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{{Short description|American journalist (born 1939)}}

{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = George Vescey
| name = George Vescey
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| birth_name = George Spencer Vescey
| birth_name = George Spencer Vescey
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1939|7|4|mf=y}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1939|7|4|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Queens]], [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], US
| birth_place = [[New York City]], U.S.
| death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (enter DEATH date then BIRTH date (e.g., ...|1908|31|8|1967|28|2}} use both this parameter and |birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) -->
| death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (enter DEATH date then BIRTH date (e.g., ...|1908|31|8|1967|28|2}} use both this parameter and |birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) -->
| death_place =
| death_place =
| residence = [[Port Washington, New York|Port Washington]], [[New York (state)|New York]], US
| alma_mater = [[Hofstra University]]
| alma_mater = [[Hofstra University]]
| occupation = {{hlist | Journalist | sportswriter}}
| occupation = {{hlist | Journalist | sportswriter}}
| years_active = 1961–present
| years_active = 1961–present
| employer = ''[[The New York Times]]''
| employer = ''[[The New York Times]]''
| home_town =
| salary =
| net_worth = <!-- Net worth should be supported with a citation from a reliable source -->
| net_worth = <!-- Net worth should be supported with a citation from a reliable source -->
| spouse = {{marriage|Marianne Graham|1960}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Marianne Graham|1960}}
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| signature =
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| signature_alt =
| relatives = [[Peter Vecsey (sports columnist)|Peter Vecsey]] (brother)
}}
}}
'''George Spencer Vecsey''' (born 1939) is an American non-fiction author and sports columnist for ''[[The New York Times]].'' Vecsey is best known for his work in sports, but has co-written several autobiographies with non-sports figures. He is also the older brother of fellow sports journalist, columnist, and former ''[[NBATV]]'' and ''[[NBA on NBC]]'' color commentator [[Peter Vecsey (sports columnist)|Peter Vecsey]].
'''George Spencer Vecsey''' (born July 4, 1939) is an American non-fiction author and sports columnist for ''[[The New York Times]].'' Vecsey is best known for his work in sports, but has co-written several autobiographies with non-sports figures. He is also the older brother of fellow sports journalist, columnist, and former ''[[NBATV]]'' and ''[[NBA on NBC]]'' color commentator [[Peter Vecsey (sports columnist)|Peter Vecsey]].


==Life and career==
==Life and career==
Vecsey was born on July 4, 1939, in the [[Jamaica, Queens|Jamaica]] neighborhood of [[Queens]] in [[New York City]]<ref name=NYT>{{cite web |url=http://tv.nytimes.com/library/sports/backtalk/bio-vecsey.html |title=Columnist biography |work=[[The New York Times]] |accessdate=January 1, 2012}}</ref> to George and May Vecsey.
Vecsey was born on July 4, 1939, in the [[Jamaica, Queens|Jamaica]] neighborhood of [[Queens]] in [[New York City]] to George and May Vecsey.<ref name=NYT>{{cite web |url=http://tv.nytimes.com/library/sports/backtalk/bio-vecsey.html |title=Columnist biography |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=January 1, 2012}}</ref>


Vecsey has written about such events as the [[FIFA World Cup]] and the [[Olympics]] and on a wide variety of sports including [[tennis]], [[American football|football]], [[basketball]], [[ice hockey|hockey]], [[soccer]], and [[boxing]], but considers [[baseball]], the sport he's covered since 1960, his favorite,<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0679643389 Baseball: A History of America's Favorite Game], amazon.com, accessed January 13, 2007.</ref> and has written more books about it than any other sport.
Vecsey has written about such events as the [[FIFA World Cup]] and the [[Olympics]] and on a wide variety of sports including [[tennis]], [[American football|football]], [[basketball]], [[ice hockey|hockey]], [[soccer]], and [[boxing]], but considers [[baseball]], the sport he's covered since 1960, his favorite,<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0679643389 Baseball: A History of America's Favorite Game], amazon.com, accessed January 13, 2007.</ref> and has written more books about it than any other sport.
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In 2011, [[ESPN]] published ''Stan Musial: An American Life'', Vecsey's biography of twenty-time All-Star and [[St. Louis Cardinals]] icon [[Stan Musial]]. Reviewing the book, [[George Will]] wrote, "At long last, George Vecsey has taken Musial's measure in this delightful biography of a man and a baseball era."<ref name="Stan Musial: An American Life">[https://www.amazon.com/dp/product-description/0345517067 "Stan Musial: An American Life"], Amazon.com, review of George Vecsey's "Stan Musial: An American Life" ([[ESPN]]: May 10, 2011), accessed May 18, 2011</ref> Tim Kurkjian, Senior Writer for ''ESPN Magazine'' and analyst for ESPN's ''[[Baseball Tonight]]'' and ''[[SportsCenter]]'', said that the book was "a fascinating and profound look at the most underrated great player of all time, and one of the true gentlemen of the game."<ref name="Stan Musial: An American Life"/>
In 2011, [[ESPN]] published ''Stan Musial: An American Life'', Vecsey's biography of twenty-time All-Star and [[St. Louis Cardinals]] icon [[Stan Musial]]. Reviewing the book, [[George Will]] wrote, "At long last, George Vecsey has taken Musial's measure in this delightful biography of a man and a baseball era."<ref name="Stan Musial: An American Life">[https://www.amazon.com/dp/product-description/0345517067 "Stan Musial: An American Life"], Amazon.com, review of George Vecsey's "Stan Musial: An American Life" ([[ESPN]]: May 10, 2011), accessed May 18, 2011</ref> Tim Kurkjian, Senior Writer for ''ESPN Magazine'' and analyst for ESPN's ''[[Baseball Tonight]]'' and ''[[SportsCenter]]'', said that the book was "a fascinating and profound look at the most underrated great player of all time, and one of the true gentlemen of the game."<ref name="Stan Musial: An American Life"/>


