Growing up in New York City, it was hard to be a sports fan and not be influenced by the work of NY Daily News sports cartoonist Bill Gallo. His work had a way of touching the hearts and minds of sports fans. This combination of visceral imagery and timely topics were a treat for sports fans on a daily basis, and Gallo also gave credit to them to connect with his subjects on an emotional and intellectual level. Of course, Gallo possessed great humor, and that is no doubt the aspect of his work that will be remembered as fondly as the man himself.
Bill had the talent for capturing the essence of a great sports moment. We always hear that pictures say one thousand words; if that is the case, Gallo's drawings spoke ten times that. He could take something so astounding - like Joe Frazier beating Muhammad Ali - and sum it up with an amazing image, in this case of the constantly boasting Ali with his mouth zippered shut. This was the kind of work he did - connecting with what the sports fan was feeling and going beyond for a catharsis as well.
Over the years there were so many great images, but as a Mets fan I am very partial to Basement Bertha. Though Gallo covered all sports teams for the paper with his drawings, the ones of the slightly strange, overweight, and unattractive Bertha - as representative of all the suffering Mets fans - struck a chord with the public. With Bertha we Mets fans suffered, but we never suffered alone.
There are so many amazing Gallo cartoons, but he was also known for writing his column. I would always look forward to read what he had to say about sports legends, and his tenure at the News enabled him to encounter many of the greats. It goes without saying that Gallo was universally loved by all, even those who were depicted in his drawings in sometimes less than flattering ways. George Steinbrenner - drawn as the grunting, angry, irascible General von Steingrabber - got the joke and was honored to be in those cartoons.
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Article comments
1 - Rose
I love Bill's cartoons on newspapers they are funny and straight to the point. Some of his drawing make you realize a few things in your environment. I never imagined that he is that old now. But that is a lovely picture of him above.
2 - Victor Lana
I should note that the second cartoon in this article (of Basement Bertha) is the last one Gallo drew.
It depicts Bertha trying to attend the Royal Wedding in London. Yuchie is even there talking about wearing his Met cap. I feel it is fitting that Gallo's last cartoon was of Bertha, a beloved character that he created.
He shall be missed. Rest in peace, Bill Gallo.
3 - hockey
May he rest in peace! 88 is a beautiful age at which you must be really happy if you get to. We will miss his cartoons, but in the mean time we also have his old ones to remind us of him. This way, he will never be really gone. Sports was different with him.. he made it different.