Welcome to the memorial page for
James P. Brosnan
October 24, 1929 ~ June 28, 2014 (age 84) 84 Years Old Light a Candle
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Message from Major A. Smith
December 28, 2014 9:03 AM
I think "The Long Season" by Jim Brosnan is hands down one of the greatest and most brilliant sports books ever written. His is a tremendous loss.
Message from Bob Wiemann
August 21, 2014 11:34 AM
To the Brosnan family,
Many condolences on the passing of your father, James Brosnan ( or Broz, as I'll rember him). I've read both of his books countless times, and still pick them up frequently, as they are my favorite traveling companions when sitting in train stations or airports. They left an indelible impression on me, and I'll never forget them.
I always wished I had sent a note to him to say "thanks" , but at least I can do this. An enormous loss for all of us. Thanks you, and take care.
Bob Wiemann
Many condolences on the passing of your father, James Brosnan ( or Broz, as I'll rember him). I've read both of his books countless times, and still pick them up frequently, as they are my favorite traveling companions when sitting in train stations or airports. They left an indelible impression on me, and I'll never forget them.
I always wished I had sent a note to him to say "thanks" , but at least I can do this. An enormous loss for all of us. Thanks you, and take care.
Bob Wiemann
Message from Jim Haught
August 5, 2014 8:09 PM
A wonderful relief pitcher and gifted writer and observer who wrote the two best baseball books. I consider them to be incomparable works of art, and my own success as a writer/journalist was greatly aided and influenced by his writing style.
My condolences to the Brosnan family. I will miss him greatly, and am glad that i still have many of his books to read again and again.
My condolences to the Brosnan family. I will miss him greatly, and am glad that i still have many of his books to read again and again.
Message from fred parker
July 20, 2014 7:40 PM
To Tim and is sisters,
Tim, it has been forty-two years since i last saw you in journalism class at Maine East. I remember you as a very nice classmate and very witty. My father sent me the clipping of your dad's passing. i am very sorry to hear the sad news. A father and a son or a father and a daughter can have a very special relationship and i am sure your dad was a very special father to all three of his children. Again, i am very sorry to hear the news of your dad's passing and i will keep you and your sisters in my nightly prayers.
Tim, it has been forty-two years since i last saw you in journalism class at Maine East. I remember you as a very nice classmate and very witty. My father sent me the clipping of your dad's passing. i am very sorry to hear the sad news. A father and a son or a father and a daughter can have a very special relationship and i am sure your dad was a very special father to all three of his children. Again, i am very sorry to hear the news of your dad's passing and i will keep you and your sisters in my nightly prayers.
Message from Susan Stuercke Richardson
July 16, 2014 9:31 AM
Dear Jamie, Tim and of course, my friend Kim,
I am sorry to learn of the recent death of your father and your mother last year. It has been many years since I've seen any of you. I have lovely memories of you all and your parents. I remember the photograph of the three of you in a pyramid that you redid 10 or 15 years later in your kitchen on Churchill Street. As an adult I read your dad's books and enjoyed them so much. Your mother was always so kind to me and I remember joking with her about her "gourmet meals".
I hope your many memories are of comfort to you at this time. I am sorry to miss the service. Most of us Stuerckes will be in Wisconsin for the weekend for a family get together. I shared the obituary with my siblings and we all sighed in sadness. We lost our parents about 11 months apart 15 years ago so we know how awful this concentrated grief can be.
My best to you all, thinking of you and wishing you peace.
Susan Stuercke Richardson
I am sorry to learn of the recent death of your father and your mother last year. It has been many years since I've seen any of you. I have lovely memories of you all and your parents. I remember the photograph of the three of you in a pyramid that you redid 10 or 15 years later in your kitchen on Churchill Street. As an adult I read your dad's books and enjoyed them so much. Your mother was always so kind to me and I remember joking with her about her "gourmet meals".
I hope your many memories are of comfort to you at this time. I am sorry to miss the service. Most of us Stuerckes will be in Wisconsin for the weekend for a family get together. I shared the obituary with my siblings and we all sighed in sadness. We lost our parents about 11 months apart 15 years ago so we know how awful this concentrated grief can be.
My best to you all, thinking of you and wishing you peace.
