1923


Dempsey Must Be Accepted in Lesson of Conservation of Earnings As Against “Game Chicken” And His Times

Birmingham News/January 8, 1923


Not Afraid to Lose

Washington Herald/January 19, 1923


Grandpap and the Faith Healer

Times Herald/January 21, 1923


The "Raspberry Club"

San Francisco Examiner/January 22, 1923


Sports Fans Always Ready to Forgive Penitent Sinner

The Times/January 23, 1923


Dempsey and Ruth,

Kings of Two Big Realms, Contrast

Buffalo Courier/February 25, 1923


Firpo Stops Brennan in Twelve-Round Bout Filled With Sensations

Buffalo Courier/March 13, 1923


Firpo Crushes

Charlie Weinert in Second Round

Buffalo Courier/August 14, 1923


Shelby Vision of Fight Fame May Ruin Men Whose Money Backed Dream

El Paso Times/June 26, 1923


Dempsey Tells Runyon He Had Hard Time Getting Right, But He's O.K. Now

Buffalo Courier/June 29, 1923


Jack Floored, Then Puts Firpo Away

Buffalo Courier/September 15, 1923


Stengel’s Brilliant Play In Ninth Inning Wins Good Game For Giants

The Bulletin (Pomona, CA)/October 11, 1923


1924


Naturals of Modern Sport

Light Up "The Great White Way"

Richmond Times-Dispatch/January 2, 1924


On the Road Again With Jack Dempsey

Richmond Times-Dispatch/January 3, 1924


Matching Them Out of Class Hurting Game

San Francisco Examiner/January 4, 1924


Death for Boxing If Tex is Ousted

Richmond Times-Dispatch/January 5, 1924


Tilden Author Long Before He Started Game

San Francisco Examiner/January 6, 1924


Floyd Johnson to Begin All Over as a Fighter

Quad City Times/January 7, 1924


1925


Dempsey Emerging From the Fog

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/April 2, 1925


Babe and His Money Soon Parted

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/April 3, 1925


Better Boxing in the Four-Round Game

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/April 4, 1925


Brother Fighters of the Queensbury Realm

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/April 6, 1925


Rich Dads and Poor Dads

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/April 7, 1925


Ode to the Other Jack Dempsey

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/April 8, 1925


Damon Runyon, The Horse,

at 500-1 Odds in Derby

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/April 17, 1925


A Gallery of Boxiana's Greatest Battlers

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/April 21, 1925


Mr. McMillen Masters Proper

Care and Feeding of Damon Runyon

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/June 27, 1925


Greb Retains Title By Outboxing Walker

In 15 Rounds Full Of Thrills

​Buffalo Courier/July 3, 1925


Runyan Recalls Dempsey When He

Rode Train Rod To Fill Fighting Dates

Tampa Tribune/December 26, 1925


1926


Racing North and South of the Border

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/January 9, 1926


Dining, Dancing and Drinking in Tia Juana

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/January 11, 1926


A Big Payoff Awaits

Jack Dempsey in Los Angeles

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/January 15, 1926


The Inhuman Harry Greb

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/February 13, 1926


Two L.A. Venues Host

Local Gadiators in The Manly Art

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/February 17, 1926


On Leaving California

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/February 19, 1926


P.T. Harmon

Dreaming Big with New Chicago Stadium

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/February 20, 1926


Johnson and Lester

Prepare for Fight in the Bull Ring

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/February 23, 1926


Promoting the Manly Art of Scrambling Ears

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/February 24, 1926


Levine is Skilled Match

for Welterweight Champ

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/March 10, 1926


Welterweight Class Crowded with Talent

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/March 11, 1926


Old Timers on Brooklyn Club
March 11, 1926


The Black Boxer from a

Shrimpful Georgia Town

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/March 16, 1926

1927


New Yorkers Committing Hockey

Monroe News/January 29, 1927


D. Runyon, a Champ, is One Fast Hound

Harrisburg Evening News/April 1, 1927


Ruby Packs 'Em In

Harrisburg Evening News/April 2, 1927


Back to Philadelphia

Harrisburg Evening News/April 4, 1927


Mr. Woodman Speaks

Harrisburg Evening News/April 5, 1927


On John L. Sullivan

Johnson City Staff-Times/May 11, 1927


Delaney Wins from Paulino on Foul

Johnson City Staff-News/August 12, 1927


T-69 Comes to Life

Intelligencer Journal/October 15, 1927


1928


Rickard Bleating for the Manassa Mauler

Evening News/March 15, 1928


Hollywood Searching for "Greek God Type" to Play Damon Runyon

Evening News/March 16, 1928


A Slip of the Pen

The Morning Post/April 26, 1928


Back in the Good Old Days

The Morning Post/April 27, 1928


Runyon Ranks Christian K. Cagle of Army with Best Backs Grid Has Produced in Years

