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Frank Eck
Born
Francis Henry Eck

(1911-07-15)July 15, 1911
New York City, U.S.
DiedOctober 16, 1987(1987-10-16) (aged 76)
Huntington, New York, U.S.
EducationJamaica High School
Occupation(s)Sportswriter, sports editor
Years active1928–1976
Employer(s)Queens Evening News, New York Times, Long Island Daily Advocate, Associated Press
Children1

Frank Eck (born Francis Henry Eck;[1][2] July 15, 1911 – October 16, 1987[3]) was an American newspaper writer and editor.[4] He was with the Associated Press from 1943 until his retirement in 1976,[5][6] and was the Sports Editor of AP Newsfeatures from 1946 through 1972.[7][8][9]

Early life and career

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Born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens, New York,[3][2][10][11] Eck was one of ten children born to Jacob Frank Eck and Lillian R. Andres.[12] He attended Jamaica High School, where, at age 14, he served as high school sports correspondent. In 1928, the 17-year-old Eck was hired as Sports Editor of the newly founded Queens County Evening News,[3][13] where he remained until 1933.[1] From 1933 through 1937, he was a reporter with The New York Times.[3][5]

Employer notwithstanding, on July 1, 1935, in the annual exhibition contest between Brooklyn and New York chapters of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, Eck, cast in the role of the Brooklyn-born 'ringer,' delivered a game-winning, ninth-inning three-run homer off losing pitcher Louis Effrat in Brooklyn's 18-15 decision.[14]

As of April 1939, Eck was employed in some capacity by Neary Memorials, Inc. at St. John's Cemetery in Middle Village, Queens.[15] In 1940 and '41, he was publicity director for the Metropolitan Baseball Association.[16][17][18] His job title—along with his part in compiling and making available league stats—was occasionally cited in local coverage of the M. B. A.; two of the first such instances concern Springfield Greys player-manager and former major leaguer Overton Tremper's pursuit of the Association's batting crown.[19]

In 1941, Eck was also employed at least briefly by The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.[20]

AP Newsfeatures (1946–1972)

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After about a year and a half in the ranks of AP Newsfeatures Sports Writers,[21] Eck succeeded his predecessor, Chip Royal, as Sports Editor in May 1946.[22][23]

One notable feature of Eck's tenure as AP Newsfeatures Sports Editor was an abundance of articles on the theme of "My Biggest Thrill," ghostwritten for athletes and coaches, including many Hall-of-Famers from a variety of sports. In baseball, there was Rogers Hornsby,[24] Mickey Mantle,[25] Stan Musial,[26] Eddie Mathews,[27] Duke Snider,[28] and Ralph Kiner,[29] pitchers Warren Spahn[30] and Robin Roberts,[25] managers Casey Stengel and Al Lopez,[31] Others included boxers Joe Louis and Billy Conn,[8] jockey Eddie Arcaro,[32] and golfers Lloyd Mangrum,[33] Craig Wood,[34] Johnny Farrell,[35] Jimmy Demaret[36] and Roberto De Vicenzo.[37]

Clemente's 'ghost'

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In November 1971, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette sports editor Al Abrams reported that Eck had been approached to serve as the as-told-to author of an autobiography of newly crowned World Series MVP, Roberto Clemente.[38] As noted by Abrams in a prior column, Clemente had already informed prospective collaborators that he would use a tape recorder to ensure that everything printed "will be the way I say it."[39]

The following March, not only was Eck's participation confirmed, but his work-in-progress received a preliminary thumbs-up from Abrams. "Clemente's book, which will be co-authored by Frank Eck of the New York Associated Press office, is expected to net $50,000 from the publisher. I have heard some of the tapes and read a couple of the chapters. The book will offer excellent reading when it comes out in six months."[40]

Abrams' timetable notwithstanding, September came and went, as did Pittsburgh's Series repeat hopes, and even Clemente's ill-fated New Year's Eve flight before any further news emerged. It was not until March 3, 1973, that Abrams—after briefly referencing four Clemente biographies soon to be published by an unspecified wire service—broke the news that "Frank Eck, New York Associated Press sports writer, says he has the only real book on Clemente ... composed of taped interviews."[41] Eck's claim—and/or the finished product—evidently failed to impress potential publishers; indeed, it appears to be the final published mention of this project, if not quite Eck's final mention of the Pirate star. The following month, his piece on Vera Clemente's appearance at Pittsburgh's home opener was published in The Sporting News.[42]

Retirement

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In the summer of 1976, as per the company's mandatory guideline, Eck retired from the Associated Press at age 65.[6] During the following decade, he occasionally covered local sports for The Long-Islander, penning a sometimes-weekly column under his own name as well as doing a small amount of ghosting.[43][44][45][46][47][48][49]

