Here lies Luke Appling, who was one of the best shortstops in the game for 20 years. He was a 7-time All-Star, a 2-time batting champion and a member of the Hall of Fame. Appling played his entire career with the Chicago White Sox, from 1930-50. Lucius Appling was born in High Point, N.C., on … Continue reading Grave Story: Luke Appling (1907-1991)
RIP to Jackie Hernandez, an infielder for 9 seasons in the majors and a part of the 1971 World Series champion Pirates. His teammate Manny Sanguillen announced on Twitter that Hernandez died on October 12 at the age of 79. His SABR biography, written by Jose Ramirez and Rory Costello, states that he was diagnosed … Continue reading Obituary: Jackie Hernandez (1940-2019)
Here lies Ossie Bluege, a lifer for the Washington Senators. Not only was he an All-Star third baseman for the team from 1922-39, but he also served as a coach, a manager and a front-office executive. His brother Otto also played pro ball and played in Cincinnati in 1932 and 1933. Oswald Louis Bluege was … Continue reading Grave Story: Ossie Bluege (1900-1985)
RIP to Sammy Taylor, a catcher for 6 seasons in the late '50s and early '60s. He died on October 8 at the age of 86 in his home town of Woodruff, S.C. Taylor played for the Chicago Cubs (1958-62), New York Mets (1962-63), Cincinnati Reds (1963) and Cleveland Indians (1963). Samuel Taylor was born … Continue reading Obituary: Sammy Taylor (1933-2019)
RIP to Art Clarkson, a sports legend in Birmingham, Ala. He helped rescue the Birmingham Barons from baseball oblivion and also brought the Birmingham Bulls, a minor-league hockey team, to the city. He died on October 7 at the age of 78. The Bulls reported that Clarkson had stepped down as managing partner of the … Continue reading Obituary: Art Clarkson (1941-2019)
Here lies Howard Fox, who spent nearly 60 years with the Minnesota Twins in a management capacity. Starting as a minor-league general manager, he rose through the ranks and helped to build the Twins into a World Series Champion team. Howard Tall Fox was born in Emporia, Va., on September 4, 1920. He grew up … Continue reading Grave Story: Howard Fox (1920-2011)
RIP to Andy Etchebarren, a two-time All-Star catcher and a long-time minor-league manager. He died on October 5 at the age of 76. Etchebarren played for the Baltimore Orioles (1962, 1965-1975), California Angels (1975-1977) and Milwaukee Brewers (1978). He managed in the minor leagues and in independent baseball until 2012. https://twitter.com/yorkrevolution/status/1180649588442779650?s=20 Andy Etchebarren was born … Continue reading Obituary: Andy Etchebarren (1943-2019)
RIP to Bob Tufts, a relief pitcher for three seasons in the early 1980s. He died from complications related to multiple myeloma treatment on Oct.4. He had been documenting his battle with cancer on his Twitter account, @TuftsB. While in a hospital for stem cell treatment, Tufts developed pneumonia and multiple infections that spread to … Continue reading Obituary: Bob Tufts (1955-2019)
Here lies Tom “Tink” Turner, who got his one-game career in major-league baseball the old-fashioned way: he asked for it. Yes, things were a little different in baseball in the 1910s. Turner pitched in one game for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1915 and parlayed that into a long career as a scout and minor-league executive. … Continue reading Grave Story: Tom “Tink” Turner (1890-1962)
Here lies Spencer Harris, who had a brief, 4-year career in the majors. That short description doesn’t even begin to do justice to his professional career, as Harris played in professional baseball for almost 30 years and retired as one of the greatest hitters in the history of the minor leagues. Harris was an outfielder … Continue reading Grave Story: Spencer Harris (1900-1982)