Knoxville Journal/October 29, 1928


Princeton to Engage Ohio State in

Chuckball Contest Saturday

​Times Record-News/November 2, 1928


National Elections and College Games are

Two Things That Can't Be Framed

Evansville Courier and Press/November 3, 1928


1929


Don't-Be-Surprised Boys Almost Put One Over at Christner-Sharkey Affair

Tulsa Tribune/February 1, 1929


1930


Damon Breaks Down But Kids Carry On

Miami Herald/February 23, 1930


Schmeling Confident He Can Beat Sharkey

Knoxville Journal/May 6, 1930


Form of Gallant Fox in Preakness

Will Make Him Derby Favorite

Lancaster New Era/May 10, 1930


Expert Wants Old Methods Brought Back

Lancaster New Era/October 16, 1930


1933


So Long, 1933

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/January 1, 1933


Ol' Doc Runyon Talks Farm to Real Salesman

Lancaster New Era/January 3, 1933


Runyon Finds Moths Ate His Bobbing Suit

​The World-News/January 4, 1933


One Dad-Son Fistic Pair Won Titles

San Francisco Examiner/January 5, 1933


1934


Columbia Pulled its Punches on Coast,

Says Indignant Sports Scribe

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/January 3, 1934


A Trainer's Sound Philosophy

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/January 8, 1934


A Chat with the Champ

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/January 19, 1934


Nothing Doing in Dade County
Wilkes-Barre Evening News/January 20, 1934


Kelly's Derby Pick a Sucker Bet

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/March 12, 1934


States Will Regret Legalized Gambling

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/March 30, 1934


Abolish Boxing's Committee of Poor Judgment

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/October 18, 1934


Boxing Refs Second-Guessed by

Antiquated Boxing Commission

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/November 26, 1934


Pedaling in Madison Square Garden's

Timber Tureen

Wilkes-Barre Evening News/December 6, 1934


1935


 Welterweight Title Tilt Tonight

Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader/May 28, 1935


Gone Fishin' with Harry Richman

Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader/May 29, 1935


Boys Club Softball on the East Side

Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader/May 30, 1935


McLarnin vs. Ross, Foster vs. New York

Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader/May 31, 1935


Carnera Primed for Joe Louis Fight

Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader/June 1, 1935


The Fistic Master Instructing Joe Louis

Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader/June 3, 1935


Babe Ruth Not Quite Fading Away

Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader/June 4, 1935


Curley and the Fighting Fireman

Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader/June 5, 1935


European Writers Will Be Here

for Louis-Carnera Go

Reading Times/June 6, 1935


Turfmen Recognize Belmont

Top Event of American Cards

Reading Times/June 7, 1935


Omaha, Rosemont Gallop

Today in Belmont Stake

Reading Times/June 8, 1935


Jim Braddock, 5-to-1 Shot, May Surprise

The New Statesman (Wilkes-Barre, PA)/

June 10, 1935


Tunney Rated Braddock for Job

Lancaster New Era/June 11, 1935


Tip the British Amateur Fighters

May Upset Yanks

Reading Times/July 2, 1935


Terry, McCarthy Loom as

Rivals in Nickel Series

Reading Times/July 3, 1935


West Coast Heels Fail to

Place on All-America Team

Reading Times/July 5, 1935


Curley Expects $50,000 Gate

for Danno - Wolf Bout

Reading Times/July 6, 1935


Irish Will Be Out in Force Tomorrow

Pulling for Danno

Reading Times/July 8, 1935


"The Will to Win" Gives

Helen Moody Greatest Triumph

Reading Times/July 10, 1935


A Thrill at the Dog Track

Star Tribune/August 4, 1935


Betting on Baer, Louis Go Light, Says Runyon

San Francisco Examiner/September 23, 1935


Some Little Men Harder Punchers

Than Big Boxers

Reading Times/December 19, 1935


Horse Nominating System Would Aid Political Parties

Reading Times/December 20, 1935


1936


Proposes a Football Hall of Fame

Lancaster New Era/December 22, 1936


Story of a Hard-Luck Horse

Lancaster New Era/December 23, 1936



The Baseball Iliad


        Starting out as a cub sports reporter in Colorado, Damon Runyon found the dusty sandlots of western semi-pro baseball an inadequate field for his major-league writing talent. Moving to New York City, he landed a prestigious sports beat at Hearst's New York American, where he regaled readers with detailed, behind-the scenes tales of famous sportsmen such as Jack Dempsey and Babe Ruth. Runyon later moved on to short stories and Broadway plays, with his literary focus on the gamblers, swindlers, down-and-outers and larger-than-lifes populating New York's sidewalks, bars, and burrows. The classic "Runyonesque" was a slangy and wordly-wise city dweller, but real fascination in Runyon's writing can also be found in his newspaper sketching of talented and sympathetic men, simply trying to pitch, hit and catch a small white ball.  