Personal life and death

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Eck was married to, and divorced from, Violet Kathryn Bertram in the summer of 1933 and March 1934, respectively.[1][50] Following a brief engagement to Dorothy Whitney Burtis, announced in August 1934,[51] Eck was once again married to Bertram on February 9, 1935,[52] and remained so for the rest of his life. They had one child, a daughter, Adrienne.[5] In 1951, the family moved from Queens to the Town of Huntington in Suffolk County, Long Island.[53][5]

On October 16, 1987, two days after being brought there with chest pains, Eck died at Huntington Hospital of a heart attack at age 76. His remains are buried at St Patrick's Cemetery in Huntington.[5]

Legacy

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After his death, the Frank H. Eck Memorial Trophy was instituted, awarded each year to the best high school football team in Huntington Town.[54]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Bertram—Eck". Brooklyn Times Union. September 3, 1933. p. 8.
  2. ^ a b "New York State Census, 1915", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9GK-SC9 : 3 June 2022), Francis H Eck in entry for Jacob F Eck, 1915.
  3. ^ a b c d "Deaths Elsewhere: Frank Eck". The Sacramento Bee. October 19, 1987. p. D11.
  4. ^ "Eck a Household Name in Sports". Newsday. March 18, 1958. p. 21C.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Frank Eck, AP Reporter". Newsday. October 19, 1987. p. 41.
  6. ^ a b Eck, Frank H. (August 12, 1976). "Frank Eck, Sports Writer, Retires". The Long-Islander. p. 25.
  7. ^ "Baseball League Honors Seaver". New York Daily News. October 18, 1976. p. 59.
  8. ^ a b Louis, Joe; Conn, Billy (As told to Frank Eck, AP Newsfeatures Sports Editor). "Here's How Louis, Conn View Coming Battle: ". The Sandusky Register. June 6, 1946. p. 16.
  9. ^ Eck, Frank (AP Newsfeatures Sports Editor). "Some Traded Players Off to Fine Starts; Vida Blue Must Make Up for Lost Time". The Camden News. May 20, 1972. p. 8.
  10. ^ "New York State Census, 1925", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KSCR-HTH : Thu Oct 05 02:05:04 UTC 2023), Entry for Francis H Eck, 1925.
  11. ^ "United States Census, 1930", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X45Q-ZHF : Wed Oct 04 20:02:08 UTC 2023), Entry for Jacob F Eck and Lillian R Eck, 1930.
  12. ^ "Jacob F. Eck, Retired Plumber". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. August 21, 1958 p. 7.
  13. ^ "'Evening News' Makes Its Bow". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. March 2, 1928. p. 25.
  14. ^ "Brooklyn Chapter of Writers Defeats N.Y., Wins McGraw Trophy". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. July 2, 1935. p. 21.
  15. ^ Butler, Jack (April 8, 1939). "Sports in the Diocese". The Tablet. p. 20. See also:
  16. ^ "M. B. A. Dinner Slated Feb. 11". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. p. 16.
  17. ^ Ross, John (April 7, 1941). "Queens Island Sports". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. p. 19.
  18. ^ "Nekola, Leading M. B. A. Pitcher, To Be Honored". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. January 29, 1942. p. 6.
  19. ^ "Tremper Again Among Leaders; Greys' Manager Ranking High in M. B. A.; Knapp in First Place". Nassau Daily Review. June 27, 1940. p. 16. See also:
  20. ^ Eck, Frank H. (June 6, 1941). "Newtown Rule Appears Safe; Choice for Ninth Straight P. S. A. L. Track Title Tomorrow". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. p. 14.
  21. ^ Eck, Frank (September 18, 1944). "Record Flight of Ducks On Way". Chillicothe Gazette. p. 5.
  22. ^ Royal, Chip (April 13, 1946). "In the Hands of capable Receivers". The Mansfield News-Journal. p. 6.
  23. ^ Eck, Frank (May 9, 1946). "The Clubhouse: One-Armed Pete Gray Makes a Good Move". The World-News. p. 16.
  24. ^ Hornsby, Rogers (As Told to Frank Eck, AP Newsfeatures Sports Editor). "Hornsby Top Thrill Was Tagging Babe". Muncie Evening Press. May 7, 1953. p. 36.
  25. ^ a b Mantle, Mikey; Roberts, Robin (As Told to Frank Eck, AP Newsfeatures Sports Editor). "Hitting Thrills; Pitching Thrills". The Bellingham Herald. p. 10.
