Joe Falls, 76, sportswriter inducted into Hall of Fame

When the Times folded in 1960, Mr. Falls moved on to the Detroit Free Press, eventually becoming the newspaper's sports editor. He remained there until 1978, when he joined the staff of the News. He also wrote for the Sporting News.

In 2002, he was inducted into the writers' wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., where he was given the J. G. Taylor Spink Award.

Through the years, Mr. Falls wrote about many Tigers who are in the Hall of Fame: George Kell, Jim Bunning, Al Kaline, and Sparky Anderson.

''No matter what, you always knew that Joe loves the game," Anderson once said. ''He never hid his feelings."

Added Alan Trammell, whom Mr. Falls covered as a Tigers player and manager: ''Certainly his reputation, not just Detroit but nationally, is one of a Hall of Fame sportswriter, and he's certainly deserving. He was old school and had a style."

Mr. Falls covered 50 World Series, 20 Kentucky Derbys, 15 Super Bowls, 20 Masters and US Open golf tournaments, 25 Indy 500s, and dozens of events such as the Rose Bowl and Stanley Cup.