He was my favorite sportswriter for years. Page 2 on ESPN.com might have been the very peak of internet sports journalism. I discovered it through Jim.
Frequently I'd write to my brother and father about "that new Caple piece." I still do that now regarding your pieces. In fact, I probably will about this one right here.
You do your uncle great honor by taking up the mantle. It delights me (and I hope it honors you) to be sharing "that new Caple piece" 25 years later.
Impossible to consider Pacific Northwest sports journalism without the Caple name. Thank you.
Possibly one of the best tributes I’ve ever read. Thank you Christian for the walk down memory lane. As a UW grad that was on campus from 1984 through 1988 and a frequent reader of the Daily I was fortunate to read Jim’s early work and those he influenced. Truly a gem of a human being and an inspiration to us all.
I wasn't even going to read the article initially, not being about our Huskies. I started anyway and got sucked in. It's a wonderful tribute to a person, surely, but it also like call to arms: "life is too short" it seems to be reminding me.
Just beautiful, Christian. I hadn't seen Jim in many years, but we kept in touch on Facebook and through messages, mostly about baseball and our time together with the Twins (me in media relations and him on the beat for the Pioneer Press) and trying to get together the next time he was in Chicago. Sadly, that won't happen now. One of my all-time favorite memories of him was on April 27, 1994 when Scott Erickson was on his way to throwing a no-hitter (the Twins' first since 1967) at the Metrodome against the Brewers. It was one of Jim's rare days off, but in his true style, he was never very far from removed from a game, or a story. He lived in downtown Minneapolis at the time, and about the 8th inning I see him sprint down the press box stairs wearing a t-shirt and shorts, out of breath and sweating profusely. He had run over to the Dome from his apartment just to see if Erickson could lock down the last 6 outs. He wasn't there to work, but he sure as hell wasn't going to be denied bearing witness to baseball history.
Another great memory, which I shared on Twitter today, was in Toronto after the Twins clinched the '91 ALCS. He and I were both unabashed baseball fans, and we loved talking about its history: the teams, players and games that made it so special to us. So when we found ourselves in the midst of a chaotic, champagne-soaked clubhouse at SkyDome, the kind we'd grown up watching on TV, Jim (wearing a raincoat inside like the ever-prepared Pacific Northwesterner he was) looked at me and said "Do you believe we get to be part of this?" No, Capes. No, I didn't. And I can't believe you're gone now.
I spent 45 years in the business. Jim Caple's name and work were familiar to me. After reading this, I'm sorry I never met him.
You did a wonderful job with this. While it's a lengthy story about a "stranger," my attention never wavered. Jim obviously had an incredibly full life and you managed to give me an understanding of that life and his career. It's challenging to write something like this but you met the challenge and surpassed it.
A moving tribute Christian; your admiration of and love for your uncle comes through. As a (very) young man, I loved reading Page 2, and particularly your uncle. He was not just a great writer, he was laugh-out-loud and tell your friends to read this hilarious. Thank you for taking the time to share memories of him and, particularly, for allowing us a window into a loving marriage and the inspiring beauty of your aunt's sacrificial love when things became difficult. R.I.P. Jim Caple.
Jim, a fitting and beautiful tribute to your uncle. I thoroughly enjoyed reading his work and yours as well. My condolences to you and your family and in particular Vicki. May he be at peace and working on his swing. Hitting a softball off Danielle Lawrie must have been a frustrating exercise.
What a wonderful tribute! I wish I would have been fortunate enough to meet him somewhere along the line. By the time I finished reading- I almost felt as if I had. Thank you for sharing.
What a wonderful piece about your uncle. I loved his writing and now I feel like I understood where he was coming from a little better. Thinking of you and your family.
Thank you Christian for this wonderful and touching article about your Uncle Jim. I shared it with my buddies from the Twin Cities as well...my best to you and your entire family. RIP Jim.
An extraordinarily moving tribute to your uncle, Christian. You honor his legacy well. May he rest in peace.
He was my favorite sportswriter for years. Page 2 on ESPN.com might have been the very peak of internet sports journalism. I discovered it through Jim.