He was the 2013 recipient of the [[National Soccer Hall of Fame]]'s Colin Jose Media Award.<ref>https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2014/03/17/13/23/george-vecsey-named-colin-jose-media-award-recipient</ref> His book ''Eight World Cups: My Journey through the Beauty and Dark Side of Soccer'' was published in May, 2014.<ref>http://us.macmillan.com/eightworldcups/GeorgeVecsey</ref>
He was the 2013 recipient of the [[National Soccer Hall of Fame]]'s Colin Jose Media Award.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2014/03/17/13/23/george-vecsey-named-colin-jose-media-award-recipient|title=News & Stories &#124; U.S. Soccer Official Website}}</ref> His book ''Eight World Cups: My Journey through the Beauty and Dark Side of Soccer'' was published in May, 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://us.macmillan.com/eightworldcups/GeorgeVecsey |title=Eight World Cups &#124; George Vecsey &#124; Macmillan |access-date=2014-01-26 |archive-date=2013-12-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231194526/http://us.macmillan.com/eightworldcups/GeorgeVecsey |url-status=dead }}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
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==External links==
==External links==
*[http://GeorgeVecsey.com Personal website]
*{{Official website|http://GeorgeVecsey.com}}
*[http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/news/sports/columns/georgevecsey/index.html Column archive] at ''[[The New York Times]]''
*[http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/news/sports/columns/georgevecsey/index.html Column archive] at ''[[The New York Times]]''
*{{C-SPAN|georgevecsey}}
*{{C-SPAN|47742}}
*{{Charlie Rose view|3959}}
*{{Charlie Rose view|3959}}
*{{IMDb name|1557917}}
*{{IMDb name|1557917}}
⚫
*[https://books.google.com/books?id=3roM_f6CLW8C Stan Musial: An American Life]
*{{Worldcat id|lccn-n50-14197}}
⚫
*[https://books.google.com/books?id=3roM_f6CLW8C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage Stan Musial: An American Life]


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:20th-century American male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American journalists]]
[[Category:21st-century American journalists]]
[[Category:21st-century American male writers]]
[[Category:American male journalists]]
[[Category:American male journalists]]
[[Category:American people of Hungarian descent]]
[[Category:Baseball writers]]
[[Category:Baseball writers]]
[[Category:Christians from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Hofstra University alumni]]
[[Category:Hofstra University alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:The New York Times columnists]]
[[Category:The New York Times columnists]]
[[Category:The New York Times sportswriters]]
[[Category:The New York Times journalists]]
[[Category:People from Jamaica, Queens]]
[[Category:People from Port Washington, New York]]
[[Category:People from Port Washington, New York]]
[[Category:Religion journalists]]
[[Category:Sportswriters from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Sportswriters from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Writers from New York City]]
[[Category:Writers from Queens, New York]]
[[Category:American people of Hungarian descent]]
[[Category:21st-century American male writers]]

Latest revision as of 18:33, 5 April 2024

George Vescey
Born
George Spencer Vescey

(1939-07-04) July 4, 1939 (age 84)
New York City, U.S.
Alma materHofstra University
Occupations
  • Journalist
  • sportswriter
Years active1961–present
EmployerThe New York Times
Spouse
Marianne Graham
​
(m. 1960)​
RelativesPeter Vecsey (brother)

George Spencer Vecsey (born July 4, 1939) is an American non-fiction author and sports columnist for The New York Times. Vecsey is best known for his work in sports, but has co-written several autobiographies with non-sports figures. He is also the older brother of fellow sports journalist, columnist, and former NBATV and NBA on NBC color commentator Peter Vecsey.

