Gordon Cobbledick
Encyclopedia
Gordon Cobbledick was an American
sports
journalist
and author in Cleveland, Ohio
. He was a journalist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Cleveland Times from 1923 to 1964. He served as a war correspondent during World War II
, and his account of the Battle of Okinawa
written on V-E Day
has been frequently reprinted and cited as an example of excellent war reporting. In 1947, Cobbledick became the sports editor of the Plain Dealer. His works were frequently published in The Sporting News
, Sports Illustrated
, and Baseball Digest
. In 1977, he received the J. G. Taylor Spink Award from the Baseball Writers Association of America
and was inducted into the "writers' wing" of the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Journalism Hall of Fame in 1982 and the Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.
where studied mining engineering and played football. After graduating, he became a mining engineer in Morgantown, West Virginia
. While he was visiting a friend in Cleveland, an opportunity to become a writer for The Plain Dealer presented itself. Cobbledick decided to quit his mining job, and start his writing career at $25 per week. Although he began covering the police beat, he later switched to sportswriting and took over as The Plain Dealer's main sports editor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sports
Sports journalism
Sports journalism is a form of journalism that reports on sports topics and events.While the sports department within some newspapers has been mockingly called the toy department, because sports journalists do not concern themselves with the 'serious' topics covered by the news desk, sports...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and author in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
. He was a journalist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Cleveland Times from 1923 to 1964. He served as a war correspondent during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and his account of the Battle of Okinawa
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of World War II. The 82-day-long battle lasted from early April until mid-June 1945...
written on V-E Day
Victory in Europe Day
Victory in Europe Day commemorates 8 May 1945 , the date when the World War II Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. The formal surrender of the occupying German forces in the Channel Islands was not...
has been frequently reprinted and cited as an example of excellent war reporting. In 1947, Cobbledick became the sports editor of the Plain Dealer. His works were frequently published in The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
, Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
, and Baseball Digest
Baseball Digest
Baseball Digest is a baseball magazine resource, published in Evanston, Illinois by Lakeside Publishing Company. It is the oldest and longest-running baseball magazine in the United States....
. In 1977, he received the J. G. Taylor Spink Award from the Baseball Writers Association of America
Baseball Writers Association of America
The Baseball Writers' Association of America is a professional association for baseball journalists writing for daily newspapers, magazines and qualifying Web sites. The BBWAA was founded on October 14, 1908, to improve working conditions for sportswriters in the early part of the 20th century...
and was inducted into the "writers' wing" of the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Journalism Hall of Fame in 1982 and the Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.
Early life
Cobbledick attended Case Western Reserve UniversityCase Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
where studied mining engineering and played football. After graduating, he became a mining engineer in Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown is a city in Monongalia County, West Virginia. It is the county seat of Monongalia County. Placed along the banks of the Monongahela River, Morgantown is the largest city in North-Central West Virginia, and the base of the Morgantown metropolitan area...
. While he was visiting a friend in Cleveland, an opportunity to become a writer for The Plain Dealer presented itself. Cobbledick decided to quit his mining job, and start his writing career at $25 per week. Although he began covering the police beat, he later switched to sportswriting and took over as The Plain Dealer's main sports editor.
Writing career
Cobbledick's self-proclaimed writing style was short and to the point. Some of his more popular nicknames were "Cobb" and "Cobby".Selected articles
- Cries of Dying Spoil VE Day for Okinawa, Chicago Daily TribuneChicago TribuneThe Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
, May 9, 1945 - Slaughter in a Hurry (Enos SlaughterEnos SlaughterEnos Bradsher Slaughter , nicknamed "Country", was an American Major League Baseball right fielder. During a 19-year baseball career, he played from 1938–1942 and 1946-1959 for four different teams, but is noted primarily for his time with the St...
), Baseball DigestBaseball DigestBaseball Digest is a baseball magazine resource, published in Evanston, Illinois by Lakeside Publishing Company. It is the oldest and longest-running baseball magazine in the United States....
, November 1946 - "Cobb Taught Me Too" (Harry HeilmannHarry HeilmannHarry Edwin Heilmann , nicknamed “Slug,” was a Major League Baseball player who played 17 seasons with the Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1952.Heilmann was a line drive hitter who won four American League batting crowns: in 1921, 1923, 1925 and...
), Baseball DigestBaseball DigestBaseball Digest is a baseball magazine resource, published in Evanston, Illinois by Lakeside Publishing Company. It is the oldest and longest-running baseball magazine in the United States....
, July 1947 - Confidence in Keltner (Ken KeltnerKen KeltnerKenneth Frederick Keltner was an American professional baseball player. He played almost his entire Major League Baseball career as a third baseman with the Cleveland Indians, until his final season when he played 13 games for the Boston Red Sox. He batted and threw right-handed...
), Baseball DigestBaseball DigestBaseball Digest is a baseball magazine resource, published in Evanston, Illinois by Lakeside Publishing Company. It is the oldest and longest-running baseball magazine in the United States....
, April 1948 - Feller Still Has Plenty on the Ball (Bob FellerBob FellerOn December 8, 1941, Feller enlisted in the Navy, volunteering immediately for combat service, becoming the first Major League Baseball player to do so following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7. Feller served as Gun Captain aboard the USS Alabama, and missed four seasons during his service...
), Baseball DigestBaseball DigestBaseball Digest is a baseball magazine resource, published in Evanston, Illinois by Lakeside Publishing Company. It is the oldest and longest-running baseball magazine in the United States....
, April 1953 - Sports Editor Gordon Cobbledick considers the beanball and decides it is here to stay—unless some means is found to outlaw wildness high and inside while sanctioning it low and outside, Sports IllustratedSports IllustratedSports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
, August 16, 1954 - Harmony Is for the Birds, Baseball DigestBaseball DigestBaseball Digest is a baseball magazine resource, published in Evanston, Illinois by Lakeside Publishing Company. It is the oldest and longest-running baseball magazine in the United States....
, April 1955 - Sure, Modern Players Are Sissies!, Baseball Digest, September 1955
- Lampooning Platoon's an Old Time, Baseball Digest, November 1955
- Hitting Greatness Can't Be Taught, Baseball Digest, January 1956
- Sure, Fans Know More Than Managers, Baseball Digest, August 1956
- Ace Firemen Make Managers Smart, Baseball Digest, September 1956
- Records Prove It's Speaker Over DiMag! (Tris SpeakerTris SpeakerTristram E. Speaker , nicknamed "Spoke" and "The Grey Eagle", was an American baseball player. Considered one of the best offensive and defensive center fielders in the history of Major League Baseball, he compiled a career batting average of .345 , and still holds the record of 792 career doubles...
), Baseball Digest, October 1958 - Why Gordon Quit the Tigers (Joe Gordon), Baseball Digest, January 1961
- Pity the New Pilots, Baseball Digest, March 1961