A Postcard from Costas

Big congratulations to my friend and idol Bob Costas for being given Baseball Digest’s Lifetime Achievement Award. That’s awesome.

Baseball Digest! I mean, I lived on Baseball Digest!

“Has a nice retro glow to it,” Bob says. “We grew up reading BD, so it's pretty cool.”

It is more than pretty cool.

Bob is the fifth person to win the award following this Fab Four:

• 2021: Willie Mays

• 2022: Vin Scully

• 2023: Joe Torre

• 2024: Dusty Baker

I mean, I’ll play with that foursome anytime — and I don’t play golf.

Bob’s latest honor sent me back into the time machine. I pulled out a big folder of cards and letters that people have sent me through the years — and look I found something wonderful. You know, I’ve told my Bob Costas story many times — how when I was 20 years old, I wrote a story about Bob and it led to both one of the worst and, incredibly, one of the best moments of my life. I was lucky enough to tell that story when Bob was inducted into the National Sports Media Hall of Fame.

But I should add Bob also sent me notes of encouragement like this one.

Yes, that’s Bob telling me to be hopeful about the Browns, Tribe and Cavs — in 1987.

We were all so much younger then.

New Yorkers! Don’t forget that Bob will join me on stage this Monday, April 28 at The Dalton School for our “Baseball is Best” salute to Sarah Langs! RSVP here!

Joe’s Notebook is filled with web-only riffs. They will pop up whenever.