RIP to Stefan Wever, a very good pitcher in the minor leagues who injured his rotator cuff in his one and only major-league appearance. Multiple online reports reported his death on December 27, 2022, at the age of 64. No cause or place of death had been released, but a Facebook post from a few … Continue reading Obituary: Stefan Wever (1958-2022)
RIP to Hall of Fame pitcher Gaylord Perry, who won more than 300 games with more than 3,500 strikeouts and won a Cy Young Award in each league. And yes, he is probably the most famous spitball pitcher who ever lived, though his repertoire went well beyond saliva. Perry died in his home in Gaffney, … Continue reading Obituary: Gaylord Perry (1938-2022)
RIP to Jack Reed, a backup Yankees outfielder who earned the nickname of "Mantle's Legs" because he frequently replaced Mickey Mantle in the late innings of ballgames. Reed, a resident of Silver City, Miss., for most of his life, died on November 10 at the age of 89. He played for the New York Yankees … Continue reading Obituary: Jack Reed (1933-2022)
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 Lee Thomas, who was an All-Star as a ballplayer and the architect of a pennant-winning team as a baseball executive. He died on August 31 at the age of 86 in his home in Chesterfield, Mo. He had been on hospice care following a long illness. Thomas played for the New York Yankees … Continue reading Obituary: Lee Thomas (1936-2022)
Here lies George Halas – better known as “Papa Bear.” He is the founder of the Chicago Bears, its longest tenured owner and coach, and arguably one of the more important figures in the history of professional football. So why are we talking about him on a baseball history website? Because before George Halas made … Continue reading Grave Story: George Halas (1895-1983)
RIP to Bill Burbach, the first player ever taken by the Yankees in the first-ever Amateur Draft in 1965. He died on July 20 from natural causes in the Sycamore Shoals Hospital in Elizabethton, Tenn. Burbach, a Johnson City resident, was 74 years old. He pitched for the New York Yankees from 1969-71. Prior to … Continue reading Obituary: Bill Burbach (1947-2022)
RIP to Dick Schofield, a one-time “bonus baby” and part of a long baseball family dynasty. He died on July 11, at 10:30am, at his residence in Springfield, Ill. He was 87 years old. Schofield played for the St. Louis Cardinals (1953-58, 1968, 1971), Pittsburgh Pirates (1958-1965), San Francisco Giants (1965-66), New York Yankees (1966), … Continue reading Obituary: Dick Schofield (1935-2022)
Here lies Cory Lidle, a starting pitcher for seven teams over a 9-year career in the 1990s and 2000s. His final career appearance came in the playoffs, shortly before his tragic death in a plane crash. Lidle played for the New York Mets (1997), Tampa Bay Devil Rays (1999-2000), Oakland Athletics (2001-2002), Toronto Blue Jays … Continue reading Grave Story: Cory Lidle (1972-2006)
Here lies Lee Stine, who started pitching professionally at an incredibly young age and never really took a break for years afterward. He was also a very good hitter and may have had a better career as an outfielder if he started at it from the beginning. Stine played for the Chicago White Sox (1934-35), … Continue reading Grave Story: Lee Stine (1913-2005)
RIP Baseball 