RIP to Grant Jackson, an 18-year major league pitcher who was a World Series hero for the 1979 "We Are Family" Pirates. Jackson died on February 2 at Canonsburg Hospital in Canonsburg, Pa., from COVID-19 complications. He was 78 years old. In his career, Jackson played for the Philadelphia Phillies (1965-70), Baltimore Orioles (1971-76), New … Continue reading Obituary: Grant Jackson (1942-2021)
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)
RIP to George Spriggs, who came into professional baseball in the waning days of the Negro Leagues and broke into Major League Baseball as a 28-year-old rookie. He died on December 22 at the age of 83. At the time of his death, Spriggs was living in Prince Frederick, Md. He played for the Pittsburgh … Continue reading Obituary: George Spriggs (1937-2020)
RIP to infielder Billy Harris, a star high school and college athlete in his native North Carolina and a part of the original Kansas City Royals team. He died suddenly on December 20 at the age of 77 in his home at Hampstead, N.C. Harris played for the Cleveland Indians (1968) and Kansas City Royals … Continue reading Obituary: Billy Harris (1943-2020)
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)
Here lies Don O'Riley, who pitched in the majors for two seasons. His playing career was cut short by a motorcycle accident, and his life, tragically, was cut short by gun violence. O’Riley played for the Kansas City Royals (1969-70). Donald Lee O’Riley was born on March 12, 1945 in Topeka, Kan. He went to … Continue reading Grave Story: Don O’Riley (1945-1997)
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 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 Jim Frey, a manager who led two teams into the postseason and was named Manager of the Year for breaking the Cubs' long postseason dry spell. He died at his home in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., on April 12. He was 88 years old. Frey managed the Kansas City Royals (1980-81) and Chicago … Continue reading Obituary: Jim Frey (1931-2020)
RIP to Jarrod Patterson, a corner infielder who had two brief stints in the major leagues as well as a pretty substantial career in the minors and in indie ball. Patterson, 46, was killed in a car accident on March 11. He played for the Detroit Tigers (2001) and Kansas City Royals (2003). According to … Continue reading Obituary: Jarrod Patterson (1973-2020)
