The Times Achieves APSE Triple Crown, Bill Plaschke Named Top Columnist
The Times Achieves Triple Crown Honors in Sports Journalism
The Times has received the prestigious Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) triple crown honors for the sixth consecutive year, winning first place in two individual categories and securing top-10 finishes in eight others. The accolades were based on submissions from 2025, competing against the largest print and digital sports publications across the nation.
Bill Plaschke emerged as a standout, capturing first place in the columnist category. His award-winning portfolio included poignant commentary on subjects such as his journey with Parkinson’s disease through boxing, the near loss of his home during the Eaton Fire, the Dodgers’ remarkable 18-inning victory in the World Series, and UCLA’s contentious efforts to break its Rose Bowl lease. This marks Plaschke’s tenth career first-place finish in the columnist category. He previously received the APSE’s Red Smith Award, which is considered the highest honor in American sports journalism.
Additionally, The Times was recognized for its event coverage, sharing first place for the staff’s reporting on the Dodgers’ World Series Game 7 victory, a tie with the Dallas Morning News. Eric Sondheimer, preparing to enter his 50th year covering high school sports in Southern California, earned second place in short feature reporting for his piece on the impact of immigration raids on Los Angeles high school football players.
Further highlighting the depth of The Times’ reporting, Kevin Baxter secured ninth place in national beat writing for his coverage related to the preparations for the 2026 World Cup, including insights into FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s outreach to President Trump.
In total, The Times celebrated eight top-10 finishes across various categories, including print portfolio, digital, event coverage, special sections, investigative reporting, national beat writing, columns, and short feature. Additionally, the staff was awarded for excellence in video journalism, underscoring the diverse strengths of its reporting team.
