MLB World reacts to death of Hall of Fame St. Louis Cardinals writer Rick Hummel: "No one in the press box was ever more of a gentleman"
Hall of Fame St. Louis Cardinals sportswriter Rick Hummel passed away at home in his sleep on Saturday at the age of 77.
Hummel, known lovingly as "The Commish," was well known throughout the MLB world. He covered the Cardinals for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper for five decades. He retired after 51 years of covering the team in 2022.
The Cardinals and all of baseball were saddened to learn today of the passing of Hall of Fame writer and friend Rick Hummel at the age of 77.
Hummel, nicknamed the “Commish”, covered the Cardinals for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for 50 years before retiring after the 2022… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… https://t.co/kBUM7XsLOG
Hummel was born and raised in St. Louis Cardinals territory. He grew up in Quincy, Illinois, on the border of Missouri just north of St. Louis. He graduated from the University of Missouri school of journalism. He covered both the Cardinals and the sport of baseball, gaining a reputation as a gentleman with a straightforward approach to his craft.
Longtime sportscaster Bob Costas once told the Post-Dispatch of Hummel:
"He gets the facts, paints an accurate picture and lets the readers draw their own conclusions. Other guys across the country who have covered a team might have more of an acerbic edge. But Rick's advantage over time is that he is universally regarded as trustworthy. He adheres to a way that is old-school, and that has served his readers well."
No one ever loved baseball than Rick did. No one in the press box was ever more of a gentleman. twitter.com/Cardinals/stat…
Rick Hummel had a wry wit, a devotion to his craft and a bottomless reservoir of stories to tell. He was beloved and respected by fans and his fellow ball writers for a reason. What a mark he left upon St. Louis and throughout the game. Farewell, Commish. You were one of a kind. twitter.com/cardinals/stat…
@mujschool @baseballhall #STL #RIP 
🏻 twitter.com/cardinals/stat…
A great writer & a kind man. I was inspired by his work when I was a young sports fan. Blessed to have met Rick Hummel ⚾️@mujschool @baseballhall #STL #RIP 🙏🏻 twitter.com/cardinals/stat…
Longtime St. Louis Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog once told the Post-Dispatch of Hummel:
"He loves the game, he’s very knowledgeable. I couldn’t have had a better beat writer for those 10 years, I was very fortunate to have him as my beat writer. If he would call, I’d return it as soon as I could. To this day, if Rick Hummel calls I call him right back."
Saddened to hear of Rick Hummel's passing. He was a true Hall of Fame writer. Read him all the time as a kid growing up and one of the @stltoday writers who inspired me to be a journalist. The press box/broadcast booth won't be the same without the Commish or Shannon. twitter.com/Cardinals/stat…
Rick was so good to me as a young radio reporter covering the Cardinals in the late 80s and early 90s. He always had time to answer questions about the nuances of the game & about the National League. He gave me confidence in my knowledge & abilities. I will always be grateful. twitter.com/cardinals/stat…
Damn. A picture of Commish should appear in the dictionary next to the word “gentleman.” He was one of the rare press box denizens who showed stringers with the same level of respect and decorum he’d lifelong traveling beat scribes.
Great writer. Greater human. twitter.com/cardinals/stat…
Hummel gained the "Commish" nickname — short for commissioner — in the 1970s when he and some friends formed a league to play a sports-related board game. The name stuck league-wide out of respect.
He covered 42 consecutive All-Star Games, and chronicled the St. Louis Cardinals three most recent World Series championships.
twitter.com/Cardinals/stat…
So sorry to hear this news. Rick Hummel was a great writer, a lovely human, a total class act and a St. Louis Legend. Rest in peace, Commish. 🙏⚾️❤️ twitter.com/Cardinals/stat…
A SAD DAY FOR CARDINAL NATION AND ALL OF "THE GEM CITY!" RIP "Commish" Thank You! #JobWellDone @MLB @WGEMSports @MLBNetwork @CardsNation247 @QPS_172 twitter.com/Cardinals/stat…
This is beyond sad. In my early days as a talk show host Rick was always willing to appear as a guest and contribute something of interesting and value. In subsequent years it was a joy to visit with him in New York, St. Louis or Florida. Just a warm, lovely man. RIP. twitter.com/cardinals/stat…
Hummel had been ill as of late, but kept the illness private. He passed away at home with his wife Melissa at his side. In memoriam, the Cincinnati Reds reserved him a spot in the press box at Great American Ballpark, where the home team is scheduled to host the Cardinals on Monday night.
If you needed good conversation, Rick Hummel was your guy.
If you needed a sports writer to emulate, Rick Hummel was your guy.
If you needed a NCAA or NIT bracket, Rick Hummel was your guy.
If you needed a friend, Rick Hummel was your guy.
RIP Commish twitter.com/Cardinals/stat…
St. Louis Cardinals have lost three greats in a short time
The St. Louis Cardinals have lost three of their legendary writers/broadcasters in a short time. In addition to Hummel, longtime broadcasters Mike Shannon and Tim McCarver also passed away this year.