Detroit News' Tom Gage heads to MLB Hall of Fame

DETROIT – Tom Gage got the call on Tuesday.

The longtime Detroit News baseball writer was selected by his peers as this year's J.G. Taylor Spink Award winner, essentially putting Gage into baseball's Hall of Fame. It's arguably the most tremendous honor a sports-writer can receive.

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Gage, who has covered Tigers since 1979, beat out the late Furman Bisher of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Boston Globe's Dan Shaughnessy in one of the closest races in the past decade.

Gage had 167 votes. Bisher had 161. He will join the writer's wing in Cooperstown, New York this summer.

"I'm floored by the honor," Gage said after learning the news. "I've been at this a long time and I'm really humbled."

Former Detroit News columnist Joe Falls was inducted into the HOF in 2002.

Gage is a great addition. I worked with Gage closely for nine years at The News. In fact, I was the person to nominate him. He was a worthy candidate.

Sports fans in Detroit have been blessed to read Gage's coverage of the Tigers for more than 36 years.