RIP to Ron Johnson, who had a very successful career as a minor-league manager after a brief career in the major leagues in the 1980s. He died on January 26 at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro, Tenn., at the age of 64 from complications of COVID-19. Johnson played for the Kansas City Royals (1982-83) … Continue reading Obituary: Ron Johnson (1956-2021)
The death of Charley Pride left a giant hole in the heart of country music. He was the genre’s first African-American star, and decades later, still one of a handful of people of color to have any kind of lasting success as a country singer. Despite enduring a stream of racist behavior from country music … Continue reading Charley Pride and Nashville’s lethal ignorance
Ever wonder what it's like writing baseball-related obituaries in 2020? In a word, it's been exhausting. Let's use this week as an example. I wrote and published stories on Tommy Sandt and Bill Spanswick on December 5 and 7, respectively. While I was working on those, reports came out that that Lorenzo "Chico" Fernandez died, … Continue reading 2020 was as bad as you thought it was
RIP to Lindy McDaniel, who for more than 20 years was one of the game's top relief pitchers. He died on November 14 at an urgent care center in Carrollton, Texas, from COVID-19. He was 84 years old. McDaniel played for the St. Louis Cardinals (1955-62), Chicago Cubs (1963-65), San Francisco Giants (1966-68), New York … Continue reading Obituary: Lindy McDaniel (1935-2020)
RIP to Rick Baldwin, who was a reliever for three seasons with the Mets in the 1970s. He died on October 30 due to complications of COVID-19. He was 67 years old. Baldwin played for the New York Mets from 1975-1977. Baldwin and his wife, Sherry, were pastors at the One Church St. John's Campus … Continue reading Obituary: Rick Baldwin (1953-2020)
RIP to Jay Johnstone, who had a 20-year career as a outfielder and a well-earned reputation as one of the game's all-time great characters and pranksters. He died on September 26 at the age of 74. He had been living with dementia and was living at a nursing home in Granada Hills, Calif. when he … Continue reading Obituary: Jay Johnstone (1945-2020)
RIP to Tom Seaver, a Hall of Fame pitcher and generally recognized as the greatest ever Met. He died on August 31 in Calistoga, Calif., at the age of 75. His family announced that he had passed away from complications of COVID-19 and Lewy body dementia. In March of 2019, his family had announced that … Continue reading Obituary: Tom Seaver (1944-2020)
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)
