Tim Ball, news design director at the Indianapolis Star, is headed back to the San Jose Mercury News as assistant sports editor/design. Ball was at the Merc from 2000-2003, and Sports Editor Craig Lancaster says "His work in Sports was an integral part of our distinction as one of the World’s Best Designed newspapers. His pages during the Giants’ World Series run in 2002 were hailed throughout the sports design community for their vigor."

The Merc just lost Kenney Marlatt to the Star. Lancaster says, "Consider this our counterpunch."

"We're really excited to have Tim coming back!" Merc Deputy Managing Editor Matt Mansfield says. "We're getting the band back together!"

Congrats all around!

Full Merc memo after the jump.

From: Lancaster, Craig
Sent:Wednesday, July 27, 2005 3:57 PM
To: SPORTS STAFF
Cc:Mansfield, Matt
Subject:tim ball

Everybody:

We’re pleased to announce that Tim Ball will be returning to the Mercury News as assistant sports editor/design -- a role that will combine hands-on design (Tim’s specialty) and consistent visual planning, a luxury we haven’t enjoyed in a while.

Tim is coming to us from the Indianapolis Star, where he was news design director. (You’ll remember that the Indy paper lured Kenney Marlatt away from us. Consider this our counterpunch.)

Tim’s start date is still being pinned down, but that’s just a formality. The real news is that he will be here in time to put his considerable design muscle into our football and baseball playoff (knock wood) coverage, as well as pushing us closer to the goals that we set for the section late last year.

Those who knew Tim during his first Mercury News incarnation -- 2000-2003 -- don’t need an introduction. His work in Sports was an integral part of our distinction as one of the World’s Best Designed newspapers. His pages during the Giants’ World Series run in 2002 were hailed throughout the sports design community for their vigor. He has consistently produced stellar work across the section, finding innovative and distinctive ways to present our storytelling. He has a passion for sports and a ton of friends here. We’re confident he’ll make a seamless move back into the job.

In short, we’re damned pleased to have him back. We’ll be in touch soon about a start date. Tim will report jointly to Craig Lancaster and Jonathon Berlin.

Thanks,
Craig, Bud, Rachel
and Matt Mansfield