  26. ^ Musial, Stan (As Told to Frank Eck, AP Newsfeatures Sports Editor). "St. Louis' Stan Musial Relates His Greatest Hitting Thrills". Rutland Daily Herald. May 27, 1953. p. 18.
  27. ^ Mathews, Ed (As Told to Frank Eck, AP Newsfeatures Sports Editor)."Hitting Thrills". Rutland Daily Herald. June 18, 1953. p. 19.
  28. ^ Snider, Duke (As Told to Frank Eck, AP Newsfeatures Sports Editor). "Hitting Thrills". Wilmington Morning News. June 2, 1953. p. 23.
  29. ^ Kiner, Ralph (As Told to Frank Eck). "Top Sluggers Give Career Hitting Thrill". The Times and Democrat. Sep 30, 1953. p. 10.
  30. ^ Spahn, Warren (As Told to Frank Eck, AP Newsfeatures Sports Editor). "'Spahn Liked Copping 20th". Orlando Evening Star. June 19, 1953. p. 8.
  31. ^ Stengel, Casey (As Told to Frank Eck, AP Newsfeatures Sports Editor). "'49 Yanks Provide Casey Biggest Thrill of Career". Fairbanks Daily New-Miner. September 13, 1951. p. 4.
  32. ^ Arcaro, Eddie (As Told to Frank Eck, AP Newsfeatures Sports Editor). "Eddie Arcaro Talks About Pressure". The Paducah Sun. April 20, 1053. p. 8.
  33. ^ Mangrum, Lloyd (July 6, 1951). "Golfing Thrills: Mangrum's 63 at Chicago Was His Biggest Thrill". p. 9.
  34. ^ Wood, Craig (as told to Frank Eck, AP Newsfeatures Sports Editor). "Craig Wood Won U.S. Open After Trying Since 1925". Montpelier Evening Argus. p. 7.
  35. ^ Farrell, Johnny (as told to Frank Eck). "Your Golf Game: Get Timing in Spring". Radford News Journal. June 3, 1950. p. 2.
  36. ^ Demaret, Jimmy (as told to Frank Eck, AP Newsfeatures Sports Editor). "Golfing Thrills: Demaret Beat Snead in Title Match, Never Lost a Hole". The Central New Jersey Home News. p. 12.
  37. ^ De Vicenzo, Roberto (as told to Frank Eck, AP Newsfeatures Sports Editor). "Golfing Thrills: Winner of Palm Beach Tourney Biggest Thrill to De Vicenzo". The Ithaca Journal. August 2, 1951. p. 22.
  38. ^ Abrams, Al (November 20, 1971). "Sidelight on Sports: Whirl Around the World of Sports". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 8.
  39. ^ Abrams, Al (October 11, 1971). "Sidelight on Sports: Potpourri". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 22.
  40. ^ Abrams, Al (March 11, 1972). "Sidelight on Sports: Whirl Around the World of Sports". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 8.
  41. ^ Al Abrams (March 3, 1972). "Sidelights on Sports". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 8.
  42. ^ "'Mrs. Clemente Star of Bucco Inaugural': Title, General Information". The Baseball Index.
  43. ^ Eck, Frank H. (April 14, 1977). "Area Golf: Tee Time Topics". The Long-Islander. p. 7. See also:
  44. ^ Eck, Frank H. (April 16, 1981). "Area Golf Courses Will Be in the Green". The Long-Islander. p. 35. See also:
  45. ^ Eck, Frank H. (October 8, 1987)."Mike Joyce...20 years at One Golf Club". p. 52. See also:
  46. ^ Joyce, Mike (with Frank H. Eck). "Golf Hints for Juniors". The Long-Islander. August 4, 1977. p. 35. See also:
  47. ^ Eck, Frank H. (January 13, 1983). "Sports Show Awards 87 Prizes and Touches 12 World Series". The Long-Islander. pp. 48, 45.
  48. ^ Eck, Frank H. (September 1, 1983). "Kirchner Persists Despite Injury". The Long-Islander. p. 39.
  49. ^ Eck, Frank H. (September 17, 1987). "When a Dodger Hero Was Honored in Huntington; Huntington Missed Casey". The Long-Islander. p. 46.
  50. ^ "In District Court: Divorce Suits Filed; Decrees Granted". Nevada State Journal. March 27, 1934. p. 8.
  51. ^ "Dorothy Burtis Betrothed". The Brooklyn Times Union. August 12, 1934. p. 7.
  52. ^ "New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1938", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2CX-G482 : 17 August 2022), Frank H Eck and Violet K Bertram, 1935.
  53. ^ "United States 1950 Census", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XTR-YQS9 : Tue Oct 03 06:18:41 UTC 2023), Entry for Frank H Eck and Violet B Eck, 10 April 1950.
  54. ^ "Notebook: Northport-East Northport". Newsday (Suffolk Edition). January 17, 1990. p. 32.

Further reading

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External sites

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