RIP to Hector Lopez, an infielder/outfielder who won two World Series with the Yankees in the 1960s. He also became a barrier-breaking minor-league manager. Lopez died on September 29, in Hudson, Fla., from lung cancer He was 93 years old. Lopez played for the Kansas City Athletics (1955-59) and New York Yankees (1959-66). Hector Headley … Continue reading Obituary: Hector Lopez (1929-2022)
RIP to Rocky Craig, an outfielder with a six-year career in the minor leagues in the 1970s with the Royals, Astros and Padres organizations. He died on March 14 at the age of 72, after a recurrence of lung cancer. A friend and former teammate let me know of his passing and requested a remembrance … Continue reading Obituary: Rocky Craig (1950-2022)
RIP to Ethan Blackaby, who played briefly for the Milwaukee Braves in 1962 and 1964. He died on January 16 at the age of 81. No information about his passing has been made available as of this writing, but former pitcher John D'Acquisto said in a Facebook post that Blackaby has been suffering from Alzheimer's … Continue reading Obituary: Ethan Blackaby (1940-2022)
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 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)
The body was found in March, 1951, not far from where he worked for several years. He was hit by a car near Gooch Mill, about 400 yards from Sherman Field, judging by the trail of blood. He made it to the outer reaches of the field before he collapsed, and that was where his … Continue reading Requiem for Slumpy
Here lies Sammy Strang, who could have been a world-renowned operatic singer or a decorated war hero. Instead, thanks to a love of baseball, he became one of the game’s earliest pinch-hitters. His long association with the game also led to long tenures as a coach and a minor-league team owner. He played for the … Continue reading Grave Story: Sammy Strang (1876-1932)
RIP to Fausto Segura, a right-handed relief pitcher who had just completed his third season in the team's minor league system. He was killed in a motorcycle accident on January 12 while in the Dominican Republic. Segura was 23 years old. https://twitter.com/Nationals/status/1216784496240054273?s=20 Sportswriter Héctor Gómez broke the news on Z Digital. According to reports, Segura … Continue reading Nationals prospect Fausto Segura killed in Dominican Republic
RIP to Ed Sprague Sr., a relief pitcher who was a part of the original Oakland A's teams. The A's reported on January 10 that he had died at the age of 74. Sprague pitched for the Athletics (1968-69), Cincinnati Reds (1971-73), St. Louis Cardinals (1973) and Milwaukee Brewers (1973-76). His son, Ed Jr., was … Continue reading Obituary: Ed Sprague Sr. (1945-2020)
RIP to Ryan Costello, an infielder in the Minnesota Twins organization. It was announced that Costello died in Auckland, New Zealand, overnight. The 23-year-old had arrived in the country last week in preparation to play with the Auckland Tuatara of the Australian Baseball League over the winter. Initial reports indicate that Costello died of natural … Continue reading Twins prospect dies in New Zealand
RIP Baseball 