CLAIRE SMITH yesterday was elected the ‘17 winner of the J.G. Taylor Spink Award, and in St. Louis, Jose de Jesus Ortiz writes, "If you care about diversity and/or great baseball writing, Tuesday was a wonderfully beautiful day." Smith joins late Boston Globe columnist LARRY WHITESIDE, who won the award in '08, as the "only African Americans to win the Spink Award." Smith has been "one of the best baseball writers of her lifetime" (ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCH, 12/7). In N.Y., Kristie Ackert writes as Smith yesterday "stood in front of a large group that is and has always been predominately white and male," she was being "honored for so much more." Ackert was "one of five women -- all the other female BBWAA members in the room -- who Smith called up to stand behind her." Ackert: "None of us would have been here as members ... without Smith and her peers breaking through the clubhouse doors over three decades ago" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS 12/7).
GET POLITICAL: MiLB on Monday announced the "establishment of a political action committee." MiLB President PAT O'CONNER and VP STAN BRAND "announced the creation of the PAC at the opening session of this year's Winter Meetings." Brand said the goal of the PAC was to lobby Congress for help in the league's "legislative issues" (BASEBALLAMERICA.com, 12/5).
MAKING A SPLASH: U.S. swimmer MISSY FRANKLIN, along with her parents, appeared on NBC’s “Today” this morning to promote her new book, “RELENTLESS SPIRIT.” NBC’s Matt Lauer said Franklin’s “rise to the top was less than typical” which she chronicles in the book, co-written with her parents. Franklin said she began swimming at an early age because it made her “happy” and she said “it still does. That’s still the reason why I swim.” She said of having a disappointing Rio Games, “My main goal is just to fall in love with the sport again” (“Today,” NBC, 12/7).
CHARITY STRIPE: The Chargers yesterday gave "brand new bikes" to more than 100 second- and third-graders at Fred Baker Elementary School in San Diego. Coordinators from the Bikes for Kids Foundation said that they wanted to "reward the students for excelling in school." Chargers DE JOEY BOSA, OT KING DUNLAP, G D.J. FLUKER, TE HUNTER HENRY and WR TYRELL WILLIAMS were among the Chargers in attendance (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 12/7)....The Packers have joined the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce, and a Gold Founding Member, the Packers will "receive a listing in the chamber's online business directory" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 12/7). Meanwhile, Wisconsin nonprofit groups "received a record $800,000 this year" from the Packers Foundation. The team yesterday announced grants to 316 organizations "ranging from $1,500 to $6,000" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 12/7).
NAMES: Showtime Sports announcers BARRY TOMPKINS and STEVE FARHOOD were elected into the '17 class of the Int'l Boxing HOF as first-time nominees. The ceremony will take place during the Int'l Boxing HOF weekend in Canastota, N.Y., June 8-11 (Showtime)....Top Rank Chair BOB ARUM and Duco Events promoters DEAN LONERGAN and DAVID HIGGINS yesterday said that they have “entered into a co-promotional deal” for boxer JOSEPH PARKER. Top Rank would “take the lead on fights Parker would have” in the U.S. “as well as in China, where Top Rank has a growing business” (ESPN.com, 12/6)....Netflix yesterday released the documentary “ONE IN A BILLION," which chronicles the journey of SATNAM SINGH BHAMARA, the "first Indian-born player drafted into the NBA (USA TODAY, 12/7)....Cubs 1B ANTHONY RIZZO will be the “guest of honor and main attraction" Sunday morning at the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation’s fifth annual Walk-Off for Cancer event in Parkland, Fla. The event has “already raised close to $500,000” (SUNSENTINEL.com, 12/6)....Actors STEVE CARELL and BRYAN CRANSTON “took in the Penguins’ 8-5 victory” over the Senators Monday night (POST-GAZETTE.com, 12/6)....Former NBAer RICK FOX has “signed on for a recurring role on the second season of ‘GREENLEAF,’" a series exec produced by OPRAH WINFREY that airs on her network (DEADLINE.com, 12/7).
IN MEMORY: Members of the A’s organization “expressed shock and sadness” yesterday after the death of MARK SMITH, the club’s “beloved minor league video coordinator.” Smith “died Monday in Arizona at age 41.” The A’s said that they “did not have information about the cause of death.” Smith “served in his video coordinator role for eight seasons.” Funeral services are pending (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 12/7).
