Edward Joseph Lucas Jr.[1]: 2 (January 3, 1939 – November 10, 2021) was an American blind sportswriter who primarily covered the New York Yankees.
Ed Lucas | |
|---|---|
| Born | Edward Joseph Lucas Jr. January 3, 1939[1]: 3 |
| Died | November 10, 2021 (aged 82) Livingston, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Seton Hall University |
| Occupation | Sportswriter |
| Years active | 1964–2021 |
| Known for | Sports reporter |
| Spouse | Allison Pfeifle |
| Children | 2 |
Biography
Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, Lucas grew up in Weehawken, New Jersey and attended St. Joseph's School for the Blind in Jersey City.[1][2]Lucas was blind from 1951, when he was 12 years old. He was pitching in a pickup game on October 3, 1951—the day of Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'Round the World"— when a line drive hit him in the face.[3] The accident resulted in the loss of his sight.[4] From 1964, Lucas was a reporter and broadcaster.[5]
He was an alumnus of Seton Hall University, having received a bachelor's degree in communication arts.[6] In 2006, Lucas and his second wife, Allison Pfeifle, were the first couple to be married on the field of Yankee Stadium; they had been introduced to each other by Phil Rizzuto.[7]
Lucas was featured in Bleacher Boys, a 2009 documentary about blind baseball fans,[8][9] and in an April 2018 episode of SC Featured on ESPN.[10]
A resident of Union Township, Union County, New Jersey, Lucas died from pulmonary fibrosis on November 10, 2021, at the age of 82.[11][12]
Works
- Lucas, Ed; Lucas, Christopher (2015). Seeing Home: The Ed Lucas Story: A Blind Broadcaster's Story of Overcoming Life's Greatest Obstacles. Gallery/Jeter Publishing. ISBN 978-1476785837.
References
Further reading
- Hague, Jim (June 24, 2008). "The ultimate honor for Jersey City's Lucas 'Strikeouts for Scholarships' program honors blind sports journalist". The Hudson Reporter.
- Matthews, Jill (September 17, 2008). "As He Sees It' The Baseball Life of Ed Lucas". Seton Hall University. Archived from the original on 2014-03-09. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
- Walk, John (July 28, 2011). "Ed Lucas, well-known sports journalist and speaker, comes to York". ForSight Vision. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
- Zucker, Harvey (July 5, 2009). "Hudson's Ed Lucas named to Irish-American Baseball Hall of Fame". NJ.com. Retrieved 2011-01-26.
- "His Special View Of Baseball In Spite Of Blindness, Ed Lucas Reports On The Game". philly-archives.
- "Strikeouts for Scholarships - Seton Hall University, New Jersey".
- "Rizzuto, Yankee Hall of Famer, dies at age 89". ESPN.com. August 14, 2007.
- "Ed Lucas". Premiere Speakers Bureau. Retrieved 2014-03-04.