In Memoriam: Gary Land
We are saddened to pass along the news that SABR member Gary Land, 69, of Berrien Center, Michigan, passed away peacefully with family by his side after a long battle with cancer on April 26, 2014.
Gary Gene Land was born in 1944 to longshoreman Elliott Booth and Virginia (Bradley) Booth in San Francisco and thusly became a die-hard Giants fan when the team moved there in 1958. A history professor at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, from 1970 to 2010, he joined SABR in the early 1990s and attended conventions annually until health issues interfered.
He presented several papers at both SABR and other baseball meetings, wrote essays on baseball history and literature, edited Growing Up with Baseball: How We Loved and Played the Game (Nebraska, 2004), and co-taught a course in baseball literature with fellow SABR member Gary Gray, as well as developed a large collection of baseball books.
In addition to history and his deep love of baseball, he also enjoyed music, books & literature, stamp collecting, fine-scale modeling and thought provoking conversations with good friends.
He is survived by his wife, Edi Land, of Berrien Center, Michigan; and children Jeffery and his wife Cassandra Land of Bellevue, Washington; and Jessamyn Land of North Hollywood, California.
Originally published: June 5, 2014. Last Updated: June 5, 2014.