Neil Hohlfeld passed away in Mexico while on vacation. RIP

[CardsRule]

Thought I'd pass along the info...

[juliogotay]

Sad. The Astros have lost a real fan and historian of the team.

[ybbodeus]

Tough news.  He wasn't the polished pretty boy that so many stations trot out to talk baseball (see Dallas market), but you could tell he was enthusiastic and energetic about the team and what he did.  I'll miss him.

[BatGirl]

link?

[moriartp]

Chron.com has it.

Very sad news.

[juliogotay]

Chron.com has it.

Very sad news.

Interesting to hear the comments of Jimmy D and read what ex-Astros like Bidge and Ashby said about Holfeld in today's Chronicle. He was a beat writer apparantly respected by players. I wonder if any of the current Chronicle crop would fit that bill.

[chuck]

So Hohlfeld knew and understood baseball thoroughly and had the unanimous respect of the clubhouse and through that respect was able to gain insights into the team that today's slapdicks can only dream about, yet in 1995 the Nobel laureates at the Chronicle took Hohlfeld off the Astros beat and placed him on the Aeros beat covering a minor league team playing a sport Hohfeld knew nothing about. This was plainly a demotion meant to humiliate. Does anyone know the back story?

[Limey]

So Hohlfeld knew and understood baseball thoroughly and had the unanimous respect of the clubhouse and through that respect was able to gain insights into the team that today's slapdicks can only dream about, yet in 1995 the Nobel laureates at the Chronicle took Hohlfeld off the Astros beat and placed him on the Aeros beat covering a minor league team playing a sport Hohfeld knew nothing about. This was plainly a demotion meant to humiliate. Does anyone know the back story?

The Chronicle wouldn't know a good thing if it rocked up and broke their nose with a well-times headbutt?

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

Spooky stuff.  Saw Neil just two weeks ago downtown, laughing and joking with a co-worker.  Never would've guessed.  Prayers for his family, definitely.

ETA: Reading the comments on Justice's blog tribute, and Ringolsby posted a tribute of his own, which included this nugget:

His weakness? He didn't undercut or play politics or worry about self-promotion. He had the feeling that hard work would be rewarded. Too bad the business changed because the concept Mr. Neil had was one of virtue and value. What I remember about Neil is after a change in management decided to take him off baseball, he went to cover Texas A&M. He never missed a beat, creating the same professional attitude there as everywhere he had been before.

Take that for what you will.

[ValpoCory]

Thought I'd pass along the info...

It was in *New* Mexico, by the way.