RIP to Foster Castleman, an infielder for five seasons in the National League and a part of the 1954 World Champion Giants. He died on November 9 at Freedom Pointe in The Villages, Fla. He was 89 years old. Castleman played for the New York Giants (1954-57) and Baltimore Orioles (1958). Foster Ephraim Castleman Jr. … Continue reading Obituary: Foster Castleman (1931-2020)
RIP to Jack McMahan, a left-handed pitcher who split the 1956 season playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Athletics. He died on October 16 at the age of 88. Jack Wally McMahan was born on July 25, 1932, in Hot Springs, Ark. He attended Hot Springs High, where he was a kicker and … Continue reading Obituary: Jack McMahan (1932-2020)
Here lies Ralph Miller, who pitched for two unremarkable seasons in the end of the 19th Century. What was remarkable about Miller was the fact that he lived to celebrate his 100th birthday – he was baseball’s first centenarian. Miller played for the Brooklyn Bridegrooms (1898) and Baltimore Orioles (1899). There have been three “Ralph … Continue reading Grave Story: Ralph Miller (1873-1973)
RIP to Mike McCormick, an All-Star pitcher and the first Cy Young Award winner in Giants history. He died on June 13 at his home in Cornelius, N.C. He was 81 years old and had been battling Parkinson's disease for several years. McCormick played for the New York/San Francisco Giants (1956-62, 1967-70), Baltimore Orioles (1963-64), … Continue reading Obituary: Mike McCormick (1938-2020)
RIP to John Miller, who won a World Series championship with the 1966 Orioles before shoulder injuries brought his career to an early end. He also worked for nearly three decades in the Baltimore Fire Department. Miller died on June 5 from congestive heart failure at Carroll Hospital in Winchester, Md. He had recently celebrated … Continue reading Obituary: John Miller (1941-2020)
RIP to Steve Dalkowski, a flame-throwing pitcher who is one of the more famous players to never actually play in the major leagues. He died on April 19 in New Britain, Conn., at the age of 80 from COVID-19. Reported to be baseball's fastest pitcher, Dalkowski pitched in the minor leagues from 1957-65. The legend … Continue reading Obituary: Steve Dalkowski (1939-2020)
RIP to Bob Oliver, a slugging corner infielder/outfielder who played for five teams in the 1960s and '70s. His son, Darren Oliver, also had a 20-year career as a pitcher and works in the Texas Rangers front office. Bob Oliver died on April 19 in Rio Linda, Calif. He was 77 years old. Oliver played … Continue reading Obituary: Bob Oliver (1943-2020)
RIP to Dick Hyde, a relief pitcher whose best season earned him the AL Sophomore of the Year Award. He died on April 15, 2020 at Bickford of Champaign Memory Care in Champaign, Ill. He was 91 years old. Hyde pitched for the Washington Senators (1955, 1957-60) and Baltimore Orioles (1961). Dick Hyde was born … Continue reading Obituary: Dick Hyde (1928-2020)
RIP to Ed Farmer, who had a long career as a MLB career and an even longer career as a radio broadcaster for the White Sox. He died on Wednesday night, April 1, from idiopathic cardiomyopathy, per his family, though he had been suffering from kidney problems for several years. (See comments from his sister … Continue reading Obituary: Ed Farmer (1949-2020)
RIP to Gil Coan, an outfielder who spent parts of 11 seasons in the major leagues in the 1940s and '50s. He died on February 4 in Hendersonville, N.C., at the age of 94. At the time of his death, he was one of the oldest living baseball players and the oldest surviving New York … Continue reading Obituary: Gil Coan (1922-2020)
