Pat Caputo, a longtime Metro Detroit sports columnist and sports radio personality, has died at the age of 67, his family announced via social media Thursday.
Caputo, who worked for 97.1 The Ticket since the early 2000s and was a contributor on WJBK-TV (Channel 2), revealed in January he was battling Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. In his post in January, Caputo said his diagnosis was “commonly referred to as a ‘death sentence.'” He also described it as “sudden.”
Previously with the Oakland Press from 1983-2020, Caputo covered multiple teams throughout his career, including the Lions and Tigers. He attended Birmingham Groves High School and later Michigan State University.
“We were lucky to have Pat for the time that we did,” said Dan Miller, the current sports director at Fox 2 who worked with Caputo for nearly three decades. “If you’re putting somebody on television, you want them to be engaging, and you want them to be opinionated. You want them to do it in a respectful way, where it’s not just flame-throwing, and that was Pat.
“Pat was going to tell you exactly what he thought. But it wasn’t like he was making it up just to be compelling on television. That was truly what Pat thought. What people heard on the radio and what people saw on TV was exactly who he was if you talked to him when he wasn’t doing something with the media. He just had a way of looking at things and was himself. He was an original.”
About three weeks after revealing his cancer diagnosis, Caputo showed appreciation for the support he had received: “Your prayers, support and kind words truly have lifted my spirits during this difficult time,” Caputo posted Jan. 28. “I read each comment on X and Facebook and it warmed my heart and made me realize that I am blessed. Thank you so very, very much. God bless.”
“Pat was built for having what he believed in and then telling you about it, and then if you wanted to challenge him, he would accept that and he’d come right back at you,” Miller said. “I think that’s what made him the guy that he was. I think he enjoyed that. I think he enjoyed that back and forth with people, whether it was at a restaurant or on the radio or on TV or at the ballgame or wherever it was. I think he just loved engaging with people over the issues that we talk about every day. It was really what I think motivated him to get up in the morning. I think he loved it.”
Caputo had a knack for quickly recalling stats and information related to sports, earning him the nickname “The Book.”
“With Pat ‘The Book’ Caputo, you truly couldn’t judge the book by the cover,” said The Detroit News columnist Bob Wojnowski, who worked alongside Caputo at 97.1 and WDFN for about 25 years. “Beneath the gruff exterior was a funny, fascinating man who knew more about Detroit sports than anyone I’ve ever known. He knew so much because he cared so much, about the teams and their connection to the city and the fans. I’ll miss his bluntness. I’ll miss his voice, the most imitated grumble in Detroit media history.
“I’ll miss his insight and strong opinions, a rare, classic book indeed.”
Caputo began covering the Tigers in 1986 and remained on the beat until 1998, when he switched his focus to the Lions. Five football seasons later, Caputo became the sports columnist for the Oakland Press. He held that role until he was laid off in 2020.
Shortly after his exit from the Oakland Press, Caputo described himself as the “luckiest guy in the history of the world,” and he said there was “no bitterness at all, no anger” toward the newspaper. Caputo, a contributor for FOX 2 Sports Works, went on to write for The Ticket’s website.
“Pat was just one of one,” Miller said. “There’s no two Pat Caputos.”
rsilva@detroitnews.com
@rich_silva18
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Pat Caputo, Metro Detroit sports personality, dies at age 67: ‘He was an original’
Reporting by Richard Silva, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
