Joe Reichler

From BR Bullpen

(Redirected from Joseph L. Reichler)

Joseph Lawrence Reichler

Biographical Information[edit]

Joe Reichler was a national journalist for the Associated Press from 1943 to 1966. He had originally been turned down by UPI due to Anti-Semitism before getting his job at the AP. Based out of New York, he was well known for his scoops on the New York teams including the move of the Brooklyn Dodgers to Los Angeles and Joe DiMaggio's retirement. A staunch fan of Jackie Robinson, he and Robinson once broke ties for a period because Robinson felt Reichler was taking Roy Campanella's side over his. In the early 1960s, his exposé of segregation by Florida businesses near spring training camps led to their integration.

Reichler moved to the Office of the Commissioner in 1966. He was the public relations director during the tenure of Bowie Kuhn.

There was a bit of a controversy at the end of Reichler's time in the commissioner's office. Some of the Hall of Fame's possessions were loaned to the office for a display. The items were then boxed and stored in the garage of Reichler's home.

After some time, the items were forgotten and eventually sold at auction. One purchaser noticed a procurement stamp from the Hall of Fame in one of the items. The buyer called the Hall of Fame and the items were eventually traced back to Reichler. Eventually, the controversy sputtered but it sullied the reputations of both the Hall of Fame and Reichler.

He was also editor of several editions of The Baseball Encyclopedia.

Joe Reichler was awarded the Spink Award in 1980.

Related Sites[edit]