Adams: Howard Nakagama, a baseball lifer, left his mark in Salt Lake City
From Griffin Adams at The Athletic on April 4, 2019:
The man they were honoring would have approved of the set-up.
A photo of Smith’s Ballpark, home of the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees, greeted guests as they entered the room. The team’s logo appeared on tables not far from the entrance. A framed news story and pictures of Howard Nakagama, an official scorer for the Pacific Coast League in the Bees’ press box for the last 25 years, filled the room that was left.
This was Nakagama’s celebration of life at Larkin Mortuary in Salt Lake City on Jan. 12, after his death weeks earlier due to congestive heart failure at the age of 69. The setting, which included his many close family members and friends, was fitting for someone like Howie, as most referred to him — a baseball lifer.
When the Bees’ season begins on Thursday, Nakagama’s absence will be felt.
Read the full article here (subscription required): https://theathletic.com/904486/2019/04/04/a-baseball-lifer-devoted-to-the-game-and-to-his-family-howard-nakagama-left-his-mark/
Originally published: April 5, 2019. Last Updated: April 5, 2019.