1969 BBWAA Career Excellence Award Winner Sid Mercer

Born in Champaign County, Ill., in 1881, James Sidney Mercer's first job at a newspaper was as a printer's devil (apprentice) with the St. Louis Republic. He later wrote for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch before hiring on with the St. Louis Browns as their road secretary in 1906.

The following year, Mercer's love for writing brought him to the staff of the New York Evening Globe. He later wrote for the New York Evening Journal, where, through syndication, his reputation gained nationwide fame. He finally landed with Hearst's American (later Journal-American) where he stayed until his death on June 19, 1945.

A charter member of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, Mercer covered New York baseball with an easy, informative writing style.

Ford Frick recalled: "Sid Mercer was a dedicated man. His contributions went far beyond writing. He was at one and the same time critic and defender."

A recognized authority on both boxing and baseball, Mercer was appointed to the Hall of Fame Committee on Baseball Veterans less than a year before his passing.

More BBWAA Career Excellence Award Winners

1968 BBWAA Career Excellence Award Winner Harry Salsinger

BBWAA Career Excellence Award

For meritorious contributions to baseball writing.

1970 BBWAA Career Excellence Award Winner Heywood Broun

1968 BBWAA Career Excellence Award Winner Harry Salsinger

BBWAA Career Excellence Award

For meritorious contributions to baseball writing.

1970 BBWAA Career Excellence Award Winner Heywood Broun

Hall of Fame Awards

Hall of Fame Awards

Frick (broadcasters), BBWAA Career Excellence (writers) and O'Neil (lifetime achievement)

Ford C. Frick Award

For broadcasters' contributions to baseball.

Buck O'Neil Award

For lifetime achievement.

Hall of Fame Awards

Frick (broadcasters), BBWAA Career Excellence (writers) and O'Neil (lifetime achievement)

Ford C. Frick Award

For broadcasters' contributions to baseball.

Buck O'Neil Award

For lifetime achievement.