Hall of Famer baseball author and St. Louis icon Rick Hummel, who covered the Cardinals for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for 51 years, died Saturday morning. He was 77.
Nicknamed “The Commish,” Hummel has delighted Cardinals fans for five decades with his vivid game recaps and in-depth reporting, covering three World Series championships and seven National League pennants. In 2006, he received the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s Career Excellence Award, which is on display in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Hummel is also inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame, and has been named Missouri Sportswriter of the Year four times by the National Sportswriters and Sportscaster Association. He retired from post-dispatch after the 2022 season, but made regular appearances as a freelance player during spring training and early in the 2023 season.
“I wanted to be fair and concise and hopefully make readers smile at times. It’s baseball. “It’s no bigger than it is,” Hummel told Baseball Digest in a profile published last fall. “We should enjoy it. I have been blessed.”
Hummel was born on February 25, 1946 in Quincy, Illinois and graduated from Quincy High in 1964. After two years at Quincy College, he enrolled in the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism, graduating in 1968 with a degree in journalism. Hummel served in the Army for three years and was hired by Bob Broeg of the Post-Dispatch. That would be a historic appointment as the press box at Busch Stadium III is named after Broeg and Hummel.
According to Baseball Digest, Hummel’s nickname “Commish” comes from his participation in a league for a board game called APBA Football years ago. As he was the best at reading the tables required for the game, he became the commissioner of the league – the Universal Football Organization. “UFO for short,” longtime St. Louis sportswriter Dick Kaegel told Baseball Digest. “Rick, of course, came up with the name. Who else would think of that?”
During his 51 years as one of baseball’s finest writers, Hummel never missed an opportunity to create a compelling game story or feature film. He was respected throughout baseball not only for his strong work ethic, but also for his tireless love and knowledge of the game – something he never hesitated to share with his peers.
A friendly face
When I signed up for my first season as a beatwriter at Busch Stadium in 2021, I entered the draw for a seat in the press box. Sitting to my right was one of the most respected and respected writers in the industry – The Commish, Rick Hummel. Although we were considered direct competitors, I never felt like an enemy with him. Instead, he always treated me like a friend.
One aspect that makes the game of baseball so great is the storytelling that goes with it, and you won’t find a better storyteller than Hummel. This ability went beyond just writing down words. Commish never missed an opportunity to share his knowledge with those smart enough to listen. Despite the ever-changing media, Commish continued to set an example of what a good writer should be like with his thorough, unbiased reporting. But more importantly, he also set standards for dealing with others, regardless of the relationship. He always had a friendly face and loved to share about baseball and life – and he was easily the best-dressed person in the press box every day.
Commish never missed an opportunity to discuss strategy when asked – and believe me, the writer sitting on his left asked him many questions. He was also patient enough to put up with my unrelated baseball stories and regularly inquired about the “gimmicks” I’d been up to. I was very lucky to sit next to him for two seasons. He made me a better reporter when he didn’t have to – that’s just the kind of person he was.
Loved and revered by the city of St. Louis for over 50 years, Commish will never do it again.
Hey Buster, we will miss you. – Woo
Hummel’s effect
As someone from St. Louis who grew up reading the Post-Dispatch, spending a summer alongside Rick Hummel in the Cardinals’ press box was a dream come true. I was an intern at Post-Dispatch in 2018, and while that Cardinals season was somewhat unforgettable for fans, Hummel made sure it was more than unforgettable for me. Watching one of the greats and trying out his brain has made me better at my job, and he made sure I left this summer with a friend and not just a collection of lessons. I am extremely grateful for our short time as a staff member.
Commish, as we called him, was a fountain of kindness and wisdom, someone widely respected in the stadium and baseball world. His awards reflected that—the Baseball Hall of Fame honored him, for example—but it showed even more in his interactions with those around him. The players took their time with him because they knew he was fair; Both Skip Schumaker and Adam Wainwright have posted reminiscences since his death. His fellow writers loved him. The press box is named after him, as is the post-dispatch internship each summer with a University of Missouri student.
I will always appreciate talking to him about lineup decisions or listening to him tell a story about an interview with Muhammad Ali or a fact about a great ballplayer of all time. He was a good man, one that a city and baseball community will miss dearly. – Baugh
What you say
“Rick Hummel was one of the finest and most respected baseball writers of his time or any other time. It was always a pleasure to see Rick in St. Louis, where loyal baseball fans have enjoyed his work for more than half a century, and at our Jewel Events. In a stunning display of professionalism and longevity, Rick has covered 42 straight All-Star games. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I offer my deepest condolences to the family of The Commish, his readers, Cardinals fans and his many friends in our game,” Rob Manfred, the MLB commissioner, said in a statement.
“Today is a sad day for me. St. Louis has lost a legend in Rick Hummel. Always fair. Always happy. I always wore some silly hat and mismatched pants that made me smile. The respect and trust he’s earned from players is a rarity in our world,” Cardinals pitcher Wainwright said Twitter.
“’Commish’ was a favorite with players and staff alike. He got it right and was one of the most respected writers around. Our last conversation was about that spring training when he came to the side of the Marlins just to congratulate me. No other reason. Unbelievable. RIP Commish,” said Schumaker, the Marlins manager and former Cardinals player Twitter.
(Photo: Tim Roske/AP)