The write stuff

Ernie Accorsi with the New York Giants (New York Times photo)

Ernie Accorsi, the pride of Hershey, Pa., is the sportswriter who 56 years ago today breaks the story of the 76ers’ stunning – and remarkably foolish – trade of future Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain to the Los Angeles Lakers for Archie Clark, Jerry Chambers and Darrell Imhoff.

Accorsi, then working for the Philadelphia Inquirer, eventually escapes the newspaper business to begin a long career in the NFL, where he becomes one of the game’s most respected general managers and team builders.

While still in the newspaper business, Accorsi once interviews a little-known, retired ballplayer named Archie Graham, who years later becomes immortalized as Moonlight Graham in the 1989 movie Field of Dreams.

Accorsi later writes the questions for the memorable Baltimore Colts quiz scene in the 1982 movie classic Diner.

A quarter-century later, Accorsi is the general manager who puts together the foundation for the New York Giants’ 2007 Super Bowl championship team.