White Sox Minority Owner and Vice Chair EDDIE EINHORN died Tuesday at the age of 80 "due to complications from a stroke," according to Colleen Kane of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Einhorn was the team's Vice Chair "for 25 years and also had been the club’s president and chief operating officer for 10 years earlier in his career" (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 2/25). In Chicago, Chris De Luca notes Einhorn is "still listed as the Sox' vice chairman" even though he "hasn't been involved in the team's day-to-day operations for several years." White Sox Chair JERRY REINSDORF in a statement said, "Eddie was a creative whirlwind whose ideas -- many of them far ahead of their time -- changed the landscape of sports, and sports on television, forever." The White Sox will "honor Einhorn by wearing a sleeve patch during the regular season" (SUNTIMES.com, 2/25). In New Jersey, Jay Levin notes Einhorn while in his 20s "founded the independent TVS Television network specializing in college basketball, then a regional sport." Einhorn "pioneered the national syndication of television and radio coverage of college basketball, both regular season and NCAA tournament games." After selling TVS in '73, Eihnorn "went to CBS, where he produced the 'CBS Sports Spectacular'" and won an Emmy. The National Collegiate Basketball HOF inducted Einhorn in '11 "for his role as a broadcasting pioneer and a promoter" (NORTHJERSEY.com, 2/25).
SENDING CONDOLENCES: USA Today’s Bob Nightengale on Twitter writes, “RIP to the wonderful Eddie Einhorn,, who suffered a severe stroke 2 years ago, and died peacefully. Truly a great, great man.” The N.Y. Post’s Joel Sherman tweeted, “Eddie Einhorn was the type to always stop and chat at, say, the Winter Meetings. Friendly. Significant for #whitesox, MLB.” MLB Network's Jon Heyman writes Einhorn was "one of the nicest guys in baseball.” Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal notes Einhorn had a "huge impact on the #WhiteSox and baseball” (TWITTER.com, 2/25).