Frequently I'd write to my brother and father about "that new Caple piece." I still do that now regarding your pieces. In fact, I probably will about this one right here.
You do your uncle great honor by taking up the mantle. It delights me (and I hope it honors you) to be sharing "that new Caple piece" 25 years later.
Impossible to consider Pacific Northwest sports journalism without the Caple name. Thank you.
Possibly one of the best tributes I’ve ever read. Thank you Christian for the walk down memory lane. As a UW grad that was on campus from 1984 through 1988 and a frequent reader of the Daily I was fortunate to read Jim’s early work and those he influenced. Truly a gem of a human being and an inspiration to us all.
I wasn't even going to read the article initially, not being about our Huskies. I started anyway and got sucked in. It's a wonderful tribute to a person, surely, but it also like call to arms: "life is too short" it seems to be reminding me.
Christian, this is by far your finest post I’ve ever read from you. Thank you …. and may your incredible uncle, Jim RIP.
Your uncle would very much love this heartfelt tribute.
Thanks for sharing it here
Just beautiful, Christian. I hadn't seen Jim in many years, but we kept in touch on Facebook and through messages, mostly about baseball and our time together with the Twins (me in media relations and him on the beat for the Pioneer Press) and trying to get together the next time he was in Chicago. Sadly, that won't happen now. One of my all-time favorite memories of him was on April 27, 1994 when Scott Erickson was on his way to throwing a no-hitter (the Twins' first since 1967) at the Metrodome against the Brewers. It was one of Jim's rare days off, but in his true style, he was never very far from removed from a game, or a story. He lived in downtown Minneapolis at the time, and about the 8th inning I see him sprint down the press box stairs wearing a t-shirt and shorts, out of breath and sweating profusely. He had run over to the Dome from his apartment just to see if Erickson could lock down the last 6 outs. He wasn't there to work, but he sure as hell wasn't going to be denied bearing witness to baseball history.
Another great memory, which I shared on Twitter today, was in Toronto after the Twins clinched the '91 ALCS. He and I were both unabashed baseball fans, and we loved talking about its history: the teams, players and games that made it so special to us. So when we found ourselves in the midst of a chaotic, champagne-soaked clubhouse at SkyDome, the kind we'd grown up watching on TV, Jim (wearing a raincoat inside like the ever-prepared Pacific Northwesterner he was) looked at me and said "Do you believe we get to be part of this?" No, Capes. No, I didn't. And I can't believe you're gone now.
This was such a wonderful tribute. I didn't want it to end. Well done CC.
Christian:
I spent 45 years in the business. Jim Caple's name and work were familiar to me. After reading this, I'm sorry I never met him.
You did a wonderful job with this. While it's a lengthy story about a "stranger," my attention never wavered. Jim obviously had an incredibly full life and you managed to give me an understanding of that life and his career. It's challenging to write something like this but you met the challenge and surpassed it.
Well done.
A moving tribute Christian; your admiration of and love for your uncle comes through. As a (very) young man, I loved reading Page 2, and particularly your uncle. He was not just a great writer, he was laugh-out-loud and tell your friends to read this hilarious. Thank you for taking the time to share memories of him and, particularly, for allowing us a window into a loving marriage and the inspiring beauty of your aunt's sacrificial love when things became difficult. R.I.P. Jim Caple.
Jim, a fitting and beautiful tribute to your uncle. I thoroughly enjoyed reading his work and yours as well. My condolences to you and your family and in particular Vicki. May he be at peace and working on his swing. Hitting a softball off Danielle Lawrie must have been a frustrating exercise.
What a wonderful tribute! I wish I would have been fortunate enough to meet him somewhere along the line. By the time I finished reading- I almost felt as if I had. Thank you for sharing.
What a wonderful piece about your uncle. I loved his writing and now I feel like I understood where he was coming from a little better. Thinking of you and your family.
Thank you Christian for this wonderful and touching article about your Uncle Jim. I shared it with my buddies from the Twin Cities as well...my best to you and your entire family. RIP Jim.
You've written some good ones, Christian, this surpasses them all