For more than four decades, Hoynes has covered professional baseball in Cleveland, from the difficult years at old Municipal Stadium to the powerhouse teams of the 1990s, the 2016 World Series run and today’s Guardians.
Now, his distinguished career is being recognized with baseball writing’s highest honor at the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
In this episode of Diamonds and Scribes, Hoynes joins Patrick Gordon for an honest, funny and revealing conversation about the craft of baseball journalism.
Hoynes explains how reporters construct game stories under intense deadline pressure, why social media has changed the meaning of a scoop and how relationships inside a clubhouse are built over years of showing up during both the good moments and the difficult ones.
He also discusses:
• Learning to write on deadline with a typewriter
• Why game stories can feel like “meatball journalism”
• Asking difficult questions after painful losses
• Covering Albert Belle, Kenny Lofton and Cleveland’s stars of the 1990s
• The column that resulted in him jumping into Lake Erie
• How shrinking newsrooms have changed baseball coverage
• His concerns about artificial intelligence and the future of journalism
• The emotional moment he learned he had received his Hall of Fame honor
• His advice for young reporters entering the profession
Hoynes also reflects on the family support that made his career possible and what he still hopes to accomplish as a storyteller.
Diamonds and Scribes explores the people, stories and experiences behind baseball journalism.
Follow and subscribe to Diamonds and Scribes wherever you listen to podcasts.
Diamonds and Scribes explores the people, stories and experiences behind baseball journalism.
Follow and subscribe to Diamonds and Scribes wherever you listen to podcasts.
