R.I.P. to Luis Mercedes, a former Orioles prospect who had a three-year career as an outfielder in the majors. He died on June 30 in his native Dominican Republic after battling kidney problems. He was 51 years old. Mercedes played with the Baltimore Orioles (1991-93) and San Francisco Giants (1993). Luis Mercedes gets his first … Continue reading Obituary: Luis Mercedes (1968-2019)
Here lies Jimmy Williams, a triples-hitting machine in the majors and an outstanding second baseman for the Minneapolis Millers after his MLB career was done. His quick thinking averted a potential baseball tragedy. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1899-1900), Baltimore Orioles (1901-1902), New York Yankees (1903-1907) and St. Louis Browns (1908-1909). Jimmy Williams was … Continue reading Grave Story: Jimmy Williams (1876-1965)
Here lies Sam Shaw, who had a brief and tumultuous pitching career in the 19th Century. His grave was lost for years, as a snafu somewhere along the line had him placed in the wrong cemetery. While his grave is unmarked, at least we know where he is now. Shaw played for the Baltimore Orioles … Continue reading Grave Story: Sam Shaw (1863-1947)
R.I.P. to Kelly Paris, a utility infielder who played with four different teams in the early 1980s. His brother, Bret Paris, wrote on Facebook that Kelly had died from cancer on May 27. He was 61 years old. Paris played for the St. Louis Cardinals (1982), Cincinnati Reds (1983), Baltimore Orioles (1985-86) and Chicago White … Continue reading Obituary: Kelly Paris (1957-2019)
R.I.P. to Brian Bock, a former catcher in the Baltimore Orioles organization. He died unexpectedly on April 22 at the age of 37. Probably his biggest moment in professional baseball came at the 2007 Baseball Hall of Fame game in Cooperstown. Brian Bock was born in Bakersfield, Calif. on August 24, 1981. He graduated from … Continue reading Obituary: Brian Bock (1981-2019)
R.I.P. to Gene Stephens, an outfielder who had a 12-year career in the major leagues from 1952-64. He died on April 27 in Granbury, Texas, at the age of 86. Stephens played for the Boston Red Sox (1952-53; 1955-60), Baltimore Orioles (1960-61); Kansas City Athletics (1961-62) and Chicago White Sox (1963-64). He is one of … Continue reading Obituary: Gene Stephens (1933-2019)
(Editor’s note: I want to thank my Instagram friend Cadavra Scientist for sending me these pics. Follow their work at http://www.instagram.com/cadavrascientist.) Here lies Charlie Buffinton, one of the greatest pitchers of 19th Century baseball and, you could argue, one of the best pitchers not currently a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Buffinton … Continue reading Grave Story: Charlie Buffinton (1861-1907)
RIP to Frank Robinson, a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the only player to win the MVP Award in both the American and National Leagues, the first African-American manager in baseball history, and one of its most underrated superstars. He died on February 7, 2019 at the age of 83. It was … Continue reading Obituary: Frank Robinson (1935-2019)
RIP to Rick Down, a long time minor-league manager and big-league hitting coach for the Yankees, Orioles, Mets and more. He died on January 5 in Las Vegas, Nev. after a lengthy illness. He was 68 years old. Down originally was an outfielder/first baseman in the Montreal Expos farm system. He was drafted in the … Continue reading Obituary: Rick Down (1950-2019)
RIP to Lenny Green, a centerfielder who played from 1957-1968 for five teams. He died on January 6, which was his 86th birthday. Green played for the Baltimore Orioles (1957-59, 1964), Washington Senators (1959-60)/Minnesota Twins (1961-64), Los Angeles Angels (1964), Boston Red Sox (1965-66) and Detroit Tigers (1967-68). Leonard Green was born on January 6, … Continue reading Obituary: Lenny Green (1933-2019)
