Charles Dryden
Charles Dryden was a notable American sportswriter, born on March 10, 1860, in Monmouth, Illinois. Growing up in a family of travelers, he developed a passion for reading and writing at an early age, trading coal delivery for library access. After dropping out of school at fourteen, he worked various jobs across the country, which enriched his experiences and fueled his writing. In 1889, he began his journalism career with the Chicago Sunday Times, later gaining fame as a sportswriter for the San Francisco Examiner. Dryden is renowned for his inventive baseball slang, coining terms like "ballyard" and "fanned," and using humor and literary references in his coverage. Over his career, he wrote for several prominent newspapers and became one of the highest-paid sportswriters of his time. His contributions to sports journalism were recognized posthumously with the J. G. Taylor Spink Award in 1965. Dryden's legacy continues to influence sportswriting today, showcasing the power of creativity and wit in connecting with readers.
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Charles Dryden
Writer
- Born: March 10, 1860
- Birthplace: Monmouth, Illinois
- Died: February 11, 1931
- Place of death: Mississippi
Biography
Charles Dryden was born on March 10, 1860, in Monmouth, Illinois, the son of traveling salesman William A. Dryden and Harriet Cabeen Dryden. An avid reader as a child, young Dryden struck a bargain with the town’s librarian: he would deliver coal to the library in exchange for special library privileges. He pored over books, memorizing obscure facts, jokes, and other bits of information.
Dryden dropped out of public school at the age of fourteen in order to work. Living a peripatetic existence, he traveled the country for a dozen years, devouring daily newspapers wherever he roamed. He was employed as a foundry worker, stagecoach driver, sailor, boat pilot, and longshoreman before he returned to his home state. Encouraged by a friend, in 1889 he submitted an article about his travels to the Chicago Sunday Times, which resulted in his being hired as a reporter at the newspaper.
In 1890, Dryden took a job at the San Francisco Examiner, where he found his niche as a sportswriter. During eight years with the newspaper, he became the most popular and influential writer of his day, particularly known for his coverage of baseball. Dryden, who was called “The Father of Baseball Slang,” is credited with originating such colorful terms as “ballyard” for ball park, “fanned” for struck out, and “mound” for the pitcher’s box. Fans delighted in his creative descriptions, such as comparing an error-prone infielder to a “blind pig hunting for acorns;” his memorable player nicknames, like Ed “Big Moose” Walsh, Joe “Iron Man” McGinnity, and Fred “Bonehead” Merkle; his habit of including classical and literary references in his sport pieces; and his humorous turns of phrase. In one article, he referred to the hapless Washington Senators as, “Washington: first in war, first in peace, and last in the American League.” Dryden’s witty, sarcastic style laid the foundation for later sportswriters, including Ring Lardner, Heywood Broun, and Damon Runyon.
After a short stint at the New York Evening Journal, Dryden worked at the Philadelphia North American from 1899 until 1905 before once again returning to Illinois. He wrote for the Chicago Tribune from 1906 until 1908 and the Chicago Examiner from 1908 until 1917, becoming the highest paid sportswriter in the country. He also was a charter member of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, an organization that annually elects players to the Baseball Hall of Fame and determines which athletes will receive the Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, and Cy Young awards. He last job was at the Chicago Herald and Examiner, where he worked from 1918 until 1921.
Though Dryden also wrote many freelance articles for a variety of publications, he wrote only three books. His first book, Swanson, Able Seaman: Or, The Melancholy Fate of a Hapless Mariner, was based on his youthful experiences. In 1905, he published two other books: The Champion Athletics: Personal Sketches of the Men Who Have Just Landed the 1905 American League Pennant After the Greatest Fight in Base Ball History and his autobiography, On and off the Bread Wagon: Being the Hard Luck Tales, Doings, and Adventures of an Amateur Hobo.
Dryden suffered a stroke in 1921, which left him incapacitated. His sister, Louise, nursed him until his death on February 11, 1931. Dryden was posthumously honored with the J. G. Taylor Spink Award in 1965 for distinguished baseball writing.