James Schapiro

I'm a reporter and columnist. I write about sports, the beach, music, the absurdities of life, and most other things you can think of...but mostly sports.

Features

I've reported all sorts of features, from exploring a profile of a viral Twitter baseball personality to spending months learning about New York's Mysterious Bookshop — and everything in between. I've dug into housing for Minor League Baseball players, Mets fan rebellions, and the 1955 World Series — and other things besides. Enjoy!

December 2, 2021

Gil Hodges Has Always Belonged in the Hall of Fame

You can sum up a large part of Gil Hodges’ Hall of Fame case with an argument that didn’t happen.

The Jester-King of Mets Twitter

Why exactly is Noah Syndergaard on Twitter relentlessly bullying a Mets fan whose profile picture is Keith Hernandez, who appears to be a middle-aged divorced man? Well, he isn’t. But the true story is, if possible, even stranger.

IrishCentral.com • November 27, 2020

Death of a neighborhood - Woodside, Queens' Irish fading away

Since the 1965 US Immigration Act, it has become harder and harder for Irish to settle in America and this community is showing its age.

MysteryTribune • August 26, 2021

Coziness and Comfort at The Mysterious Bookshop: An Essay

The Mysterious Bookshop, only blocks from One World Trade Center in downtown Manhattan, doesn't exactly fit in with its surroundings — because it never quite left the 19th century.

Baseball Prospectus • June 19, 2020

Kingsport Is A Baseball Town

There’s been a baseball team in Kingsport since 1921, according to Baseball-Reference; the town is on the cusp of its 100th baseball anniversary.

Shea Bridge Report • May 24, 2021

The Devil in the Details

In 2011, I sent a Little League game into chaos by mentioning an obscure rule. 10 years later, I set out to find out whether I'd been right.

Shea Bridge Report • May 10, 2021

British Mets Fans Feel Your Pain

On October 3rd, 2010, the Mets played the most Mets game of all time. Rob Davis, from Cardiff, was there to see it.

Shea Bridge Report • January 5, 2021

The Problem with Twitter Newsbreakers

It can be difficult to tell the truth from the nonsense when anyone can write "SOURCE" and grab your eyes.

Fans Seeking Power

Mets fans were angry — so they gathered to plan an insurrection against the owners. It didn't go well.

The Greatest Spot in Sports

Christian Taugner wanted to play professional baseball. It looked like he would. Then, it looked like he wouldn't.

Medium • April 15, 2020

How a Baseball Team Learned It Wasn’t Going To Play Again

For the Columbia baseball team, everything was fine. Then, suddenly, it wasn't.

The Delacorte Review • August 14, 2020

The Day the Earth Sorta Stood Still

It was 1955. It seemed like the Dodgers played the Yankees in the World Series every year. It also seemed like the Dodgers were always going to lose.