In memory of Hall of Fame sportswriter Jack Lang, who passed away at the start of the year at the age of 85, the NY Mets have generously designated April 26th as Jack Lang Day at Shea. I was surprised to hear that not many people know who Jack Lang was. With the help of ESPN.com, I would like to share with you some of the highlights of Jack’s life, because it was an incredible one.

Jack Lang began covering the Brooklyn Dodgers for the Long Island Daily Press in 1946, including the day Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier of Major League Baseball. When the Dodgers left for warmer weather in 1957, Lang covered the Yankees until the Mets began playing in 1962. While Lang was at spring training in 1977, the Press closed. Within 4 hours, he was hired by the News to cover the Mets.

One of the more pleasant parts of his job came later, when he was elected as the secretary/treasurer of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. It became his job to tally the Hall of Fame scores, and call the winners. This earned him his nickname of “the good-news” man. In 1986, Lang was honored by the Hall with the J.G Taylor Spink Award.

Many current and former Mets remember him fondly:

“He’s a man that loved baseball to the core of his soul and he was a good friend and objective, as well” - Tom Seaver

“He’s from the era of 16 teams and traveling on trains with the guys. There was a different relationship with the beat writers and the players at that point. A good guy, a good man” - Fred Wilpon

“He was a true historian of the game. The world of baseball is a lesser place now without him” - Rusty Staub

In honor of Lang, his family has chosen the Epilepsy Foundation of Long Island as their charitable partner for this fund raiser to raise awareness of this disorder, which affects Lang’s grandson and over 40 million people world wide.

To support this cause, please consider buying tickets for the April 26th game to see the Mets play the rival Atlanta Braves from the Epilepsy Foundation for the same price as it would cost you to attend the game. Tickets are as follows:

• Picnic Area: $50 (Include Party Tent, BBQ Buffet, and Left Field Bleacher Seating
• Upper Level Box Seat: $27
• Upper Level: $10

To purchase tickets or to make a donation in memory of Jack Lang, contact Pat Maher, Development Dept of the Long Island Epilepsy Foundation at (516) 739-7733 ext 141.