Here lies Gustave Gruner, who for a brief time was a baseball owner. How brief? About three days in 1899. Still, that’s enough to make Gruner a part of the St. Louis Cardinals ownership chain. Gustave Adolph Gruner was born on December 3, 1847 in Ittlingen in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. He and his family emigrated to … Continue reading Grave Story: Gustave Gruner (1847-1909)
RIP to Horace Clarke, a long-time second baseman and one of only 14 ballplayers to come from the U.S. Virgin Islands. He died on August 5 at the age of 81 at his home in Laurel, Md. Per the New York Times, Clarke died from complications of Alzheimer's disease. Clarke played for the New York … Continue reading Obituary: Horace Clarke (1939-2020)
RIP to Bobby Prescott, a Panamanian power hitter who had a brief stay in the major leagues after years of productivity in the minors. He died on August 2 at the age of 89. Prescott played for the Kansas City Athletics in 1961. George Bertrand "Bobby" Prescott was born in Colon, Panama on March 27, … Continue reading Obituary: Bobby Prescott (1931-2020)
RIP to Bert Thiel, who pitched in 4 games for the Boston Braves in 1952. He died at his home in Pella, Wis., on July 31 at the age of 96. Thiel was one of two surviving members of the Boston Braves -- Del Crandall being the other. Maynard Bert Thiel was born in Marian, … Continue reading Obituary: Bert Thiel (1926-2020)
Here lies Frank Bell, whose major league career lasted 10 games in 1885. After baseball, he doled out violence as a security guard until the violence finally caught up with him. Bell played for the Brooklyn Grays of the American Association. He also had a brother, Charlie Bell, who pitched for several teams in the … Continue reading Grave Story: Frank Bell (1862-1891)
RIP to John McNamara, who managed six different teams as part of a nearly 20-year big-league career -- most notably the 1986 Red Sox that came within an out of winning the World Series. He died on July 29 in Tennessee at the age of 88. McNamara had a 14-year career in the minor leagues … Continue reading Obituary: John McNamara (1932-2020)
Here lies Cliff Carroll, a speedy outfielder from the 19th Century. He was also the victim of one of the greatest wardrobe malfunctions in baseball history. Carroll played for the Providence Grays (1882-85), Washington Nationals (1886-87), Pittsburgh Alleghenys (1888), Chicago Colts (1890-91). St. Louis Browns (1892) and Boston Beaneaters (1893). Samuel Clifford Carroll was born … Continue reading Grave Story: Cliff Carroll (1859-1923)
RIP to Bob Sebra, who pitched for five different teams in the 1980s. He died on July 22 at the age of 58 from complications related to multi-visceral transplant surgeries in 2019. Sebra spent most of the last year of his life in the intensive care unit at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, according to … Continue reading Obituary: Bob Sebra (1961-2020)
Here lies Fred Waterman, the third baseman on the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings, baseball’s first openly professional team. He also had a productive career in baseball before and after the Red Stockings. Sadly, he died in poverty and largely forgotten in the city where he helped make baseball history. Waterman played in the National Association … Continue reading Grave Story: Fred Waterman (1845-1899)
RIP to Tony Taylor, a long-time Phillie and an All-Star second baseman. He died on July 17 from complication from a stroke suffered in 2019. He was 84 years old. Taylor played for the Chicago Cubs (1958-60), Philadelphia Phillies (1960-71, 1974-76) and Detroit Tigers (1971-73). Taylor attended the annual Phillies alumni weekend event in August … Continue reading Obituary: Tony Taylor (1935-2020)
