R.I.P. Phil Pepe '57

"Catch me Phil Pepe with the 'Pep Talk' every morning on the Harry Harrison show!"
 
Phil covered New York sports first for the World Telegram and then the Daily News for over 60 years. While he is primarily as a baseball writer and a Yankee beat writer from 1961 until 1989 his professional life was filled with basketball as well. His 4 dozen books include collaborations with both Willis Reed, Walt Frazier and a very young Kareem Abdul-Jabbar when he was still known as Lew Alcindor. In fact a story he recounted often told of a time when he was at the World Telegram preparing to cover a double header at Fordham. To hear him tell it the PR guy at Fordham suggested he might be interested in a grammar school all=star game prior to the double header which pitted all stars form the Diocese of Brooklyn and the Archdiocese of New York. The guy mentioned "a 6'8 14 year old and a 6'7" 13 year old" who would be playing in the game. Sensing an opportunity he had the guy bring those kids to his office for photos. The 6'7" 13 year old was of course Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor and the rest is history. In the 90's he also wrote a terrific book called "Divided Loyalties" which offered a great look at Coach Bob Hurley and his relationship with his sons and his players at St. A's. Also in 2006 he served as moderator of a symposium on Coach Joe Lapchick that if I recall correctly marked the 100th Anniversary of the basketball program at St. John's.
On a personal note he was a friend of my dad's while at St. John's and was very kind to me while I was undergoing physical rehabilitation. He was a frequent visitor during two extended hospital stays and his visits always seemed to come right when I needed someone to talk baseball or hoops with. And he even made sure I had an introduction to my first sports hero Willis Reed. Rest in Peace old friend and thank you for everything. You will be missed.
 
The guy mentioned "a 6'8 14 year old and a 6'7" 13 year old" who would be playing in the game. Sensing an opportunity he had the guy bring those kids to his office for photos. The 6'7" 13 year old was of course Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor and the rest is history.
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Who was the 6'8" soph?
 
Phil covered New York sports first for the World Telegram and then the Daily News for over 60 years. While he is primarily as a baseball writer and a Yankee beat writer from 1961 until 1989 his professional life was filled with basketball as well. His 4 dozen books include collaborations with both Willis Reed, Walt Frazier and a very young Kareem Abdul-Jabbar when he was still known as Lew Alcindor. In fact a story he recounted often told of a time when he was at the World Telegram preparing to cover a double header at Fordham. To hear him tell it the PR guy at Fordham suggested he might be interested in a grammar school all=star game prior to the double header which pitted all stars form the Diocese of Brooklyn and the Archdiocese of New York. The guy mentioned "a 6'8 14 year old and a 6'7" 13 year old" who would be playing in the game. Sensing an opportunity he had the guy bring those kids to his office for photos. The 6'7" 13 year old was of course Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor and the rest is history. In the 90's he also wrote a terrific book called "Divided Loyalties" which offered a great look at Coach Bob Hurley and his relationship with his sons and his players at St. A's. Also in 2006 he served as moderator of a symposium on Coach Joe Lapchick that if I recall correctly marked the 100th Anniversary of the basketball program at St. John's.
On a personal note he was a friend of my dad's while at St. John's and was very kind to me while I was undergoing physical rehabilitation. He was a frequent visitor during two extended hospital stays and his visits always seemed to come right when I needed someone to talk baseball or hoops with. And he even made sure I had an introduction to my first sports hero Willis Reed. Rest in Peace old friend and thank you for everything. You will be missed.
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While I didn't know him personally, Phil always came across as a good human being. Thanks for sharing your memories of him, and sorry for the loss of your friend.
 
One of his collaborations included LC's book. Louie: In Season with Phil Pepe (foreword by gov. Mario Cuomo). 1988. I read it as a student at St. John's.

R.I.P.
 
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