Boston Globe Baseball Writer Nick Cafardo Dies at 62

FORT MYERS, Florida — Longtime Boston Globe baseball writer Nick
Cafardo died Thursday while covering spring training after
collapsing on the sidewalk outside the Red Sox clubhouse. He was 62.

The newspaper said Cafardo appeared to have an embolism. The team's
medical staff responded quickly but was unable to revive him.

The Red Sox said they were saddened by Cafardo's death and would
find the appropriate time to honor his legacy.

''For over three decades, Nick was a fixture at Fenway Park and
throughout ballparks across the country. His coverage was as
consistent as the game itself,'' the team said in a statement.
''The Cafardo family will always be a part of the Boston baseball
family.''

Cafardo joined the Globe in 1989 from The (Quincy) Patriot Ledger,
where he had been on the baseball beat. He continued to cover the
Red Sox before switching to the New England Patriots in time for
the team's first NFL championship in 2001.

He returned to baseball and has covered the Red Sox and the major
leagues for the past 15 years, writing a Sunday notes package and
an ''On Baseball'' column that kept New England's fervent baseball
fans in touch with their team and the rest of the major leagues.

Cafardo was covering spring training on Thursday when he collapsed
on the sidewalk between the ballpark and the batting cages where
players were working out to prepare for the defense of their World
Series title. The newspaper said it was his day off, but
''Cafardo's love of baseball and commitment to his craft compelled
him to report to JetBlue Park.''

''Nick was one of the best people to ever walk through our doors -
generous with his time and insights, immensely knowledgeable,
deeply devoted to the Globe,'' editor Brian McGrory said in the
paper's obituary.

''He had a view of the Red Sox and the game on a national scale
that is virtually unrivaled. For those reasons, he was one of our
most read writers, constantly attracting followers near and far,
his weekly baseball notes column being destination reading for tens
of thousands of people.''

In addition to his coverage for the paper, Cafardo also wrote a
book on the beginning of the Patriots dynasty, The Impossible
Team: The Worst to First Patriots' Super Bowl Season. He also
wrote If These Walls Could Talk with Red Sox second baseman and
broadcaster Jerry Remy and Inside Pitch: Playing and Broadcasting
the Game I Love, with Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Glavine.

''The Major League Baseball and sports journalism communities
suffered a tremendous loss today,'' the Players Association said in
a statement. ''For more than three decades, Nick enlightened Boston
sports fans with a rare blend of insight, wit and good humor. He
leaves behind a legion of friends and admirers in press boxes,
clubhouses and front offices throughout the game.''

Cafardo was survived by his wife, Leeanne, and two children, Ben
and Emilee.