Rest in peace, our friend Todd Drew
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Jan 15, 2009 
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One of the best — and strangest — things about the internet is that you can become pretty good friends with somebody you’ve never actually laid eyes on. I know that is the case with many people who comment on this blog.
That was how it was with Todd Drew and I.
When I started this blog nearly three years ago, Todd was one of the first readers. He posted thoughtful, polite comments and almost always followed up with an e-mail. He unconditionally loved the Yankees but he had a great appreciation for players on other teams and he liked hearing about the process of putting together a newspaper story.
Todd started his own blog to write about his favorite sport and the people he knew in the Bronx. Yankees For Justice was terrific and it led to Todd joining Alex Belth at Bronx Banter when that seminal Yankees blog signed up with SNY.
Todd wrote me an e-mail asking whether I thought it was a good idea a day before Alex wrote me asking my opinion of Todd. It was a good feeling knowing I had helped two writers I respected so much form a partnership.
Sadly, Todd passed away just after midnight today. He was only 41. Alex wrote about him today.
Todd’s last bit of baseball writing was about having cancer and his impending surgery. I wrote him a note wishing him a speedy recovery and we agreed to meet up at the Stadium this spring.
Please keep Todd and his family in your thoughts today. He was one of us.
————
Here is the guest post Todd wrote for us about a year ago.
rip todd
My favorite Todd quote came in his last bit of baseball writing…..
“Baseball helps me forget and it makes me remember.”
RIP Todd. You will be missed.
Rest in Peace, Todd. My sympathy is with his friends and family as they get through this difficult time.
I always enjoyed his writing on Bronx Banter.
RIP.
This is really sad, Pete. I feel like losing some member of the family. Because that’s what happened. We are a family of Yankees fans. I enjoyed Todd’s contributions over here.
Rest in peace, Todd. You’ll be in my prayers. We’ll miss you.
That’s tough stuff, man.
Large was his bounty, and his soul sincere,
Heaven did a recompense as largely send:
He gave to Misery all he had, a tear,
He gained from Heaven (’twas all he wish’d) a friend.
-From Gray’s “ELEGY WRITTEN IN
A COUNTRY CHURCH-YARD”
Too damn young.
Really enjoyed his “Shadow Game” pieces at Bronx Banter.
All the best to his family and friends.
Rest in peace, Todd.
Wow, this is really tough. I’ve always loved Todd’s writing and i am so glad i sent him an email a little while ago. (a month or so before the surgery) I, too, had never met him, yet i could tell what an amazing person he was through his writing. He will be missed.
My thoughts are with his family.
I am a long time reader but I have never commented on any of you blogs Pete. This one I needed to without a doubt. I nearly lost my 12 year old brother to cancer. Naturally after him cancer victims always hit close to home for me. I never read anything from Todd, but from what I have read we share the same passion for the Yankees and baseball. RIP Todd, I will keep your family and friends in my prayers.
Deepest condolences to Mr. Drew’s family and friends. God bless Mr. Drew.
It’s true – Todd was a person who was able to touch others deeply without ever having to meet him in person. His goodness came through every word he wrote, whether in an e-mail, which I had the good pleasure and fortune to exchange with him, or in his writings. He made you look at things from a different vantage point. He was a difference maker. I will miss him.
I first “met” Todd when he pinch hit here last January. I was blown away by his writing and hearing this news about him today was really sad.
Wow, That was so sad reading of his hope for the future.
It really makes the “debates” we have seem absolutely trivial.
r.i.p
Todd and I shared a couple of e-mail conversations about my experiences of the Bronx growing up, a word or two about the legal profession, and even a few more words about Clemens and Mitchell. He was the same true believer off-blog as he was on, a real prince. I just cannot believe he’s gone.
The Yankees wear a black arm band when one of them passes. Can’t we carve out a little room on the right column where the links are and put “In Memorium” and list Todd by name? I think Todd’s team loyalty, service to the blog and genuine goodness deserve a nod.
My condolences to his family and friends.
As I said earlier, I’ve been around death all my life, and this is the first time I’ve really felt like I lost something.
Rest in peace, my friend.