Life and career[edit]

Vecsey was born on July 4, 1939, in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens in New York City to George and May Vecsey.[1]

Vecsey has written about such events as the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics and on a wide variety of sports including tennis, football, basketball, hockey, soccer, and boxing, but considers baseball, the sport he's covered since 1960, his favorite,[2] and has written more books about it than any other sport.

He is the author of more than a dozen books, including Baseball: A History of America’s Favorite Game and Loretta Lynn: Coal Miner’s Daughter (with American country singer Loretta Lynn), which was made into an Academy Award–winning film. Vecsey has also served as a national and religion reporter for The New York Times,[3] interviewing the Dalai Lama, former British prime minister Tony Blair, American Christian evangelist Billy Graham, and a host of other noteworthy figures.[4]

In addition to assisting Loretta Lynn, Vecsey has also helped several other celebrities and high-profile figures write their autobiographies, including American country singer Barbara Mandrell and Chinese human rights activist Harry Wu. His work in this field has ranged from co-writing credits, to being listed as a contributor (as in Lynn's Coal Miner's Daughter), to being listed as a consultant.

Works[edit]

Vecsey's baseball books cover several different periods of the game. In The Rivals, he covers the entire history of the Yankees–Red Sox rivalry from the first half of the century up until recent years. He has also written books exclusively about modern baseball history such as McGwire and Sosa, about the home run record chase by Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa that took place in 1998, and Subway 2000, about the New York Mets and New York Yankees Subway Series that took place in 2000.

Vescey co-wrote Cy Young Award winner Bob Welch's 1991 autobiography, Five O'Clock Comes Early, chronicling Welch's rise to Major League Baseball stardom and his struggle against alcohol addiction.

Vecsey also authored a chapter of the literary hoax Naked Came the Stranger.[5]

His Baseball: A History of America's Favorite Game (Modern Library, 2006) is a concise history of the game of professional baseball.

In 2011, ESPN published Stan Musial: An American Life, Vecsey's biography of twenty-time All-Star and St. Louis Cardinals icon Stan Musial. Reviewing the book, George Will wrote, "At long last, George Vecsey has taken Musial's measure in this delightful biography of a man and a baseball era."[6] Tim Kurkjian, Senior Writer for ESPN Magazine and analyst for ESPN's Baseball Tonight and SportsCenter, said that the book was "a fascinating and profound look at the most underrated great player of all time, and one of the true gentlemen of the game."[6]

He was the 2013 recipient of the National Soccer Hall of Fame's Colin Jose Media Award.[7] His book Eight World Cups: My Journey through the Beauty and Dark Side of Soccer was published in May, 2014.[8]

Personal life[edit]

Vecsey is the older brother of New York Post sports columnist Peter Vecsey and the father of Laura Vecsey, the Harrisburg Patriot-News political columnist; David Vecsey, a copy editor at The New York Times Magazine; and Corinna Vecsey Wilson, president of the consulting firm Wilson500, Inc.

Vecsey received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hofstra University in 1960. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Hofstra in 1990.[1]

Unlike many other well-known sports columnists, Vecsey does not often appear on television.[9]

Vecsey lives in Port Washington, New York, with his wife, Marianne, an artist.[10]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Columnist biography". The New York Times. Retrieved January 1, 2012.
  2. ^ Baseball: A History of America's Favorite Game, amazon.com, accessed January 13, 2007.
  3. ^ Columnist Biography: George Vecsey, accessed January 13, 2007
  4. ^ [1], amazon.com, accessed May 18, 2011
  5. ^ Woestendiek, John. "Naked comes the stranger, once again," The Baltimore Sun, Sunday, February 22, 2004. Retrieved December 15, 2019
  6. ^ a b "Stan Musial: An American Life", Amazon.com, review of George Vecsey's "Stan Musial: An American Life" (ESPN: May 10, 2011), accessed May 18, 2011
  7. ^ "News & Stories | U.S. Soccer Official Website".
  8. ^ "Eight World Cups | George Vecsey | Macmillan". Archived from the original on 2013-12-31. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  9. ^ Gillette, Felix. George Solomon on ESPN, Redskins Fans and Petitions, cjrdaily.org, January 20, 2006, accessed March 25, 2007.
  10. ^ Review: "Stan Musial: An American Life", amazon.com, accessed May 18, 2011.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=George_Vecsey&oldid=1217420015"