Longtime Bay Area Sports Columnist Dave Newhouse Dies at 87

Newhouse, a prolific author and award-winning reporter, had a 47-year career at the Oakland Tribune.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 5:40am by Ben Kaplan

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Dave Newhouse, a longtime Bay Area sports columnist and author who worked at the Oakland Tribune for 47 years, died on Thursday at the age of 87 due to heart failure. Newhouse was known for his class, warmth, and deep knowledge of Bay Area sports history, having covered the early years of the 49ers, the glory days of the A's and Warriors, and the eventual departure of the Raiders and Warriors from Oakland.

Why it matters

Newhouse was considered an icon in Oakland sports journalism, documenting the city's rich sports history and serving as a mentor to many younger writers. His passing marks the end of an era for Bay Area sports coverage and the loss of a respected voice who championed the region's teams and athletes.

The details

Newhouse worked at the Oakland Tribune from 1964 to 2011 and continued writing books, penning 19 in total, throughout his retirement. He co-authored a book in 2023 about the departure of the Raiders, Warriors, and A's from Oakland, titled 'Goodbye Oakland: Winning, Wanderlust, and a Sports Town's Fight for Survival.' Newhouse was known for his class, press-box warmth, and passion for Bay Area sports history, with colleagues describing him as a 'lovely gentleman' and 'the best of us' in the journalism profession.

  • Newhouse worked at the Oakland Tribune from 1964 to 2011.
  • He co-authored a book in 2023 about the departure of the Raiders, Warriors, and A's from Oakland.

The players

Dave Newhouse

A prolific author and award-winning sports reporter and columnist who had a 47-year run at the Oakland Tribune.

Andy Dolich

Newhouse's co-author for the 2023 book 'Goodbye Oakland: Winning, Wanderlust, and a Sports Town's Fight for Survival.'

Susan Slusser

The San Francisco Chronicle's Giants beat writer, who described Newhouse as an 'icon' in Oakland sports journalism.

Mark Purdy

A retired Mercury News columnist who termed Newhouse 'the best of us, in so many ways.'

Scott Ostler

A San Francisco Chronicle columnist who praised Newhouse's helpfulness and leadership in the journalism profession.

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What they’re saying

“Oakland is the most victimized sports city in the country.”

— Dave Newhouse (San Francisco Chronicle)

“He was an icon when it came to Oakland sports. He was there for all the early stuff with the Raiders, the A's, the great Warriors teams of the '70s. He was the man. He really was. He and Ron Bergman kind of dominated that East Bay sportswriting scene in the '70s,'80s and '90s. And he was just a lovely gentleman. Really classy.”

— Susan Slusser, San Francisco Chronicle Giants beat writer (San Francisco Chronicle)

“He always wanted to know about your family. And there was the other stuff like, 'Here's how this works around here.'”

— Mark Purdy, Retired Mercury News columnist (San Francisco Chronicle)

“He was very helpful to all his colleagues. That can be common in our profession, but Dave stood out. He always gave people a lot of encouragement. And it was genuine. Specific things. He'd give you ideas: 'Hey, this would be right up your wheelhouse. You should try this.' A really good, smart, intelligent, fun guy who was a leader in our fraternity.”

— Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle columnist (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

Newhouse's passing marks the end of an era for Bay Area sports journalism, as he was a respected voice who championed the region's teams and athletes for nearly half a century. His dedication to chronicling the history and personalities of Oakland sports will be sorely missed, and his legacy as a mentor to younger writers underscores his lasting impact on the profession.