a great conversation with Lanky.” _ Mike Ganter, Toronto Sun .
“Bill gave class to the Blue Jays beat. Readers had confidence in his writing. He wanted to get it right. First of all, he knew the game, secondly respected the game and finally, he respected the players. In response they trusted him. I don’t have the exact number of years he was on the beat but there was never a day at the SkyDome where I would see him, smile and say “Bill Lankhof, how was the drive in from Bowmanville?” He would give a sigh and explain the traffic flow. It got to the point that I would ask him in Seattle or in Arlington, Tex. He was a good man and a great writer. My only hope is that George Gross and Bill work for competing newspapers upstairs.” _ Pat Gillick, former Blue Jays general manager, National Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, 2011, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, class of 1997.
“I’m sorry to hear of the passing of your old pal Bill Lankhof. That ALS is a bastard. 72 sounds pretty damn young these days. I had the good fortune to spend some time with Bill during your weekend in Cooperstown. That included a long chat at the bar after the ceremony, when he shared stories about some of the things he covered and his experience traveling on the private jet Pierre-Karl provided. Funny, I recall him talking about dealing with Dave Stieb for an anniversary feature he was working on and Bill found him okay to deal with ... that stood out for me! I also remember the great pieces he did for HOF weekend in the Sun.
“I sat with Bill and Phil at dinner the next night at your family and friends dinner and was impressed with his son, Phil, as well. I moved into the next room for the speeches and I think Phil may have given the best one. He couldn’t have been very old at the time … 24? He talked about holding his old ball coach in high regard and mentioned a particular mound visit ... the words of wisdom not coming to me now. I’ll hoist one to Bill tonight. RIP Lanky. _ Paul Murphy, mystery novelist, Kingston, Ont.
“From time to time, writers would pull night shifts on the sports copy editing/layout desk, where yours truly toiled. Among his multitude of talents, Lanky proudly was as accomplished a desk man as he was a writer. His nights on the desk with us became renowned as Legends of Layout guest appearances. And without a doubt, Lanky truly is a legend. What I remember most and most fondly is Bill’s photograph-sizing contraption that while being difficult to properly describe aptly is referred to as The Gizmo. Those who know, know. I’ll never forget The Gizmo and I’ll never forget Lanky, The Gangster, our beloved friend and colleague Bill Lankhof. RIP, my friend.” _ John (Big Man) Fitz-Gerald, former Toronto Sun deskman.
“My memories of Bill were all good. He was a guy doing his job and he did a good job. He was a good man, a real straight shooter. Bill was very personable. I’ll tell you this -- he certainly didn’t come across as arrogant.” _ Tom Henke, former Blue Jays reliever, 1992 World Series winner, all-time franchise leader in saves with 217.
“Bill Lankhof was one of the nicest and most genuine people I’ve ever met. He was a true professional. As an excellent writer and columnist he took great joy in highlighting the accomplishments of others. His calm demeanour was always present. I respected him greatly.” _ Retired veteran Blue Jays broadcaster Jerry Howarth, former Jack Graney winner, 2013.
“Sad to hear of the death of Bill Lankhof, longtime writer and editor at the Toronto Sun. Always enjoyed running into him when writing about the Blue Jays years ago.” _ Danny Knobler, former Detroit Tigers beat writer, Mueang Pattaya, Thailand.
“I will never forget when Bill wrote about my story covering the Detroit Grand Prix in 2001, my first road trip for the Sun. I was 20 years old and the pre-race press conference was at a casino and I was not legal age in the U.S. So I had to get special permission to attend and two security guards escorted me in. Next week I was in the office and I was telling Bill about this and he was laughing his head off. He then wrote about it for his Last Word column in a way only he could. My parents got a huge kick out of it and it preserved a very memorable moment.” _ Mike Koreen, Sportsnet, former Toronto Sun scribe.
“I’m sorry that we’ve lost a very good friend, even though ALS is such a cruel disease and hopefully it’s comforting to Bill’s family and friends that he’s at peace and no longer in pain. If I met a more humble, unassuming, good person in our industry than Bill, I can’t remember them. My most vivid memory was during my three years covering the Jays walking into the SkyDome press box every day and Bill would be the first person there, updating his binder of boxscores, stats, etc. No doubt you have so many great memories of your years on the beat with Ken Fidlin, Mike Rutsey,Mike Zeisberge, Mike Gantner, Steve Simmons and others who shared sandlot duties with you. I regret not having had the chance to accompany you on one of your visits with Bill.” _ Steve McAllister, former Canadian Press reporter/sports editor Globe and Mail.
“Bill was a rare five-tool player – a great writer, editor, layout artist, friend … and person. And a darn good third-baseman on the Sun sports ball team.” _ Former Sun sports editor Scott Morrison, winner of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Elmer Ferguson award, 2006.
“Bill was the quiet guy in the press box and, more than occasionally, in the post-game bar. Unlike most of the rest of us. But when he had a comment to add, his sense of humour would make sure everyone appreciated it. The road, in long baseball season, isn't always an easy place to spend the long, tiring days. Any time Lanky was on the trip, you knew it would make things a little more enjoyable. He was a pleasure to be around." _ Dave Perkins, former baseball columnist Toronto Star, Jack Graney winner, 2024.
“I am so sorry to hear that ALS has taken yet another precious soul.” _ Claire Smith, BBWAA Excellance Award winner, 2017, Temple University.
“Bill Lankoff was a very laid back, quiet and respectful baseball beat writer and columnist. He was never one to demand anything, he did his daily writing (very well) with very little fuss.” _ Howard Starkman, former Toronto Blue Jays vice-president, member of Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, class of 2016.
“When Bill was promoted to make our Blue Jays coverage even stronger in the fall of 1988, I replaced him covering the final OHL season for the Toronto Marlies. When I asked him for advice, he told me to never to write anything I didn’t believe in and to be authentic. Even though I was a few weeks past my 24th birthday, I had to look up exact definition of authentic. Genuine, real, bona fide, true. That was Lanky.” _ Tim Wharnsby, former Toronto Sun scribe.
“Sorry to hear about Lanky. He was always nice and helpful to me. Bill was always one of the nicest guys in Sun sports department. He was helpful and gave me good advice in my early days as a sportswriter.” _ Ryan Wolstat, Toronto Sun writer.
“"Good journalist. Better guy." _ Garth Woolsey, former Toronto Star baseball writer.
“What stood out about Bill was his unwavering love and dedication to his family. Bill never raised his voice and seldom, if ever, complained. He was a quiet soul who was the most under-rated writer one could meet because he didn’t want any attention. Witty, wise and a true legend in his unique way. Billy’s way, the right way, the way he preferred.” _ Frank Zicarelli, Toronto Sun scribe.