Whenever the 2022 Major League Baseball season begins, one of the more familiar, reliable columnists covering the sport won’t be a part of it for the first time in the past 25-plus years.
Ken Davidoff retired from the New York Post last week (his last day was Feb. 28) after covering the New York Yankees as a beat writer for the Bergen Record and Newsday, before moving up to national baseball writer at the latter publication. He eventually moved to the Post, where he was the national MLB columnist for 10 years.
He shared the news of his retirement from the Post on Facebook, accompanied by a photo of him as a student at the Michigan Daily, the University of Michigan’s student newspaper.
“For the first time since 93, I have no job, only this time I’m a lot less anxious about it,” wrote Davidoff. “After nearly 29 years as a sportswriter, the last 25-plus covering baseball, I have decided to shut down this chapter of my life and try something different. What exactly that will be, I’m not sure, although I’m already exploring a few ideas.”
“I couldn’t have realized my childhood dream without the support of family, friends, colleagues and baseball people,” Davidoff added. “Some of you cheered me on while work kept me away and extremely busy; some of you made the job fun while hanging out in ballparks, hotel lobbies and even Congressional hearings; and some of you helped me with information and insight. Thanks to all of you. See you soon.”
Unfortunately, after more than 25 years covering baseball, Davidoff’s last reporting was on the lockout not ending since team owners and players could not reach an agreement. As a result, the 2022 MLB season will be delayed for at least a week (comprising each team’s first two series on the schedule) and likely much longer.
In his farewell column for the Post (though not his final report, due to negotiations between MLB team owners and the players union extending to March 1), Davidoff thanked 10 people who made covering baseball memorable, including Derek Jeter, George Steinbrenner, Brian Cashman, Alex Rodriguez, Yoenis Cespedes, David Ortiz, and Carlos Beltran. (The column is behind the NY Post paywall.)
“Good god, did he give us stuff to write about every which way,” Davidoff wrote of A-Rod. “Just off the top of my head: the slap play and other postseason struggles (and triumphs)… two American League Most Valuable Player awards… a flurry of personal relationships … not one but two illegal performance-enhancing drug scandals, the latter resulting in him suing MLB and the Players Association! … Simply the best. If not for him, I wouldn’t have made it this long, though I would’ve slept more.”