If you go to Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis, you will find that there is indeed a lake… and woods. The lake, apart from being a peaceful place to sit, has also been a place where cremains are scattered. That’s what I’m assuming at least, because if you search on Lakewood’s website for the final resting … Continue reading Grave Story: Yip Owens (1886-1958)
Here lies Don Wheeler, a catcher who played one year in the major leagues, with the 1949 Chicago White Sox. His last appearance in the minor leagues as a player came eight years after he thought he’d retired. Donald “Scott” Wheeler (he picked up the nickname due to his Scottish heritage) was born in Minneapolis … Continue reading Grave Story: Don Wheeler (1922-2003)
Here lies Fred Hancock, whose 14-year professional baseball career included one season with the Chicago White Sox in 1949 as a backup infielder. Fred Hancock was born in Allenport, Pa., on March 28, 1920. He attended Charleroi High School and made his pro baseball debut in 1939 for the Lake Charles Skippers of the Louisiana-based … Continue reading Grave Story: Fred Hancock (1920-1986)
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)
It has been reported on Facebook that Barry Latman, an All-Star pitcher in the 1950s and '60s, has died at the age of 82. A post from an autograph seeker in the group Baseball Player Passings shows a note from a member of Latman's family that reads: "VERY SORRY. Barry was ill for a long … Continue reading Obituary: Barry Latman (1936-2019)
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)
R.I.P. to Scott Sanderson, an All-Star pitcher who won 163 games over a 19-year career. He died today, April 11, at the age of 62. His death was first reported on Twitter by Daily Herald columnist Barry Rozner. https://twitter.com/BarryRozner/status/1116429821398089728 Canadian journalist/author/Expos historian Danny Gallagher had reported more than a year ago that Sanderson had his … Continue reading Obituary: Scott Sanderson (1956-2019)
R.I.P. to Mike Colbern, a former All-American at Arizona State University who had a brief career in the majors with the White Sox. He also became one of the key figures in a lawsuit against Major League Baseball concerning pension for ballplayers. The Arizona Republic reported that he died recently at the age of 63. … Continue reading Obituary: Mike Colbern (1955-2019)
R.I.P. to John Romano, a catcher whose 10-year included four All-Star appearances over two seasons. He died on March 4 at the age of 84. Romano played for the Chicago White Sox (1958-59; 1965-66), Cleveland Indians (1960-64) and St. Louis Cardinals (1967). John Romano was born on August 23, 1934 in Hoboken, N.J. He was … Continue reading Obituary: John Romano (1934-2019)
Here lies Joe DeSa, a first baseman/outfielder who neverreally got a fair shake in the majors, no matter how well he performed in AAA.He played for the St. Louis Cardinals (1980) and Chicago White Sox (1985). Joe DeSa was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on July 27, 1959. His uncle, John Matias, played briefly for the … Continue reading Grave Story: Joe DeSa (1959-1986)