I think that’s a great idea, Murphydog…
Very sad news. R.I.P. Todd.
RIP and my condolences to his whole family. This is a tough loss, way too young to leave this world. May God Bless him and his family. This really does make what everyone fights and debates on here really seem non important, think about that before you guys go crazy on Cashman or whoever, we all should.
I agree with you, Murphydog. Todd deserves it. And much more
This is so sad. Rest in Peace, Todd. Hopefully one day we will be able to cure cancer.
Good guy, great Yankee fan. My deepest condolences to his family and friends. He will be missed.
RIP
This is so very sad. Todd is the best. A true gentleman and an incredible writer. His words brimmed with honesty and reality and always full of hope. My best wishes to his family and to my friend Todd – enjoy the journey my friend, enjoy the journey.
Rest in peace Todd, and enjoy the baseball season from the best seats in the house.
RIP
Kevin
I want to 2nd Murphydog’s idea, as I looked forward to reading Todd Drew everyday. He was always kind enough to reply to comments on his columns, & like Dustin above, I only commented on Bronx Banter to let him know how talented a writer he is/was. I only “knew” Todd as a fan, in cyberspace; my deepest condolences to all who really knew him.
Sad news…
That’s a great idea, Murphydog. Todd has contributed so much to this blog and to the Yankee blogs that we all read in general, it seems so fitting that his memory be commemorated here.
Todd Drew. a great internet friend. you will be missed.
R.I.P Todd
I am sorry for your loss. I never knew him but he sounds like a great writer and a great guy. RIP Todd
That’s so immensely sad. I did not read Bronx Banter, but looking at Todd’s last piece almost brought me to tears. RIP Todd.
I didn’t know him but sorry for the Yankee community’s loss.
Yikes, Rishi. My brother-in-law works for BoA, flies from Charlotte to NY and back a lot. Very scary stuff.
Condolences to Todd’s family and friends. I first started reading Todd’s blog after it appeared here. He had a great way of making you feel like a part of the Bronx neighborhood he wrote about every day. It takes a talented writer to be able to do that.
This was very sad, I really enjoyed Todd`s writing.
The quality of his stories on “Yankees for Justice” always made me smile. I wont forget him.
Nice post Peter as well.
sleep well todd
RIP Todd
RIP Todd.
Such a tragedy – he had a gift and a passion for writing, and one that I will surely miss.
I’m typing from a work computer (which I really shouldn’t be) because I really don’t want to wait until later this evening – and frankly, Todd is far more than worth any chewing out I might get from the company. They can kiss my pinstriped butt as far as I’m concerned.
Todd was one of my first and most loyal members at Club Bronx and I had the great fortune of sharing emails with him as well. He knew how much I missed being in the NY area for the last couple of decades and we had discussed getting me up there to visit this summer. Bless his heart, Todd knew I was a real “foodie” and was telling me all of the places he was going to take me to eat. He sincerely wanted me to be able to have a nice “homecoming” visit to the city and the new stadium. He also had some very kind words for me as I segued from a rough patch in life into the beginnings of my own business. Great souls like Todd are so few and far between in this age, and I was really looking forward to meeting him.
On top of all this, how can I forget mentioning what a tremendous writer he was. The mental snapshots of life around Yankee Stadium that he painted were priceless and precious to this Jersey transplant stuck in the South.
My feelings for Todd were summed up beautifully by Pete in the first paragraph of this post. I was honored to call him “friend” and will miss him dearly.
Thanks to Pete (and Alex) for recognizing a great man and a treasured member of our little online “family”. RIP, my friend.
That was a touching post, Pete.
Wow I am just shocked. Todd was a great writer and from my brief interactions with him, a really genuinely nice guy.
This is terrible news.
RIP
rest in peace todd….. we’ll miss your writing and company
Does anyone know what kind of cancer he had? Unfortunately sounds alot like what my father went through with pancreatic cancer, which is probably the worst there is.
I hope Todd’s family knows how much he was admired and appreciated by countless readers who never got to meet him. Very sad.
