Murray Chass
Encyclopedia
Murray Chass http://tv.nytimes.com/learning/students/ask_reporters/Chass.html is an American sportswriter and blogger
who covers baseball
. He previously wrote for The New York Times
and before that the Associated Press
on baseball and sports legal and labor relations. In 2003 the Baseball Writers Association of America
honored him with the J. G. Taylor Spink Awardt. He retired from the Times in May 2008.
Chass graduated from the University of Pittsburgh
in 1960 with a Bachelor's degree in political science
where he was a writer and editor for the Pitt Newshttp://www.fangraphs.com/not/index.php/media-einterviews-murray-chass/. In 1956 he "audaiciously" made an appointment with the editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
to pursue his "future of a newspaperman". He joined the Baseball Writers Association of America
in 1962, when he worked for the Associated Press
in Pittsburgh. He joined the New York Times in 1969, and started covering the New York Yankees
the following year. In 1986, he was made the paper's national baseball writer.
Chass is a noted baseball traditionalist who laments the shift in baseball news coverage from daily beat-report biographies to more statistics-driven analysis like sabermetrics
. In 2007, Chass asserted that, among "certain topics that should be off-limits," are "statistics mongers promoting VORP
and other new-age baseball statistics." Chass particularly believes that in "their attempt to introduce these new-age statistics into the game," these "statistics mongers" threaten "to undermine most fans’ enjoyment of baseball and the human factor therein." Baseball Prospectus published an open letter responding to Chass' comments, and Chass was criticized by many.
In 2008, Chass started a blog at http://www.murraychass.com/.
In 2011, Chass published a controversial post on his blog accusing St. Louis Cardinals
great Stan Musial
of racism. The claim was based on a second-hand story allegedly relayed to Chass by former players' union head Marvin Miller
in which a maitre d' at a restaurant of which Musial was a co-owner purportedly refused to seat Curt Flood
and several of Musial's African-American ex-teammates on the owner's "instructions." Chass' column was roundly criticized for its sole reliance on hearsay, and Flood's son later specifically refuted the accusation against Musial.
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
who covers baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. He previously wrote for The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
and before that the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
on baseball and sports legal and labor relations. In 2003 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...
honored him with the J. G. Taylor Spink Awardt. He retired from the Times in May 2008.
Chass graduated from the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
in 1960 with a Bachelor's degree in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
where he was a writer and editor for the Pitt Newshttp://www.fangraphs.com/not/index.php/media-einterviews-murray-chass/. In 1956 he "audaiciously" made an appointment with the editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
to pursue his "future of a newspaperman". He joined 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...
in 1962, when he worked for the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
in Pittsburgh. He joined the New York Times in 1969, and started covering the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
the following year. In 1986, he was made the paper's national baseball writer.
Chass is a noted baseball traditionalist who laments the shift in baseball news coverage from daily beat-report biographies to more statistics-driven analysis like sabermetrics
Sabermetrics
Sabermetrics is the specialized analysis of baseball through objective, empirical evidence, specifically baseball statistics that measure in-game activity. The term is derived from the acronym SABR, which stands for the Society for American Baseball Research...
. In 2007, Chass asserted that, among "certain topics that should be off-limits," are "statistics mongers promoting VORP
Value over replacement player
In baseball, value over replacement player is a statistic popularized by Keith Woolner that demonstrates how much a hitter contributes offensively or how much a pitcher contributes to his team in comparison to a fictitious "replacement player," who is an average fielder at his position and a below...
and other new-age baseball statistics." Chass particularly believes that in "their attempt to introduce these new-age statistics into the game," these "statistics mongers" threaten "to undermine most fans’ enjoyment of baseball and the human factor therein." Baseball Prospectus published an open letter responding to Chass' comments, and Chass was criticized by many.
In 2008, Chass started a blog at http://www.murraychass.com/.
In 2011, Chass published a controversial post on his blog accusing St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
great Stan Musial
Stan Musial
Stanley Frank "Stan" Musial is a retired professional baseball player who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals . Nicknamed "Stan the Man", Musial was a record 24-time All-Star selection , and is widely considered to be one of the greatest hitters in baseball...
of racism. The claim was based on a second-hand story allegedly relayed to Chass by former players' union head Marvin Miller
Marvin Miller
Marvin Julian Miller is a former executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association , from 1966 to 1982. Under Miller's direction, the players' union was transformed into one of the strongest unions in the United States...
in which a maitre d' at a restaurant of which Musial was a co-owner purportedly refused to seat Curt Flood
Curt Flood
Curtis Charles Flood was a Major League Baseball player who spent most of his career as a center fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. A defensive standout, he led the National League in putouts four times and in fielding percentage twice, winning Gold Glove Awards in his last seven full seasons...
and several of Musial's African-American ex-teammates on the owner's "instructions." Chass' column was roundly criticized for its sole reliance on hearsay, and Flood's son later specifically refuted the accusation against Musial.