        As a tribute to this master of sports storytelling, The Archive is pleased to present this modest collection of Runyon's newspaper writing--all of it. At present, "9,000" is only a guess, as the project began in January, 2020, and Runyon's career in the big leagues of the American press spanned more than 30 years of near-daily columns and articles--starting in the Hearst flagship paper, the New York American, in 1911.   


Johnie M'Graw and Connie Mack 

1908


The Woman Boss of Denver

Harper's Weekly/December 26, 1908


1909

The Voice That Breathed O'er Eden

Buffalo Times/October 3, 1909


1911


McGraw Looks for New Men

Independent-Record/August 1, 1911


Manager Muggsy McGraw is

Not a Strict Disciplinarian

Edmonton Journal/September 29, 1911


Mathewson Defeats Athletics in Opener

Hutchinson Gazette/October 15, 1911


Giant Fans Hope for Last Laugh

San Francisco Examiner/October 16, 1911


John Baker's Homer Cleared the Fence

Democrat and Chronicle/October 17, 1911


Matty Great in Face of Defeat

Buffalo Courier/October 18, 1911


Everybody Hates Everybody in Philadelphia

Hutchinson Gazette/October 22, 1911


Athletics Take Another

Chronicle-Telegram/October 25, 1911


Otis Crandall, Pitcher, Saves Day for Gotham

San Francisco Examiner/October 26, 1911


Massacre Too Soft a Word to 
Convey Idea of the Game

Buffalo Courier/October 27, 1911

White Runs 55 Yards for a Touchdown

When Blue Fumbles the Oval

Chicago Examiner/November 19, 1911


Old Rivals Fight to Scoreless Tie

Fort Worth Star-Telegram/November 26, 1911


1912


Giant Squad Looks Good

Independent-Record/February 2, 1912


They All Look Good in Gentle Spring Time

El Paso Herald/February 29, 1912


His Team in Lead, McGraw Halts Game

Star-Tribune/March 3, 1912


Shake Hands in Old Gray Alamo
El Paso Herald/March 5, 1912


Says Rube Marquard Does Not Know How

El Paso Herald/March 11, 1912


J. Muggsy McGraw Presides in Box

El Paso Herald/March 18, 1912


Giants Fall in Hitting Ability

El Paso Herald/March 30, 1912


Spitball is Here to Stay

Sioux City Journal/May 12, 1912


Rube Marquard is Hailed as

Best Southpaw of All Time

Atlanta Georgian/May 18, 1912


Road to Baseball Fame

Sioux City Journal/November 12, 1912


Brown Boots Pair Placement Goals;

Annapolis 6, Army 0

St. Louis Star and Times/December 1, 1912


Chance to Have Free Hand with Yanks

El Paso Herald/December 20, 1912



1913


Unique Lot of Squabs

Evening Standard/January 25, 1913


McGraw is Not Worried by Protest

El Paso Herald/May 2, 1913


Alias Fingers, Alias Baldy

San Francisco Examiner/October 3, 1913


Winter League Will Bring Forth 
"Retirements" and "Hold Outs"

El Paso Herald/October 17, 1913


"Mr. C. Brickley, 15; Bulldog Eleven, 5"

Star Tribune/November 13, 1913



1915


Stage Premature Scene

Washington Herald/October 5, 1915


Mayer May Also be Important in Coming Battles

South Bend News-Times/October 6, 1915


Breaks of Luck Are a Big Factor

Washington Herald/October 9, 1915


Alexander the Hope of Phils

Washington Herald/October 11, 1915


Coffey Beaten by Frank Moran

Washington Herald/October 20, 1915


Johnny Dundee the Winner of Battle

Washington Herald/October 27, 1915


Barrett and Red Team Too Much for Pennsy

Washington Herald/November 26, 1915


Wilson, Neutral, Sees Army Beat Navy; Score 14-0

Washington Herald/November 28, 1915


Yale's Defeat Told in Detail by Runyon

Honolulu Star-Bulletin/December 1, 1915


1916


Welter Class is Again Popular

Salt Lake Tribune/January 4, 1916


Moran Hands Kayo to the "Dublin Giant"

New York American/January 8, 1916


Sees Finish of Boxing Game

Salt Lake Tribune/January 16, 1916


This Kauff is Some Hitter

Salt Lake Tribune/January 24, 1916


Will Federal Players Stick?

