tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5985668569918053928.post3648410565485995791..comments2024-01-24T05:19:09.805-06:00Comments on This Game Of Games: Some Journalistic Infighting (or William Spink Lays The Smack Down)Jeffrey Kittelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02367989375750209078noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5985668569918053928.post-88390595902737764432009-12-07T15:45:26.662-06:002009-12-07T15:45:26.662-06:00Absolutely fair and valid points. This is the fir...Absolutely fair and valid points. This is the first time I've run into these kind of charges and it took me aback. I understand making errors because I do it all the time and have a rather fair understanding of human nature. But the idea that people may have been fabricating game accounts is shocking to me largely because we're using the contemporary reports as the basis and foundation of the history of the 19th century game. If we can't depend on them then we're SOL as far as recreating the data and history is concerned.<br /><br />But as you say, we just need to exercise some caution and make careful judgments. I trust your judgement of the Phil media and the entire situation was most likely overblown. Spink was prone (within the journalistic community) to throwing stones, starting fights and quickly responding to slights. It's one of the reasons he's so entertaining to read.Jeffrey Kittelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02367989375750209078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5985668569918053928.post-86424014992711350942009-12-07T14:03:16.158-06:002009-12-07T14:03:16.158-06:00Of course we don't have the other side of the ...Of course we don't have the other side of the story. I have seen similar accusations passed back and forth.<br /><br />I haven't worked that era for some time, but as I recall the Philadelphia Times had comparatively extensive baseball coverage. I don't remember ever having the feeling it was particularly prone to making stuff up.<br /><br />For amusing opinionating, see Richter's assessment of Chadwick in the early years of The Sporting Life. <br /><br />I think what we should take away from this is a sense of caution about the vagaries of journalism of the period. I am not willing to make judgments about individual reporters without some careful analysis first.Richard Hershbergernoreply@blogger.com