Les Biederman
From BR Bullpen
Lester J. Biederman (Les)
- School Ohio State University
- Born June 7, 1907 in Wilkinsburg, PA USA
- Died November 30, 1981 in Fort Myers, FL USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Les Biederman spent his entire professional career (1930-1969) as a sportswriter with the Pittsburgh Press, commencing immediately upon his graduation from Ohio State University in 1930 and concluding with his retirement in the spring of 1969.
His first 8 years with the newspaper were confined largely to sports other than baseball, with an emphasis on boxing. For the remaining 31, outside of an early but unavoidable two-year 'sabbatical' (spent in the South Pacific, serving as a captain in the USAF in World War II), he was the Press's Pirates beat reporter, eventually succeeding Chester L. Smith as the paper's sports editor in 1966. In addition, upon returning from his aforementioned Air Force stint, and continuing until his retirement, Biederman served as The Sporting News's Pittsburgh correspondent - or at least co-correspondent; in fact, he would share those duties with the Post-Gazette's Jack Hernon until 1956.
[edit] Further Reading
- Lester Biederman: "Pirate Hobble Home to Face Trade Talk," The Pittsburgh Press (Monday, October 3, 1938), p. 21
- Lester Biederman: "'Give Us Some Pitching Help' --- Traynor," The Pittsburgh Press (Friday, July 28, 1939), p. 28
- Lester Biederman: "Night Games Announced by Pirates: Meet Bees June 4 in First Battle Under Lights," The Pittsburgh Press (Sunday, February 11, 1940), p. 9
- Lester Biederman: "How Deeply Will Conscription Affect Major Leagues?," The Pittsburgh Press (Wednesday, September 18, 1940), p. 27
- Sports Staff "Sports Stew - Served Hot: Capt. Lester J. Biederman appointed head of AACS overseas station," The Pittsburgh Press (Friday, February 18, 1944), p. 32
- "Service Men Attend Dinner" The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Friday, October 20, 1944), p. 15
- Les Biederman: "Repairs and Improvements Underway at Forbes Field," The Pittsburgh Press (Sunday, December 2, 1945), p. 36
- Les Biederman: "Pinelli Recalls Funny Incidents During 12 Years Of Umpiring," The Pittsburgh Press (Tuesday, June 11, 1946), p. 22
- Les Biederman:"Magerkurth Picks Hubbell and Dean as Best Pitchers; Veteran Umpire Has Had His Share of Trouble But He's Still Able to Take Care of Himself," The Pittsburgh Press (Friday, June 28, 1946), p. 29
- "Les Biederman Heads Writers" The Pittsburgh Press (Saturday, October 4, 1958), p. 6
- "Pennsylvania's Top Sports Writer: Les Biederman of the PITTSBURGH PRESS" The Pittsburgh Press (Wednesday, May 4, 1960), p. 50
- Les Biederman: "The Scoreboard: Musial, A Real Man," The Pittsburgh Press (Wednesday, March 12, 1969), p. 75
- Les Biederman: "Dale Long's String of 8 Homers, A Memorable Saga" Baseball Digest (July 1969), pp. 42-44
- "Ex-Press Sports Editor Les Biederman Dies," The Pittsburgh Press (Monday, November 30, 1981), p. A-1
