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Breakfast Cereals, Cartoons & Cleveland Indians: Marty Gitlin ~ Class of 1975

Original Release: 12/14/2020

By: Lauren Lanphear '74 Charles F. Brush Alumni Association

Marty Gitlin already felt certain about his career path after graduating from Brush in 1975. He loved sports and he loved to write. So he put two and two together and decided to become a sportswriter.

The result was four years at Ohio University, which he believed boasted one of the strongest journalism programs in the country. Marty worked at the school newspaper covering the baseball and hockey teams. He toiled alongside such future sports writing standouts as Tony Grossi, Peter King and Jay Mariotti at The Post.

After a few bumps in the road professionally and personally, Marty eventually landed at the News-Herald, the largest suburban daily in Ohio at the time. He covered high school football, basketball and baseball. But his most fulfilling and enjoyable pursuits were covering the Browns and Indians. Marty worked every Browns home game and covered the Indians at home and often on the road, including in the playoffs and World Series in Atlanta and Miami.

Marty's work was recognized with numerous awards. He received more than 45 writing awards during his 11 years at the News-Herald, including first place for general excellence from Associated Press for a story he wrote following Game 4 of the 1995 World Series. That organization also selected him as one of the top four feature writers in Ohio — sports or otherwise — in 2001.

By that time Marty had been married for ten years and was a father to the two loves of his life — daughters Emily and Melanie. He got remarried in 2007 to current wife Mitzi and added stepson Andrew to his family. Marty and Mitzi make their home in North Olmsted but often visit his old east-side stomping grounds to eat at Geraci's or Tommy's and visit friends.

Marty left the newspaper business in 2002 to pursue a career as an author. He began his new life authoring educational books for students of all ages in the realms of sports, history and biographies of notable people in all walks of life.

He also covered the Browns as a beat writer for CBSSports.com from 2009 to 2012, then spent the next three years working as a fantasy baseball and football analyst for the same site. Marty jokes that his four years covering the Browns was like the movie Groundhog Day, 'Different years, same seasons.'

Marty continued to write educational books heading into the second decade of the 21st century. But he is most proud of three very unique books he has since authored. His first was The Great American Cereal Book, which was featured in the New York Times, Time Magazine, Reader's Digest, Wall Street Journal and newspapers throughout the country.

Marty has also enjoyed more than 200 speaking engagements throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan based on his books. His current programs (live and now on Zoom) are based on two books.

One is The Ultimate Cleveland Indians Time Machine Book, a complete history of his favorite baseball team featuring its greatest and most interesting players, teams, events and moments in 27 chapters. The publisher has since commissioned Marty to write franchise history books on the Red Sox, Mets, Cubs, Yankees and Tigers.

The other book on which his presentations to libraries, senior centers and assisted livings is based is A Celebration of Animation: The 100 Greatest Cartoon Characters in Television History. Marty is the only author ever to actually rank the greatest cartoon characters of all-time based on different criteria such as legacy, personality, and uniqueness of voice.

Marty autographs, personalizes and ships all his books for free if purchased on his Etsy site. Anyone interested in his books should go to Etsy.com and type in GitlinBooks (all one word). Or they can contact Marty at mgitlin@sbcglobal.net ✉ or call him at (440) 734-3270 ☎ with any questions.

The author, Lauren Lanphear, Class of 1974, is the 3rd generation owner of his family's tree care business, the Forest City Tree Protection Co. He may be contacted at: llanphear@forestcitytree.com ✉.