'Sides' is given his due
Late Globe writer earns Spink Award
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. - Bearing a remarkable resemblance to his pioneer dad, Larry Whiteside, the late baseball writer for the Boston Globe, Tony Whiteside proudly accepted the J.G. Taylor Spink Award on behalf of his father at yesterday's Hall of Fame ceremony.
"Those of us who witnessed the expression on dad's face as he raced off to Fenway or the zeal of which he spoke about sports and journalism knew one thing: that Larry Whiteside was a man who truly loved what he did," said Tony.
The Spink Award is presented annually for meritorious contributions to baseball writing.
Whiteside's career spanned 45 years, 31 of them at the Globe. He's known for starting the "Black List," a database of qualified African-American journalists which started in 1971 with nine names and grew to more than 90. The list helped sports editors from major newspapers find qualified African-American writers to hire.
Whiteside became the first African-American to qualify for Hall of Fame voting in 1980 when he had put 10 years of service time as a baseball writer for a major newspaper. He started his career at the Kansas City Kansan in 1959 after graduating from Drake University. "Sides" also spent many years at the Milwaukee Journal.
Whiteside began covering the Red Sox for the Globe in 1973 and later became the paper's national baseball writer.
"My father began his career in the late 1950s," said Tony, "a time when systematic racial segregation and low expectations for African-Americans were still deeply woven into the social fabric. But he overcame the odds and he enjoyed great success over his career. And he did so with dignity and great self-respect. And we are very proud that he chose to be a mentor and foster the progress of many African-American journalists."
But he fostered the growth of more than just African-American journalists. He was an egoless reporter who offered a helping hand to all young reporters.
"Indeed, my father's legacy is a message of hope and courage and the vision of that legacy is a dynamic and healthy respect for the diversity and the ambitions of others," said Tony. "But while it's tempting to view my father's career strictly through the prism of race, he didn't see things that way. He was a hard-working journalist and a baseball man above all else."
The younger Whiteside began his speech by saying he had big shoes to fill.
Master of ceremonies George Grande told him, "Tony, you fill those shoes just fine. Pop's up there watching, and he's proud."
Yankee clippings
There was a big Yankee contingent at the ceremonies with Goose Gossage being enshrined. The former closer (1978-83) was one of many who paid tribute to George Steinbrenner.
"I feel very honored to wear the Yankee cap into the Hall of Fame today and to be a part of the great Yankee tradition. I believe Mr. Steinbrenner someday will be in Cooperstown with us, with all of us," Gossage said.
Gossage, however, spoke most affectionately about his White Sox mentors as a young player - manager Chuck Tanner, general manager Roland Hemond, and pitching coach Johnny Sain.
"Johnny Sain taught me the art of the off-speed pitch," said Gossage. "That pitch, with my power, was exactly what I needed."
He said Tanner "had the greatest influence on me during my first years in the big leagues and he taught me how to conduct myself as a big leaguer."
Yankee GM Brian Cashman attended. Cashman, who had been at the first two games of the Red Sox series and pulled off a deal Friday to acquire outfielder Xavier Nady and lefty reliever Damaso Marte, wasn't tipping his hand about whether he'll be making more deals before Thursday's deadline.
"I'm never optimistic about deals," said Cashman. "It takes a lot of talking and the right things to happen, so I never count on them. I'm trying to do what I can to help us get into the playoffs."
Notable absences
Among the 64 living Hall of Famers who did not attend for various reasons were Nolan Ryan, Carl Yastrzemski, Stan Musial, Rod Carew, Robin Yount, and George Kell . . . Johnny Bench provided some comic relief, impersonating the late Harry Caray leading the crowd in a rendition of "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" . . . Ford C. Frick award winner Dave Niehaus, the only play-by-play voice in Seattle Mariners history, delivered a passionate speech. He mentioned some speech tips from Reggie Jackson. "He said, 'Don't look behind you or you don't have a chance. It can be very intimidating.' Those are real baseball cards back there, and to think that a lot of them made such a sweet sound in my bicycle spokes many years ago, and it blows my mind to see them sitting here behind me today." . . . The first Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded posthumously to O'Neil. His brother, Warren, accepted the honor. The award honors an individual whose extraordinary efforts enhance baseball's positive impact on society. "He has had an impact on millions of people, using baseball to teach lessons of life, love, and respect. His contributions go well beyond the playing field," said Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan.
Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com. 
