Frank Deford

Date of Birth: December 16, 1938

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: May 28, 2017

Biography

Frank Deford was an acclaimed American sportswriter and novelist known for his rich storytelling and keen insights into the world of sports. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Deford graduated from Princeton University in 1962. Over his career, he wrote for renowned publications such as Sports Illustrated, where he became one of the magazine’s most beloved writers. He also served as a commentator on NPR’s “Morning Edition” and contributed to HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.” Deford authored more than a dozen books, both fiction and non-fiction, including “Everybody’s All-American” and “Alex: The Life of a Child,” the latter a poignant memoir about his daughter who died of cystic fibrosis. He was honored with numerous awards, including six U.S. Sportswriter of the Year awards and the National Humanities Medal from President Barack Obama in 2013. Frank Deford passed away on May 28, 2017, leaving behind a legacy as one of America’s greatest sportswriters.

5 Interesting Facts about Frank Deford

1. Frank Deford was a six-time winner of the U.S. Sportswriter of the Year award.

2. He was a long-time commentator on NPR’s “Morning Edition,” where he delivered weekly essays on sports.

3. His book “Everybody’s All-American” was adapted into a film starring Dennis Quaid and Jessica Lange.

4. Deford was inducted into the National Association of Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame.

5. He received the National Humanities Medal from President Barack Obama in 2013 for his contributions to sports journalism.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Frank Deford

1. “You can tell all you need to about a society from how it treats animals and beaches them.”

2. “Sports is human life in microcosm.”

3. “The greatest stars are the ones who are willing to face the biggest challenges.”

4. “A sportswriter is entangled with the people he writes about, the athletes and the fans.”

5. “Good sportswriting is about more than just covering the game; it’s about capturing the essence of what makes sports an integral part of our lives.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Frank Deford’s net worth was estimated to be around $5 million.

Children

Frank Deford had three children: Christian Deford, Scarlet Deford, and Alexandra Deford. Alexandra, often referred to as Alex, passed away at the age of eight due to cystic fibrosis, which inspired Deford’s memoir “Alex: The Life of a Child.”