Here lies William Hulbert, a baseball pioneer who helped launch the National League and navigated the league through its early growing pains. He also happens to have one of the most famous grave markers of anybody in the baseball world. William Ambrose Hulbert was born on October 23, 1832, in Burlington Flats, N.Y. – about … Continue reading Grave Story: William Hulbert (1832-1882)
RIP to Leo Posada, an outfielder for the Kansas City Athletics from 1960-62. He died on June 23 in Miami from pancreatic cancer. He was 86 years old. His time with the Athletics is just a small part of his baseball history. At a time when ballplayers could come and go between Cuba and the … Continue reading Obituary: Leo Posada (1936-2022)
RIP to Joe Staton, a first baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers for parts of the 1972 and '73 seasons. He was also a long-time community activist and supporter of youth sports in his native Seattle. He died on Mercer Island, Wash., on June 20. He was 74 years old. Joseph Stanton was born … Continue reading Obituary: Joe Staton (1948-2022)
Here lies Cory Lidle, a starting pitcher for seven teams over a 9-year career in the 1990s and 2000s. His final career appearance came in the playoffs, shortly before his tragic death in a plane crash. Lidle played for the New York Mets (1997), Tampa Bay Devil Rays (1999-2000), Oakland Athletics (2001-2002), Toronto Blue Jays … Continue reading Grave Story: Cory Lidle (1972-2006)
RIP to Dave Wickersham, whose pitching career began and ended in Kansas City -- for two different teams. He died in Overland Park, Kan., on June 19 at the age of 86. One of the news outlets that reported his death was Fox 4 News in Kansas City, where his daughter Carey is employed as … Continue reading Obituary: Dave Wickersham (1935-2022)
Lefty Guise should never have reached the major leagues. He suffered what was thought to be a career-ending arm injury when he was 22 years old, but he came back to reach the majors as a 31-year-old rookie. Though his career in the majors lasted just 2 games, he still won a World Series ring. … Continue reading Grave Story: Witt “Lefty” Guise (1908-1968)
Here lies Merrill Combs, an infielder who played about a season’s worth of major-league games spread out across five years and three teams. Combs played for the Boston Red Sox (1947, 1949-50), Washington Senators (1950) and Cleveland Indians (1951-52). Merrill Russell Combs was born in Los Angeles on December 11, 1919. He is listed on … Continue reading Grave Story: Merrill Combs (1919-1981)
RIP to Frank Cipriani, whose brief career as a professional outfielder was followed by long careers as a firefighter and restaurateur in New York. He died on June 7 at the age of 81. Cipriani played for the Kansas City Athletics in 1961. Frank Dominick Cipriani was born in Buffalo on April 14, 1941. He … Continue reading Obituary: Frank Cipriani (1941-2022)
RIP to Mark Schaeffer, who pitched for the Padres out of the bullpen in 1972. It ended up being his final season of professional baseball, but he did contribute to a notable baseball record. He died on June 1 at the age of 73. Mark Philip Schaeffer was born in Santa Monica, Calif., on June … Continue reading Obituary: Mark Schaeffer (1948-2022)
Here lies Hilton Smith, one of the greatest pitchers in the history of the Negro Leagues. And the reason he isn’t celebrated more today is because he was frequently teammates with the greatest pitcher in the history of the Negro Leagues – and who wouldn’t be overshadowed by Satchel Paige? Smith played for the Monroe … Continue reading Grave Story: Hilton Smith (1907-1983)
RIP Baseball 