William Fleischman

Voice from the Sidelines: St. Louis Fans Sound off on the Cards, Browns, Caray, Musial, Macauley and More William Fleischman

On August 29, 1949, the St. Louis Star-Times Sports Department launched "Voice From the Sidelines," which was advertised as something new...something different...a refreshing change. A column by the fans themselves! The fans will do the writing. . .the arguing. They'll grandstand manage. . . second-guess and bait each other. Fans wrote their questions and comments to Assistant Sports Editor Bill Fleischman, who provided his thoughts and quips to the debated topics. Other fans joined the debates with their own opinions and comments. Each chapter depicts a different St. Louis sports team, personality or issue, including The Red Birds, Stan Musial, Joe Garagiola, The Browns, The Flyers, The Bears and the Bills, Ed Macauley, Harry Caray, and Television and Radio. Unlike other accounts of sports history penned by writers or athletes, "Voice from the Sidelines" is shaped by the fans themselves who provide a unique and colorful snapshot of St. Louis 60 years ago.