Mike Lupica

Birthday: May 11th
Inspirational - An encouraging attitude, even through difficult circumstances.

Mike Lupica, over the span of his successful career as a sports columnist, has proven that he can write for sports fans of all ages and stripes.

At age 23 he began his newspaper career covering the New York Knicks for the New York Post. He became the youngest columnist ever at a New York paper with the New York Daily News, which he joined in 1977.

He is the author of seven consecutive New York Times best-selling young adult novels: Travel Team, Heat, Miracle on 49th Street, Summer Ball, The Big Field, Million-Dollar Throw, and The Batboy, and the five popular novels in the Comeback Kids series. He has also written many books for adults, including Wild Pitch and Bump and Run.

Mr. Lupica's column for The New York Daily News is syndicated nationally, and he can be seen weekly on ESPN's The Sports Reporters.

Lupica describes himself as a "serial Little League coach," a youth basketball coach, and a soccer coach for his three sons and a daughter. He lives in Connecticut with his wife and four children.

Penguin Young Readers Group