Salt Lake Tribune/January 27, 1916

​​

Willard-Moran Bout is Too Short

Salt Lake Tribune/January 28, 1916


Fight Money Talk Wearisome

Salt Lake Tribune/January 30, 1916


Gedeon is Man Yankees Need

Salt Lake Tribune/January 31, 1916


Why Not Referee's Decision?

Salt Lake Tribune/February 12, 1916


The Making of a Fighter

Salt Lake Tribune/February 13, 1916


Bobby Dodds, Genuine Old Vet

Salt Lake Tribune/February 19, 1916


"Handling" a Prelim. Fighter

Salt Lake Tribune/February 20, 1916


Jim May Break In This Year

Salt Lake Tribune/March 3, 1916


Noise is Feature

New York American/June 5, 1916


Runyon Names the Dodgers As Winners
Washington Herald/October 6, 1916

Ready for Series
Washington Herald/October 7, 1916

Dodgers Beaten Despite Rally

Washington Herald/October 8, 1916

Del Gainer Hero as Red Sox Win
Washington Herald/October 10, 1916

Olson's Clout Saves Dodgers
Washington Herald/October 11, 1916

Gardner Spikes Dodgers' Chance
Washington Herald/October 12, 1916​


Boston Sox Win '16 Championship
​Washington Herald/October 13, 1916

National's Errors Pointed Out;

