The Red Smith reader

by Red Smith

One hundred twenty-eight of the late, Pulitzer Prize-winning sportswriter's columns profile sports celebrities and chronicle great sports events, spanning fifty-five years

Genres: Sports, Baseball, Journalism, Writing, Nonfiction

308 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Walter Wellesley "Red" Smith (September 25, 1905 – January 15, 1982) was an American sportswriter. Smith’s journalistic career spans over five decades and his work influenced an entire generation of writers. Smith became the second sports columnist ever to win the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished commentary in 1976. Writing in 1989, sportswriter David Halberstam called Smith "the greatest sportswriter of the two eras."

Reviews

[Jim Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the first chapter of this wide-ranging collection of 128 columns written for the various New York City newspapers, compiled by his son Terence Smith, Walter W. "Red" Smith (25 September 1905-15 January 1982) writes that he wants to become "a pretty good writer". In a career spanning almost 50 years and many subjects, it appears that he surpassed that goal admirably.

[Dave Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

40 years later, Red's writing is as fresh as ever. His eye for detail was tremendous. A good writer can cover a variety of subjects. Smith does that here with columns on baseball, the Olympics and politics. You may not know a lot of the people involved but they come to life here. A great read.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though I grew up in New York City, I only found Red Smith after he passed away. Perhaps if I had read his daily columns in the New York Times, I might have gotten bored. If so, I am glad that I didn't, his books are magical.

In a time when newspapers had budgets, Red Smith went to every major sporting event. Ali-Frazier, Reggie Jackson's three homers against the Dodgers, the black protest in the 1968 Olympics, and I could go on. He covered these events with a wit, style and sense of history we won't see again in our life times.

Red once said today's column wraps tomorrow's fish. He thought sports writing wasn't enduring. He was wrong and I have the books to prove it.

[Tom Gase · Rating 2 out of 5]

I realize that Red Smith is one of the best sportswriters of all time, but he just wasn't everything he is all cracked up to be when I read him. I loved his articles on baseball and football, and especially boxing, but the book dragged for a long time with his endless stories on horse racing, politics, and fishing which I don't care about too much or at all. A couple articles here and there on those subjects would have been fine, but about a third of the book was on these subjects. I recommend this book for any sports journalist, but not before you read books on Jim Murray, who I consider to be better.

[Becky C. Hennessy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you like sports writing? Pulitzer Prize winner Red Smith was regarded by many as the best sportswriter since Ring Lardner. Smith's writing serves as an excellent writer's tutorial.