50 Years of Wit and Wisdom from the Groundbreaking Sportswriter
Edited by Gloria HochmanForeword by Angelo Cataldi With a Message from Governor Edward G. Rendell
The late Philadelphia Daily News sportswriter Stan Hochman was known for his many zingers, such as “Harry Litwack, the stoic Temple coach, stalks the sidelines like a blind man at a nudist colony.” As a reporter, he was more interested in how athletes felt, what their values were, how they lived their lives, or what made them tick than he was about how many runs they scored or punches they landed.
In Stan Hochman Unfiltered, Stan’s wife, Gloria, collects nearly one hundred of his best Daily News columns about not only baseball, horse racing, boxing, football, hockey, and basketball (both college and professional) but also food, films, and even Liz Taylor. Each section is introduced by a friend or colleague—including, among others, Garry Maddox, Larry Merchant, Ray Didinger, and Bernie Parent.
Hochman penned a candid, cantankerous column about whether Pete Rose belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame; wrote a graphic account of the Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier fight of the century; and skewered Norman “Bottom Line” Braman, the one-time owner of the Eagles. He also wrote human-interest stories, including features about the importance of kids with special needs playing sports.
In addition to being a beloved writer, Hochman was known for his stint on WIP radio as the Grand Imperial Poobah, where he would settle callers’ most pressing debates. Hochman earned the respect and admiration of his subjects, peers, and readers throughout his career. Stan Hochman Unfiltered is a testament to his enduring legacy.
“ We all need our heroes in life. And that’s what Stan was for me. When I was a kid, I used to write to him with questions about sportswriting. It tells all you need to know about him that he always wrote back, with a never-ending supply of wisdom, insights, and advice. He had no idea what that meant to me or how much it inspired me to do what I do. And it taught me the value of responding to all the kids who have reached out to me through the years. I think of Stan every time I do that. If I were chiseling a Mount Rushmore of Philly sportswriters, I’d honestly start with Stan. A pro’s pro. An amazing writer. And one of the most special human beings I’ve ever met in this business.”
—Jayson Stark, Senior Baseball Writer , The Athletic, formerly of the Inquirer and ESPN
"(T)his treasury of Stan’s wit and wisdom... reminds us of his impact as both a gifted, provocative and unparalleled writer and as a human being.... (T)he depth of Stan’s writing is matched only by the number the lives he touched and entertained through his columns.... As this enjoyable volume attests, Stan never lost his fastball."
— JerseyMan Magazine
“Stan Hochman Unfiltered is a fun and easy journey through decades of Philadelphia sports that seamlessly has held up over time."
— Daily Times
One Last Read
Ray Didinger
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