Susan Stuercke Richardson
Message from Art Gay
July 15, 2014 11:26 AM
Dear Tim, Jamie and Kim,
It was a great privilege to know Jim and Anne. Jim and I had some vital conversations some years ago. Anne's faith in Christ was vibrant and curious. I recall sitting with Jim as we watched the Cubs from behind home plate in Wrigley Field. It was great listening to this bright guy as he described everything that was happening. His discourse on pitching was remarkable. As was often the case, our discussions turned to faith. Jim was pleased that his children were exposed to the teaching at a fine church nearby. We discussed the history of evangelical theology and how that all fit in a world of confusion and skepticism. Jim respected people of faith and our relationship ... my committed Christian faith and his journey. We would often leave our enlightened discussions ending by resting in the mercy of God toward us all. Fair enough. It was my conviction that my friend Jim would probably never tell me the conclusion of his spiritual journey, but prayed he would finish his journey all the way to a grand reunion with all of you. Anne being the first to wait for the rest of you all.
Thank you for the privilege to know each of you, even as the years have flown by.
Tim, thanks for your years of kindness to your folks in MG. Jamie and Kim, thanks for being so much like Anne. Your children and spouses are blessed.
Jo and I send our love and condolences. May you all journey well and look to a great reunion.
A friend of years ago,
Art Gay
It was a great privilege to know Jim and Anne. Jim and I had some vital conversations some years ago. Anne's faith in Christ was vibrant and curious. I recall sitting with Jim as we watched the Cubs from behind home plate in Wrigley Field. It was great listening to this bright guy as he described everything that was happening. His discourse on pitching was remarkable. As was often the case, our discussions turned to faith. Jim was pleased that his children were exposed to the teaching at a fine church nearby. We discussed the history of evangelical theology and how that all fit in a world of confusion and skepticism. Jim respected people of faith and our relationship ... my committed Christian faith and his journey. We would often leave our enlightened discussions ending by resting in the mercy of God toward us all. Fair enough. It was my conviction that my friend Jim would probably never tell me the conclusion of his spiritual journey, but prayed he would finish his journey all the way to a grand reunion with all of you. Anne being the first to wait for the rest of you all.
Thank you for the privilege to know each of you, even as the years have flown by.
Tim, thanks for your years of kindness to your folks in MG. Jamie and Kim, thanks for being so much like Anne. Your children and spouses are blessed.
Jo and I send our love and condolences. May you all journey well and look to a great reunion.
A friend of years ago,
Art Gay
Message from Ronald Longley
July 11, 2014 2:37 PM
I was a great fan of Jim's as a kid and still have his baseball card. I saw him pitch in 56 and 57 at Wrigley, enjoyed his books and his comments in the Chicago Trib. after games. So sad that many of my sports heroes are no longer around. He was a teammate of one of South Bend's finest, Bob Rush who I met 10 years ago. I had dinner with Bob and one of his memories was of Jim Brosnan. RIP, Jim. Ron Longley South Bend In.
Message from Marilyn (Buschmann) Miller
July 10, 2014 6:41 AM
I have wonderful memories of when your family temporarily resided in North College Hill for a season. I babysat for your children.80
Message from Michael Bendon
July 9, 2014 11:40 AM
As a kid I must have read Pennant Race 20 times. As an adult, a few more. I made sure my sons had copies. I wanted to be in the pen with Broz and Bill Henry (rip). Thanks for sharing Jim with us. Deepest condolences to you all on your loss.
Message from Richard Mchugh
July 9, 2014 7:36 AM
Jim was a true professional and was passionate. We pray for the Brosnan family. One can always go to the Reds baseball museum to see the impact Jim had in baseball.
Message from Bob Engels
July 7, 2014 6:21 PM
I am so sorry to hear of Jim's passing. His books absolutely changed my life.
My father and uncle both played professional baseball - never at Jim's level - and I was determined to do the same.
Then came The Long Season. Everything changed. I read and reread both books and made my two boys read them as well.
They came at a perfect time for me. I was 12 or 13 and my life just opened up. I wanted to write and did! Again, never at Jim's level.
But I've had a great career here in LA in TV and movies. I owe it to Jim.
I met Jim at Toots Shor's while accompanying my Dad on a business trip about a year after The Pennant Race… 13 year old kid talking baseball with his idol in a saloon. Unforgettable.
Thanks, Jim.