Blame is Put on Player Limit

San Francisco Examiner/October 27, 1916


Army Team Victorious in Hard-Fought Game

Washington Herald/November 26, 1916


1917


Much Ado About Nothing
New York American/January 1, 1917

Les Darcy's First
New York American/January 4, 1917

A Baseball Retirement
New York American/January 5, 1917

Our Busy Heavies
New York American/January 6, 1917

Improving Baseball
New York American/January 8, 1917

Good Old Mike
New York American/January 9, 1917

The Furious Fulton
New York American/January 11, 1917

Britton a Real Champ

New York American/January 12, 1917


The Gig-Lamp Brigade

New York American/January 13, 1917


McCoy and Darcy

New York American/January 16, 1917


The Fate of Johnny Dundee

New York American/January 17, 1917


Wolgast Very Sick
New York American/February 3, 1917


A Word About Mike Donlin

Salt Lake Tribune/February 4, 1917


The Close of Sport
New York American/February 5, 1917

Saving the Game
New York American/February 6, 1917

Our American Champs
​New York American/February 8, 1917

The Squire of Flatbush
New York American/February 9, 1917

A Baseball Paradise
New York American/February 10, 1917

Fulton Strong Favorite
​New York American/February 12, 1917

Gedeon
New York American/February 13, 1917

Mr. T. Jones
New York American/February 15, 1917


The Effect of Food

New York American/February 16, 1917


A Stitch in Time

New York American/February 17, 1917


Poker is Preserver of Peace
New York American/April 4, 1917

$50,000 a Year for McGraw

Salt Lake Tribune/April 8, 1917


32,000 Rabid Fans Cheer

White Sox in Beating Giants

Washington Herald/October 7, 1917


White Sox Hit Hard and Win

Washington Herald/October 8, 1917


Benton Beats Sox Smilingly

Washington Herald/October 11, 1917


Kauff is Hero in Giants Win Over Chicago

Washington Herald/October 12, 1917


Giants Leave NY in Happy Mood

Washington Herald/October 13, 1917


White Sox Land Title Series on Zim's Bone Play

Washington Herald/October 16, 1917


1918


Peace Talk Fails to Stir Artillerymen at Front

Washington Herald/October 19, 1918


Huns Pleased at Arrival of Yanks on German Soil

Ottawa Free Trader Journal/December 14, 1918


1919


II: A Tale of Two Fists 

Memphis News-Scimitar/April 17, 1919


III: It's Very Quiet in Long Branch
The News-Scimitar/April 19, 1919

V: The Son of the San Luis

The News Scimitar/April 24, 1919

VI: What's in a Name?
The News Scimitar/April 25, 1919

XVI: A Ten-to-One Shot
The News Scimitar/May 20, 1919


1920


Hurler in Danger When Ruth Bats
New York American/September 9, 1920

Homer No. 51 A Terrific Lick
New York American/September 25, 1920

The Father of 'Krazy-Kat'
The Pittsburgh Press/November 26, 1920

1921


Big Ban Boils in Bathroom

While Frazee Flails Him

Buffalo Courier/January 15, 1921


"Great to Be Champion"
Says King of Sluggers

​Washington Times/June 13, 1921


Good Living Has Worked Change in Jack Dempsey

Washington Times/June 14, 1921

Dempsey's Early Career Mostly as Punching Bag

Washington Times/June 15, 1921


1922


Grandpap The Bulldogger

Washington Herald/November 19, 1922


O'Brien Fought Many Battles

Washington Herald/November 20, 1922





The 9,000 Stories

1908 - 1946


A Damon Runyon Collection  



New York American

April 4, 1917


Poker is Preserver of Peace

Impassable Barrier Between Giant and Tiger Trains Bars Further Hostilities—Storm Halts Game

 
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla., April 3.—Jim Thorpe’s adopted townspeople did not get a chance to see him commit right field in a big league uniform this afternoon, as was threatened by the exhibition schedule of the Giants and the Tigers. A sandstorm spilled itself over the local baseball orchard with such violence that the game was called off before it started.

A good crowd had collected in the ball yard, and the gate money was returned, which was a terrible heart wrench to Secretary John B. Foster, of the Giants. It was clear enough over head, and the ball players went out in full regalia prepared to pastime, but it was soon discovered that the instrument of amusement could not be located when it was knocked into the air or along the ground, on account of the profusion of the wind-wafted sand.

Teams Have Separated

Without a baseball ball players are practically helpless, so the game was abandoned, and the athletes returned to their prospective hotels. Up to this time the boys have inhaled their ham and beans at the same hostelries, but now they have been split out.

It was feared that the practice of inviting one another to private rooms for private pugilistics might become a custom if the lads were permitted to remain in close contact. It can still be done, of course, but the separation makes it more difficult.

The Giants are at the Lee Huckins Hotel, and the Tigers are around the corner at the Kinkade. It would involve a walk of at least a hundred yards did a Giant yearn to punch a Tiger in the puss, or vice versa, and it seems unlikely that a ball player would indulge in that much exercise just for a fight. En route each club occupies two separate cars, and between these cars has been placed another car containing the club officials and the Detroit and New York baseball writers.

This car is neutral territory. The athletes cannot get at each other across this Belgium of the baseball, because a poker game in the middle of it forms an impassable barrier. The New York and Detroit baseball writers do not fight each other, as they esteem fighting a low and ungentlemanly practice, and, besides this, the Detroit writers look like very tough guys.

Tyrus Visits the Giants

Tyrus Raymond Cobb, who expected to leave the tourists at Wichita Falls, but who failed to make train connections, appeared in the lobby of the hotel where the Giants are stopping today, and made inquiry for mail. None of the Giants were present at the time, having gone on out to the baseball corral, but it is not likely the Georgia Prune would have encountered trouble even had they all been there.

Most of the Giants studiously avoid conversation with Tyrus, but they are not violently disposed toward him off the field. Anyway, the cause of all the turmoil was finally removed this afternoon, as Cobb went on to join the Cincinnati Reds. Allowing Tyrus to train with a National League ball club when he has the option to work with his own outfit is bound to meet with more or less criticism.

Jim Thorpe, who made a good showing at Wichita Falls yesterday, was brought along with the Giant regulars for the express purpose of satisfying the desire of Oklahoma City to see Jeems in a large league livery. Jim does not originate in Oklahoma City, being indigenous to a place called Prague, Okla., but he spent last winter here, owns an abode here and calls this his home town.
 
Thorpe a Hard Swinger

When he is not booting footballs for Canton, Ohio, or baseballs for New York and Milwaukee, he punches the bag on convenient corners hereabouts with the natives. Jeems has come along in baseball the past couple of years. He can go fetch ’em out in right field with anybody in the country, and he can take as hard a swing at that old apple, as the lads call it, as the next man, and maybe harder.

He is liable to fan out and he is liable to but up the pastime, but never can it be said of James that he is not trying. If ever a man lived who is entitled to get by in big league ball it is this simple-hearted, laughing Indian He never quits on himself. It will be a real tragedy of the game if it is his fate to again fail to make the big line.

The tourists leave here at midnight for Tulsa.

1938


Saloon Singing A Sadly Lost Art

Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph/February 1, 1938


McIntyre's Column Reflected

His Own Character

Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph/February 15, 1938


1942


Some Coney Island History

Fort Worth Star-Telegram/August 10, 1942


Vaudeville Quartets of the Bygone

Fort Worth Star-Telegram/August 12, 1942


A Poignant Anniversary in the Philippines

Fort Worth Star-Telegram/August 13, 1942