ILLUSTRATIONS INSERT

Courtesy: Louis Schiro

A page from Breslin’s first newspaper, The Flash. A star witness’s murder is the big story under the headline “Dude Killed.” Courtesy: Ronnie Eldridge and Jimmy Breslin

Early Breslin. He writes about sports, in this case bowling, for the Journal-American

Writing about the mob with a sense of humor

Breslin’s first known byline, age 18, for the Long Island Press.

Jimmy Breslin at the 1968 Democratic Convention, International Amphitheater, Chicago. He witnessed behavior by police toward demonstrators that led him to coin the phrase “police riot.” Courtesy: Zuma Press, Inc. / Alamy

Norman Mailer announces his candidacy for mayor of New York City, with Jimmy Breslin running for city council president, 1969. Courtesy: CSU Archives / Everett Collection

Jimmy Breslin and Norman Mailer’s 1969 run for office was a political “campaign of ideas.” They did not set out to win the positions of president of the City Council and mayor of New York. They set out to call attention to the sorry state of New York City politics and propose radical change: make New York City the 51st state and put its taxpayer dollars to work—for its residents. Courtesy: Michael Gross

Jimmy Breslin and his wife, Rosemary Breslin née Dattolico. 1974. Courtesy: Susan Wood

Breslin walking with attorney and politician Paul O’Dwyer and other New York politicians including Bob Abrams and Mario Biaggi (date unknown).

How to listen. Courtesy: Keystone Press / Alamy Stock Photo

Watergate special prosecutors Richard Ben-Veniste and Jill Wine-Volner talk with reporter Jimmy Breslin on their way to U.S. District Court in January 1975. Courtesy: Danita Delimont / Alamy

June 6–14, 1976, New York State Democratic delegates meeting at the Statler-Hilton Hotel, New York City: Jimmy Carter’s press secretary, Jody Powell (left) talking to Jimmy Breslin after a news conference held by Governor Carter. The leaders of the New York Democratic Party endorsed Carter at the press conference. Courtesy: Keystone Press / Alamy

“Two tough guys from Queens,” Daily News Metropolitan Editor Dick Oliver with Breslin at Oliver’s 60th birthday party. Courtesy: Kate McGrath

Breslin’s note to Michael “Mickey” Brennan granting permission to use Breslin’s essay in his landmark book They Must Fall: Muhammad Ali and the Men He Fought. Courtesy: Michael Brennan

Jimmy Breslin street sign unveiled, May 30, 1987, on the corner of 42nd St. and Third Ave. The Daily News was just down the block at 220 East 42nd. Sign was put up by New York City worker Keith Joyner who, according to Spectrum News’ Bob Hardt, told reporters present that Breslin was a “for real guy.” Courtesy: Alamy

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, preparing to speak “as the elected representative of the Cuomo family” at Jimmy Breslin’s funeral service at Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Manhattan, March 22, 2017. Courtesy: Charles Eckert

Ronnie Eldridge exchanging hugs following her husband’s funeral service. Courtesy: Charles Eckert

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, exiting Breslin’s funeral service. Courtesy: Charles Eckert

Left to right: Hap Hairston, City Editor New York Newsday; author, as Police Bureau Chief New York Newsday; reporter Curtis Taylor; and Barbara Strauch, a New York Newsday editor. Courtesy: New York Newsday

Left to right: Columnist Murray Kempton; Andrew Maloney, US Attorney for Eastern District of New York; the author as City Editor New York Newsday; and Jimmy Breslin. At Murray Kempton’s 75th birthday celebration. Courtesy: New York Newsday

Admiring Tom Wolfe’s hat while waiting to interview Wolfe at his impeccable New York City apartment. Courtesy: Ted Gerstein

Author interviews Jimmy Breslin and Ronnie Eldridge in 2015 at their Manhattan apartment. Courtesy: Ted Gerstein

Kevin and James Breslin discuss growing up Breslin. Courtesy: Ted Gerstein

Jimmy Breslin in Costello’s Bar, any morning 1986. Full frame of cover image. With him is Fred Percudani known to the clientele as Subway Fred, the world’s rudest bartender. Courtesy: Michael Brennan