Phil Pepe, a longtime Daily News Yankee beat writer whose career covering New York sports spanned 50 years, died Sunday at the age of 80 at his home in Englewood, N.J., a family member told the News.
Pepe covered the Yankees at The News from 1968-1981, and wrote the lead game story for every World Series from 1969-81. In 1982, he succeeded Dick Young as The News’ sports columnist.
He left the paper in 1989 for WCBS radio where he did morning sports — including his signature “Pep Talk,” — for more than 15 years. He was also the director of broadcasting/radio analyst for Class-A New Jersey Cardinals of the New York-Penn League for 12 seasons from 1994-2005.