by Charlie O and Mike Martinez Jr
SACRAMENTO–He was probably in the circles of the Sacramento media one of the most welcoming figures to work with for veteran journalists and rookie journalists alike Jeff Hall passed away today and for those who knew him he was a friend, a great co-worker and an inspiration to many journalists alike.
Jeff who suffered from a stroke on Mon Oct 5th was hospitalized and while there was a brief ray of hope doctors said that Jeff would only have about a month left. He made it eight more days. His colleagues, friends and most importantly kids and family were at his side during the pending days and held vigils in hopes that Jeff would make a miracle recovery.
Jeff who passed at only 50 years old left a legacy of friends a laundry list of them that most people don’t get to enjoy in a lifetime. Jeff started out his professional sports coverage career working at KSMJ radio in Sacramento in the early 90s.
Jeff said that his biggest highlight during those early days of his media career was covering the 1992 MLB All-Star game in San Diego. Jeff covered many baseball events with the late and veteran Sacramento TV and radio anchor Ken Gimblin. Jeff said he enjoyed making his trip out to Camden Yards with Ken in Baltimore when Oriole Park was just built. The two took in the new park and walked on the field, did a number of interviews and enjoyed the crab cakes in the media room.
Jeff in the those early days of the 90s also covered the San Jose Sharks who started out their franchise year in 1991 where he and his broadcast partner Dave Goolsby would travel from Sacramento to Daly City to cover the NHL’s newest team and drive back after the game. Chris Collins who did color on Sharks radio and worked at KSMJ FM with Dave and Jeff would also make the trek to the Cow Palace.
Jeff got married and left the radio business and also his sports coverage and virtually very few in the industry heard from him again until 2014 when he came back to cover the Sacramento Kings after it was announced that the Kings would stay in Sacramento a move that Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive had a huge role in that made it possible. Jeff was pleased to be back doing what he loved doing the most covering professional sports.
Jeff had mentioned about his surgeries he had two of them for brain cancer and he didn’t want anyone’s sympathy he just wanted to be treated like everyone else and he muscled every bit of strength that he could to come out to San Francisco or Oakland to cover baseball or games at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento. Jeff literally laid it all on the line for his family, friends, co workers, and his co workers in the media.
Those that got to know Jeff treasured every second of working with him and admired his strengths for what he had done in and out of covering the games. Like KCBS’ Joe Salvatore said, “Rest in peace Jeff, you were a good friend but most important, a great father.”
Please listen to Jeff’s last podcast he recorded doing commentary on Sac Kings basketball from Fri Oct 2, 2015 click below
Sports Radio Service 