RIP to Roger Samuels, who transformed from a wild starting pitcher to an effective reliever relatively late in his career, earning a couple of callups to the major leagues. He died on January 17 at his home in San Jose, Calif., at the age of 61. He had been battling kidney cancer for several years. … Continue reading Obituary: Roger Samuels (1961-2022)
RIP to Gale Wade, an outfielder with the Chicago Cubs for parts of 1955 and 1956. He died on January 16 at his home in Dysartsville, N.C., four days before his 93rd birthday. He had lived in the North Carolina mountains for more than 70 years, ever since his minor-league days with the Asheville Tourists. … Continue reading Obituary: Gale Wade (1929-2022)
RIP to George Gerberman, who pitched in a single game for the Chicago Cubs in 1962. He died on January 7 at the age of 79 from glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer. He was a resident of El Campo, Texas, where he was born and where most of his family still lives. His family … Continue reading Obituary: George Gerberman (1942-2022)
Here lies Paul Toth, who pitched for parts of three seasons in the 1960s. He was part of one of the most infamous trades in baseball history, and he never returned to the majors after it took place. Toth played for the St. Louis Cardinals (1962) and Chicago Cubs (1962-1964). Paul Louis Toth (rhymes with … Continue reading Grave Story: Paul Toth (1935-1999)
RIP to Cholly Naranjo, a Cuban pitcher whose international playing career included one season in the major leagues. He died on January 13 in Miami at the age of 87. Naranjo, who was living in a nursing home because of dementia, died from complications of COVID-19. Journalist Nick Diunte wrote a beautiful tribute to Naranjo, … Continue reading Obituary: Cholly Naranjo (1934-2022)
RIP to Eddie Basinski, who was the second-oldest living ballplayer and one of the last surviving members of the Brooklyn Dodgers. He died on January 8 in Gladstone, Ore., at the age of 99. He had lived in a care facility there for the last seven years after being diagnosed with dementia. Basinski played for … Continue reading Obituary: Eddie Basinski (1922-2022)
RIP to Don Dillard, who was an outfielder and pinch-hitting specialist for six seasons in the late 1950s and '60s. He died on his 85th birthday in Greenwood, S.C., on January 8. He was a resident of Orchard Park, S.C., and died at Hospice & Palliative Care of the Piedmont. Dillard played for the Cleveland … Continue reading Obituary: Don Dillard (1937-2022)
Here lies William "Heinie" Heltzel, who had a 13-year career in professional baseball that included a couple of stops in the major leagues during World War II. Heltzel, a shortstop and third baseman, played for the Boston Braves (1943) and Philadelphia Phillies (1944). William Wade Heltzel was born in York, Pa., on December 21, 1913. … Continue reading Grave Story: Heinie Heltzel (1913-1998)
RIP to Carl Linhart, one of just a handful of Czech ballplayers in MLB history. He died on January 4 at Anderson Hospital in Maryville, Ill. The long-time resident of Granite City (a St. Louis suburb on the Illinois side of the border) was 92 years old. Linhart played in 3 games for the 1952 … Continue reading Obituary: Carl Linhart (1929-2022)
RIP to Tommy Matchick, an infielder who was part of the 1968 World Champion Tigers. He died on January 4 in Ohio, where he and his family lived, at the age of 78. Matchick played for the Detroit Tigers (1967-69), Boston Red Sox (1970), Kansas City Royals (1970), Milwaukee Brewers (1971) and Baltimore Orioles (1972). … Continue reading Obituary: Tommy Matchick (1943-2022)
RIP Baseball 