While an inconsistent commenter on this blog, I am a constant reader. Last year’s Pinch Hit by Todd brought be over to Yankees for Justice, and I was (and remain) such a fan of Todd’s vision (he noticed everything, it seemed) and thoughtful writing that I made it one of my daily stops. This news makes me enormously sad. I am thankful for the time we had with such a lovely writer, and my only hope is that his friends (internet and otherwise) and family find the peace as soon as time can bring it.
Never read anything about or by Mr. Drew until about an hour ago. I had the pleasure to read three or four pieces by this seemingly outstanding man. What is apparent is the heartfelt manner that he approached life. Not just baseball, but life.
A lesson to us all. RIP, Todd Drew.
Got this e-mail today from a long-time reader, Kasey, who asked me to post it:
When i was spouting a constant stream of condescending negativity on your blog, todd was not only cool about it, he was mailing me scorecards and programs from the games he attended knowing that, living in the nw, i can only catch one or two at the stadium each season. we never crossed paths in person, but todd was one of the nicest people i’ve ever “met.” if you could do me a favor and post this in the comments section, i’d appreciate it a great deal. people ought to know what a kind and generous guy todd was.
I e-mailed Todd last spring, before the season started and after Pete informed us all about Todd’s great blog, to tell him how much I enjoyed his writing and his views. He took the time to send me a lengthy reply and talk about the coming season. I, like many of those who read his posts, would have liked to have met him. He will be sorely missed and I’m sure he went down swinging. I wish peace and comfort to his family.
I really appreciate everybody making the comments they have. Through a friend of Todd, I’ll make sure his family knows of it.
This has been a tough day because I considered Todd a friend. This blog is very personal to me and I value those who have supported it and encouraged me. Todd was at the top of that list, as are many of you.
I’m late to the blog today…my company announced global layoffs this morning and it’s been a crazy crazy day. I read the sad news of Todd’s passing tonight and it kinda puts everything in perspective.
No matter how bad things may seem in our everyday life (and sometimes in the Yankee Universe as well) – we have a lot to be thankful for. Each day is a gift.
My condolences to the Drew family.
Yanks fan, Sox fan or whatever, Todd sounds like he was a great person. Hopefully some of these comments will help Todd’s family and friends get through this difficult time.
RIP Todd, you are now in a much better place but can still watch over your family and friends.
My condolences to Todd’s family. I’ll miss Todd, he was truly an original.
My condolences to his family. Tough day. hH was a good writer and I really enjoyed his work.
As a follower and fan of his writing, today is a very sad day. RIP Todd.
i didn’t know Todd Drew but from all i am reading i am sorry i didn’t.
my thoughts & prayers are with todd,his family,friends & everybody else who knew & loved him.
i will say a prayer before i go to bed.
that’s really sad. i’m sorry for your loss, Peter. I didn’t know him, but it’s always tough and sad to hear someone so young pass away. my thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family.
RIP Todd – 42 is too young to move on.
Very well put Wolf and thank you Pete for sharing this sad news.
How sad. RIP Todd.
Your spirit touched us thru words and fonts found hundreds of millions of times over on this silly thing, the internet. Your voice echoed through and through; warm, unique genuine. I think everyone will agree with me when I say that voice is one we’ll miss, but are grateful to have heard.
It’ll be easier to sneak into the new stadium as an angel ($1000 bucks a seat, yeah right!). Grab one of your mom’s famous tuna fish sandwiches and find a spot perched on the frieze. Shoulder to shoulder with Yankee greats like yourself. It’ll be the best seat in the house.
Todd was simply a phenomenal writer. I remember reading his posts on YFJ and literally being floored by the detail and feeling he somehow wove into his work. Every time I read his posts I would literally look at my own blog and think, “Man, I wish I could write that way.”
Now, I didn’t know him at all, really, but from the many posts I read, I gleaned that he was truly a gentleman and a genuinely nice man. He posted at my blog, once, after I told him how much I enjoyed his own. I appreciate having his thumbprint there, as it is a small, yet meaningful artifact from his life. He will be missed.
My heart goes out to his family.
‘Ask not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee’
Truly, we are all diminished by this.
As with many others, I never had the good fortune to meet Todd, but greatly admired his writing. My prayers and thoughts are with Marsha and his family.
Rest In Peace Todd.