Richard Lowell Hummel was an American author and sports columnist best known for his work for the St Louis Post-Dispatch.
15 Facts About Rick Hummel
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Richard Lowell Rick Hummel was born on February, 25,1946, in Quincy, Illinois.
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Rick Hummel graduated from Quincy Senior High School in 1964.
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At first Rick Hummel remained in his hometown for higher education, attending Quincy College before transferring to the University of Missouri to attend their School of Journalism.
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Rick Hummel expressed an interest in sports journalism and broadcasting at an early age, having auditioned for a job at Quincy station WGEM when he was twelve years old.
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Rick Hummel worked as a spotter for former Major League Baseball player and coach Elvin Tappe and his twin brother Melvin as they broadcast Quincy High School games.
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Melvin Tappe encouraged Rick Hummel to pursue a career as a sports writer.
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Broeg, who himself would earn the Spink award and be inducted into Cooperstown in 1979, at first assigned Rick Hummel to cover secondary and St Louis regional teams for the newspaper.
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Rick Hummel worked as a beat writer for the St Louis Stars of the North American Soccer League, Spirits of St Louis of the American Basketball Association, and Saint Louis University hockey, among others.
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Rick Hummel earned his nickname "The Commish" or "The Commissioner" for running an APBA board game with colleagues and for his exhaustive knowledge of the rules involved in the softball, football, and bowling leagues he and Post-Dispatch teammates participated in.
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Rick Hummel has served on the Baseball Hall of Fame Overview Committee, reviewing the careers of potential inductees by the Veterans Committee.
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Rick Hummel continued to work as the game-day beat reporter until 2002 when he transitioned to the primary role of weekly baseball columnist.
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Rick Hummel was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame the following year.
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Rick Hummel was a three-time "Missouri Sportswriter of the Year" as selected by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association, and was inducted into the Quincy High School Blue Devils Hall of Fame.
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Rick Hummel died at his home on May 20,2023, at the age of 77.