Jayson Stark (born July 19, 1951)[1] is an American sportswriter and author who covers baseball for The Athletic. He is most known for his time with The Philadelphia Inquirer and ESPN.
Jayson Stark | |
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Born | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | July 19, 1951
Education | Syracuse University |
Occupation(s) | Baseball writer and analyst |
Employers |
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Spouse | Lisa |
Children | 3 |
Awards | J. G. Taylor Spink Award (2019) |
Website | Jayson Stark |
Stark was born in Philadelphia and grew up in the city's Northeast section.[2][3] He graduated from Syracuse University's S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications with a degree in journalism in 1973.[3][1][4] His first job in journalism was at The Providence Journal.[2] In 1979, he joined his hometown Philadelphia Inquirer as a beat writer for the Philadelphia Phillies, and eventually became a national baseball writer and columnist for that paper.[1][5] From 1983 to 1999 he produced a nationally syndicated Baseball Week in Review column "known for unearthing obscure, historic and humorous aspects of baseball".[1] He was twice named Pennsylvania Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.[1][6] His observations and analysis of the 1993 Phillies team is quoted in several books.[7][8]
Stark joined ESPN in 2000.[4] He was a senior writer for ESPN.com. He also contributed to SportsCenter, ESPNews, Baseball Tonight,[9] and a weekly segment during baseball season with WHB 810 in Kansas City. He appeared weekly on Mike & Mike.[9] Beginning in 2014, Stark began co-hosting a weekly radio show during baseball season on ESPN Radio's affiliate in Philadelphia. Stark was inducted into the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.[10][3] Stark was laid off from ESPN on April 26, 2017,[11] along with several other on-air personalities.[12] On April 1, 2018, he started writing for The Athletic.[13]
Stark is the 2019 recipient of the J. G. Taylor Spink Award given by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, for "meritorious contributions to baseball writing".[14]
Stark has three children with his wife, Lisa, who has been an assistant coach for the Council Rock North volleyball team.[15]