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Dallas Morning News writer Gerry Fraley posthumous winner of BBWAA Career Excellence Award

He is the third former DMN baseball writer to be honored with the award.

Gerry Fraley would hate this.

The longtime Dallas Morning News baseball writer, who died at age 64 in 2019 after a two-year battle with colon cancer, was all about the daily grind of the baseball beat, not awards or honors. But his attention to the former is resulting in one doozy of an honor. Fraley, on Tuesday, was named the 2024 winner of the Baseball Writers Association of America’s Career Excellence Award. He will be honored during the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s induction weekend in Cooperstown, N.Y., in July.

He is the third former DMN baseball writer to be honored with the award. Tracy Ringolsby, who preceded Fraley on the Rangers beat, won the award in 2005. Tim Kurkjian won in 2022. Fraley was runner-up to John Lowe for the award in 2023.

“He covered every game and event with passion, intensity and attention to detail. Gerry was respected by players, coaches, baseball executives and scouts, and umpires for his thoroughness and knowledge of the game,” the Texas Rangers said in a statement. “Over the last two years of his life, Gerry continued to cover the Rangers with the same dedication and work ethic, despite battling a very aggressive illness. His passing was a painful loss to the BBWAA and baseball family.”

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Fraley was named on 173 of the 369 ballots cast by BBWAA members with 10 or more consecutive years of service, beating out Bruce Jenkins of the San Francisco Chronicle and Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

“The list of previous recipients of this award is so impressive, and Gerry deserves to be in their company,” DMN sports editor Garry Leavell said. “In a great year for baseball in North Texas, it feels appropriate for Gerry to be honored in this way.”

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Fraley spent 25 years of a 40-year career at The News, covering the Rangers, MLB, the Cowboys and all pro sports. He also served as a general sports columnist at The News. He had previously covered baseball in both Atlanta and Philadelphia and was renowned for forging strong relationships with scouts, executives, players and even umpires. Even eventual presidents.

“Gerry was an accomplished writer and keen observer of many sports,” President George W. Bush, who had previously served as the Rangers’ president when Fraley covered the team, noted. “It always seemed to me that baseball was his real passion, thereby establishing a kinship and a lasting friendship.”

X: @Evan_P_Grant

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