News Release

Pulitzer Winner Cramer to Deliver Pouder Lecture

Cramer's talk on DiMaggio, the subject of his forthcoming book and documentary film, will provide an in-depth look at one of the most beloved American heros. DiMaggio was perhaps the first modern media star, an athlete of extraordinary gifts and grace, a person of dignity and an icon of American glamour. But he was also a man few truly knew, the "loneliest hero we have ever had."

Cramer, a 1971 Johns Hopkins graduate and former Baltimore Sun reporter, won the Pulitzer Prize for international reporting in 1979, when he was with the Philadelphia Inquirer. He received an Oscar nomination for best documentary in 1996. His DiMaggio biography is his fourth book Earlier works included What It Takes, the story of the 1998 presidential candidates, and a biography of another baseball legend, Ted Williams.

Since 1978, the G. Harry Pouder Memorial Lecture, focusing on American or English literature, has honored the late executive vice president of the Baltimore Association of Commerce, who died in 1971. A graduate of the Johns Hopkins Evening College, Pouder wrote plays and was associated with the Homewood Playshop, now known as Theatre Hopkins. Past Pouder lecturers include Leon Uris, James Michener, Joyce Carol Oates, Larry McMurtry and Richard Ford.

The lecture is free and open to the public and tickets are not required. For information, call 410-516-7157.

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