Doug Pappas, an attorney and baseball writer died on Thursday, apparently from heat prostration.
The writings of the Baseball Prospectus staff undermine the accusation that intelligent baseball analysis is somehow contrary to a pure enjoyment of the game, or, as is generally hurled at people with a particular passion, an appreciation of life in general. Doug Pappas was no different. In addition to his brilliant writing about the economics of baseball (and in particular, a convincing takedown of baseball’s cries of poverty) he was a photographer and collector of roadside curios, collected at Roadside Photos. According to the BP article on his passing, he was adding to his portfolio in Big Bend National Park when he died during a hike.
Doug Pappas was an articulate voice of sanity about the economics of baseball in a world where the sports pages are typically filled with poorly informed drivel in support of the company line. He will be missed.
You can find his writings in the Baseball Prospectus archive and at his own baseball writings page.