Bob Engels, Los Angeles
My father and uncle both played professional baseball - never at Jim's level - and I was determined to do the same.
Then came The Long Season. Everything changed. I read and reread both books and made my two boys read them as well.
They came at a perfect time for me. I was 12 or 13 and my life just opened up. I wanted to write and did! Again, never at Jim's level.
But I've had a great career here in LA in TV and movies. I owe it to Jim.
I met Jim at Toots Shor's while accompanying my Dad on a business trip about a year after The Pennant Race… 13 year old kid talking baseball with his idol in a saloon. Unforgettable.
Thanks, Jim.
Bob Engels, Los Angeles
Message from Terry Kelleher
July 6, 2014 7:52 PM
To the family of Jim Brosnan:
When I was in college, I wrote Jim a letter with questions for a journalism project and he sent me a friendly, helpful reply that I've saved for more than 40 years. His books and articles were an inspiration.
Please accept my sympathy.
Terry Kelleher
Garden City NY
When I was in college, I wrote Jim a letter with questions for a journalism project and he sent me a friendly, helpful reply that I've saved for more than 40 years. His books and articles were an inspiration.
Please accept my sympathy.
Terry Kelleher
Garden City NY
Message from Mike Dugan
July 5, 2014 6:08 PM
To the Brosnan Family:
Please accept my sympathy at this most difficult time.
I was lucky enough to see Jim while playing for St Louis and Cincinnati.
I was lucky enough to have his baseball cards also.
Peace and God bless you.
Mike Dugan
Kenmore, NY
Please accept my sympathy at this most difficult time.
I was lucky enough to see Jim while playing for St Louis and Cincinnati.
I was lucky enough to have his baseball cards also.
Peace and God bless you.
Mike Dugan
Kenmore, NY
Message from Kevin Ford
July 4, 2014 2:46 PM
Mr Brosnan's books are among the best sports tomes I've ever read. The diaries are outstanding, and his openness made me a fan although I never met him and only saw him play as a very young boy. Mr Brosnan kindly autographed a card I sent him c/o his residence several years back. Please accept a fan's condolences on his passing.
Message from Mike Bass
July 4, 2014 11:19 AM
I wanted to express my condolences for your loss.
I was a young sportswriter in Cincinnati in the 1980s and '90s and interviewed Jim a number of times over the phone for a variety of stories. He was always charming, witty, insightful and helpful. I never forgot that.
When I recently moved back home to the Chicago area, I thought about calling Jim and seeing if he would allow me to take him to a Cubs game. I thought it would make a wonderful story. I also just started teaching at the college level and thought about asking Jim to speak to my class. I knew he would be a terrific guest.
Unfortunately, I never got the chance for either. I am truly saddened by that.
Fortunately, Jim's words are there for all to read, especially his landmark book. I am truly grateful for the conversations I did have with him about that and more.
I hope Jim rests in peace.
-- Mike Bass
I was a young sportswriter in Cincinnati in the 1980s and '90s and interviewed Jim a number of times over the phone for a variety of stories. He was always charming, witty, insightful and helpful. I never forgot that.
When I recently moved back home to the Chicago area, I thought about calling Jim and seeing if he would allow me to take him to a Cubs game. I thought it would make a wonderful story. I also just started teaching at the college level and thought about asking Jim to speak to my class. I knew he would be a terrific guest.
Unfortunately, I never got the chance for either. I am truly saddened by that.
Fortunately, Jim's words are there for all to read, especially his landmark book. I am truly grateful for the conversations I did have with him about that and more.
I hope Jim rests in peace.
-- Mike Bass
Message from Gary Wheelock
July 2, 2014 7:02 PM
To the Brosnan family,
I am so very sorry to learn of your Father's passing. His book/diary was one of the cherished jewels of my childhood. Please accept my sincere condolences.
With sympathy,
Gary Wheelock in Colchester, Vermont
I am so very sorry to learn of your Father's passing. His book/diary was one of the cherished jewels of my childhood. Please accept my sincere condolences.
With sympathy,
Gary Wheelock in Colchester, Vermont
Message from Tom Rowe
July 2, 2014 4:05 PM
Jim's greatest accomplishment was merely to write the greatest baseball book ever, "The Long Season." It mesmerized me at age 10 and still holds great power. What a legacy. My sympathy to his family.
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