Q&A with Mark Healey
Goat Jerseys sits down with Mark Healey, Editor-In-Chief of The Rockaway Wave. Recently this April, Mark released an awesome book entitled, “Gotham Baseball – New York’s All-Time Team”. An amazing look into the cities ballplayers, let’s get to know him…
Where did you grow up? I grew up in Flatbush (Brooklyn) and moved to Flushing (Queens) after my freshman year in high school.
Were you a big sports fan growing up? If so, what was the first athlete and team you fell in love with? Huge sports fan. Baseball was my first love, and Tom Seaver was my guy.
What was life like as a teenager, what did Mark Healey dream of becoming? Growing up was a mixed bag, I got bullied a lot, but it got better. I dreamed about playing sports, but I also really enjoyed being on stage; acting and singing.
You’re the Editor-In-Chief of The Rockaway Wave. It’s been around since 1893, what makes The Wave so unique? Being Editor-In-Chief of The Wave is incredible; it’s a local, weekly community paper, but has the reach and feel of a daily because of how much we devote to breaking news. Being around since 1893 means we’ve pretty much seen it all, and though I may not have been here long (May 2014 was my start date), the legacy of those who came before is felt every day. It raises expectations. Kind of an intimidating responsibility, but I have always welcomed that challenge.
Your new book “Gotham Baseball – New York’s All-Time Team” looks amazing (Can’t wait for it to arrive). When did you first start writing it, and how did it come about? My book “Gotham Baseball – New York’s All-Time Team” was released on April 6 of this year. I started writing it about three years ago. It originally started out as a way to celebrate my passion project of Gotham Baseball (a print magazine and website – GothamBaseball.com – that I started in 2005), which covered the past, present, and future of New York baseball. However, as I really dove in, it turned into the All-Time Team version. It gave the book a structure to build around.
The Gotham inspired uniforms are really cool. Clean logo, and a lot of great looks from every era. Who designed them? Award-winning and nationally renowned graphic designer/artist Todd Radom designed the uniforms. I could write a book on how he became involved in this project, but in the first two chapters, I cover a lot of that. Suffice to say, he’s brilliant. He also designed the Gotham Baseball logo and the book’s cover.
All-time favorite uniform in sports? (Tie) The 1966 Atlanta Falcons and the 1945 Brooklyn Dodgers road jersey.
One person in the world living or deceased that you could have 15 minutes to sit down with and pick their brain, who would it be? Very tough question, but I think I’d like to spend 15 minutes with Elvis Presley.
Favorite food, favorite city, and all-time favorite sports movie? Spaghetti with clam sauce, New York City, The Natural.
In life they say when you hear good advice, you should always do two things: Take it in and pass it on. What would you pass on to a younger colleague? Dick Young was a great journalist, and a very complicated man. He may have been the guy who helped M. Donald Grant ship Tom Seaver out of town, but he was also a trail blazer. Though this quote belies Young’s actions later in his career, it is something I have always passed on, especially now. You can substitute “politician” or “corporate PR hack” for club official: “When a club official comes to you and says, ‘Why don’t you be a nice fellow? After all, you’re one of us,’ never believe for a moment that you are one of them, because you are merely tolerated — and then for only as long as they feel they can use you and your paper. You belong to your readers and them alone.”
Thanks to Mark for some great insight, and please go get his book, you will not be disappointed. You can follow Mark on Twitter @MarkCHealey and @GothamBaseball