RIP to Juan Pizarro, who had one of the greatest pitching careers of any Puerto Rican pitcher. Counting all his work in the major leagues, minor leagues and foreign leagues, he is estimated to have won over 400 games. He died on February 18, 2021, in Puerto Rico at the age of 84. According to … Continue reading Obituary: Juan Pizarro (1937-2021)
RIP to Hank Aaron, simply one of the greatest baseball players in the history of the game. His family announced that he died on January 22 at the age of 86. Aaron's death sent shockwaves through the entire baseball community and beyond. There aren't many people whose passing can elicit strong, heartfelt statements from the … Continue reading Obituary: Hank Aaron (1934-2021)
RIP to Hall of Famer Phil Niekro, one of the best knuckleball pitchers in baseball history and a 300-game winner. He died in his sleep on December 26 at the age of 81 after battling cancer the last few years of his life. No place of death was immediately available, but he lived in Flowery … Continue reading Obituary: Phil Niekro (1939-2020)
RIP to two-time All-Star infielder and in-demand hitting coach Denis Menke. His family announced that he died in Tarpon Springs, Fla., on December 1. He was 80 years old. Menke played for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves (1962-67), Houston Astros (1968-71, 1974) and Cincinnati Reds (1972-73). Denis John Menke was born in Bancroft, Iowa, on July 21, … Continue reading Obituary: Denis Menke (1940-2020)
RIP to "Sweet" Lou Johnson, an outfielder for five different teams in his 8-season career and the man behind some 1965 Dodger heroics. He died days after his 86th birthday, on October 1 -- other reports list the date of his death as September 30 or September 23. A cause of death was not listed, … Continue reading Obituary: Lou Johnson (1934-2020)
RIP to All-Star and Gold Glove second baseman Frank Bolling. He died in his hometown of Mobile, Ala. on July 11 at the age of 88. He was diagnosed with cancer almost five years ago. Bolling played for the Detroit Tigers (1954-60) and Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves (1961-66). His older brother Milt Bolling (1930-2013) also played in … Continue reading Obituary: Frank Bolling (1931-2020)
RIP to Arnold Umbach, a pitcher in the Braves organization at the time the team was making the move to Atlanta. He died on May 30 in Auburn, Ala. He was 77 years old and had been battling Parkinson's disease. Umbach played for the Milwaukee Braves (1964) and Atlanta Braves (1966). Arnold Umbach Jr. was … Continue reading Obituary: Arnold Umbach (1942-2020)
RIP to Bill Bartholomay, the former owner of the Braves who moved the team to Atlanta. He died on March 25 after a brief illness at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Doctors, according to the Atlanta Constitution-Journal, reported that he suffered from a respiratory infection that was not the coronavirus COVID-19. He was 91 years old. The … Continue reading Obituary: Bill Bartholomay (1928-2020)
RIP to Johnny Antonelli, an All-Star pitcher and World Series who bridged the era between the New York and San Francisco Giants. He died on Feb. 28 at the age of 89. Antonelli pitched for the Boston/Milwaukee Braves (1948-50, 1953, 1961), New York/San Francisco Giants (1954-1960) and Cleveland Indians (1961). News of his passing hit … Continue reading Obituary: Johnny Antonelli (1930-2020)
Here lies Ernie Johnson, a beloved member of the Atlanta Braves family. In his playing days, he was a pretty good relief pitcher. However, he made his fame as an announcer for the Atlanta Braves for decades, taking Braves fandom nationwide thanks to the TBS superstation. Johnson played for the Boston/Milwaukee Braves (1950, 1952-58) and … Continue reading Grave Story: Ernie Johnson (1924-2011)
