Jayson Stark

Jayson Stark is a prominent baseball journalist in American sports media. Before joining The Athletic, Stark covered baseball for ESPN for 17 years and at the Philadelphia Inquirer for 21 years. He also worked at the Providence Journal for five years following his graduation from Syracuse University. At the Philadelphia Inquirer, Stark joined as a beat writer for the Philadelphia Phillies and eventually became a national baseball writer and columnist. He produced a nationally syndicated "Baseball Week in Review" column, known for unearthing obscure, historic, and humorous aspects of baseball. While working at the Inquirer, Stark was twice named the NSMA's Pennsylvania Sportswriter of the Year.

Stark joined ESPN as a senior writer for ESPN.com and contributed to SportsCenter, ESPNews, Baseball Tonight, and a weekly segment during baseball season with WHB 810 in Kansas City. For his work on Baseball Tonight, Stark received an Emmy Award for outstanding achievement in sports programming. He also co-hosted a weekly radio show during baseball season on ESPN Radio's affiliate in Philadelphia. His multimedia presence across television, radio, and digital platforms established his reputation as a versatile and authoritative voice in baseball journalism.

At The Athletic, Stark continues as a senior baseball writer. He has maintained a television presence as an insider for MLB Network. In his profile on the Baseball Hall of Fame website, Stark is described as a curator for unique, statistically inclined, and historically rare aspects of the game. His "Weird and Wild" column at The Athletic is a regular collection of notes, quotes, numbers, oddities, and humor. Stark also co-hosts the "Starkville" podcast alongside Doug Glanville, bringing his insight to another platform.

Stark is the author of three books: "Wild Pitches: Rumblings, Grumblings and Reflections on the Game I Love," "The Stark Truth: The Most Overrated and Underrated Players in Baseball History," and "Worth The Wait: Tales of the 2008 Phillies." He appeared in the film "Million Dollar Arm," starring Jon Hamm. His books and film appearance reflect the breadth of his influence in baseball media.

Stark's career has been recognized with several honors in sports journalism. He is a recipient of the J. G. Taylor Spink Award given by the Baseball Writers' Association of America for meritorious contributions to baseball writing. Stark has been inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame, the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, and the National Sports Media Association's Hall of Fame. With a career spanning more than four decades, Stark remains a credible and influential voice in baseball journalism, known for his depth of knowledge and storytelling ability.