Each will make their debut with the Spring 2008 issue, “The City Game”, which will hit newsstands on April 15th. Visit gothambaseballmagazine.com for more details closer to the publication date.
“Having Art Shamsky and Marty Appel agree to join Gotham Baseball is one of the proudest moments of my professional career,” said Mark Healey, Executive Editor, Gotham Baseball Magazine. “Adding two individuals with such experience adds an unprecedented amount of credibility to our company.”
Though born in St. Louis, Missouri, Art Shamsky has become an iconic figure in the fabric of New York baseball.
Signed by the Cincinnati Reds in 1960, he was traded to the New York Mets in the winter of 1967, just in time for him to become part of the "Miracle Mets" that won the 1969 World Series. During that championship season, Shamsky batted .300, then led the Mets in the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves, hitting .537 (7-for-13). It was a performance that would endear him to Mets fans for a generation, which was never more evident when “Everybody Loves Raymond” star Ray Romano – a lifelong Mets fan – wrote Shamsky into the show. Not only did Shamsky appear in an episode starring as himself, but his character's brother named his dog “Shamsky” in the show. A framed Shamsky Mets' jersey with his famous “No. 24” was also part of the “Raymond” set decoration.
“I look forward to working with Gotham Baseball Magazine,” Shamsky said. “There is no question that Mark Healey has created an exciting publication. His energy, passion & commitment will drive this company and make it a great success. Gotham Baseball offers fans a unique opportunity and insight to be more involved with the game. I am excited to be a part of it all”
Since his retirement from baseball, Shamsky has worked as an on-camera sports broadcaster at WNYW-TV Channel 5 in New York City, ESPN Television, and a broadcaster for The New York Mets, doing play-by-play and color, on radio and television. In addition, he hosted a talk show on WFAN Sports Radio and has written featured guest editorials for the sports section of The New York Times.
Shamsky is also the author of "The Magnificent Seasons", a book about the New York Jets, New York Mets, and the New York Knicks, all winning championships, ironically all for the first time, in 1969 and 1970. The book not only follows the exploits of the three teams, but the effect all the teams had on the people of New York City and the country at a tumultuous time in the city and across the country.
Marty Appel was the youngest public relations director ever selected to lead a major league baseball team when he became George Steinbrenner’s first hire in that position with the New York Yankees. After nine years with the Yankees, under both CBS and Steinbrenner ownership, Appel went on to direct public relations for Tribune Broadcasting’s WPIX-TV in New York and to serve as the Emmy-award winning Yankees Executive Producer concurrently.
In addition to being the President and Owner of Marty Appel Public Relations, one of the industry's most respected firms, he has authored 16 books, including collaborations with Larry King, Bowie Kuhn, Tom Seaver, Lee MacPhail, umpire Eric Gregg, Thurman Munson, the definitive collection of Hall of Fame biographies in Baseball’s Best, and the award-winning biography “Slide, Kelly, Slide” about a 19th century baseball star. His autobiography, “Now Pitching for the Yankees,” named best New York baseball book of 2001 by ESPN, was published in June 2001. In his next project, Appel will revisit Munson's life with a much-anticipated, full-blown biography of the late Yankee captain, to be published in 2009 by Doubleday.
"New York has had several attempts at a regional baseball publication over the years." said Appel. "This is a city that ought to support such a magazine, and I believe Mark Healey is the guy to deliver it. I'm honored to be associated with Gotham."
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About Gotham Sports Media:
Gotham Sports Media LLC, founded in 2005, publishes Gotham Baseball Magazine, the only periodical dedicated to comprehensive coverage of New York area baseball. The company also owns and operates the Gotham Sports Network, a collection of award-winning websites that boasts the largest audience of any independent New York sports media outlet. For more information, visit Gotham Sports Media online at www.gothamsportsmedia.com.
New York, NY. March 11, 2008: Gotham Baseball Magazine, which is
published by Gotham Sports Media LLC, is pleased to announce that two
legends of New York baseball, Art Shamsky and Marty Appel have joined
the quarterly's staff as Senior Editors. 
