Seymour Siwoff

Seymour Siwoff
(Sy)

• School St. John's University
• Born November 1, 1920 in Brooklyn, NY USA
• Died November 29, 2019 in Manhattan, NY USA

Biographical Information

Seymour Siwoff was a noted statistician for the Elias Sports Bureau. It is often reported that Siwoff founded Elias but this is not true, although he was hired twice by the Elias brothers, who founded the company in 1913. The company began keeping the official statistics for the National League in 1919, and later did so for the American League as well.

Originally, Siwoff was hired as a runner for the company as a teenager. After getting a degree at St. John's University, serving in World War II, and trying his hand as an accountant, Siwoff rejoined Elias in 1948.

After Al Munro Elias died in 1939 and his brother Walter reduced his influence in the company, Siwoff became more prominent. He negotiated contracts to do the official statistics for the American Football League in 1960, the National Football League in 1961, the National Basketball Association in 1969, and ABC's Monday Night Baseball in 1976.

In addition to overseeing the statistical end of the Elias Sports Bureau, Siwoff has been credited as the editor on many books, most notably baseball's official record book and the American League Red Book and National League Green Book.

When he passed away, Seymour Siwoff was the dean of the membership of the BBWAA, having been a member since 1952.