Here lies Jim Keesey, who had a couple of cups of coffee in the major leagues in the 1920s. However, he was a true baseball lifer, working in the minor leagues as a player, manager and scout, right up until the day he died. Keesey played for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1925 and 1930. James … Continue reading Grave Story: Jim Keesey (1902-1951)
RIP to Billy DeMars, who was one of the last surviving members of two defunct teams and a former big-league coach for nearly two decades. He died on December 10 at the age of 95 in Clearwater, Fla. DeMars played for the Philadelphia Athletics (1948) and St. Louis Browns (1950-51). After a few years of … Continue reading Obituary: Billy DeMars (1925-2020)
RIP to Hal Raether, who was one of the last surviving members of the Philadelphia Athletics. He died on September 26 at the age of 87. Per Baseball Reference, there are now six surviving Philadelphia A's alumni. Raether pitched for the Philadelphia A's in 1954 and Kansas City Athletics in 1957. Harold Herman Raether was … Continue reading Obituary: Hal Raether (1932-2020)
Here lies Waite Hoyt, who was a rarity in baseball – a teenage phenom who actually lived up to his potential. Hoyt’s 21-year career included stops with the New York Giants (1918, 1932), Boston Red Sox (1919-20), New York Yankees (1921-30), Detroit Tigers (1930-31), Philadelphia Athletics (1931), Brooklyn Dodgers (1932, 1937-38) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1933-37). … Continue reading Grave Story: Waite Hoyt (1899-1984)
RIP to Bill Oster, a left-handed pitcher who played briefly with the 1954 Philadelphia Athletics. He died on June 6 at the age of 87. According to Baseball Reference's Bullpen, there are now seven surviving members of the Philadelphia Athletics. Eddie Robinson is the oldest, having been born on December 15, 1920. With the passing … Continue reading Obituary: Bill Oster (1933-2020)
Here lies Bill Wambsganss, a deadball era infielder who is best known for performing an unassisted triple play during the 1920 World Series – a feat that has never been duplicated in the postseason. Wambsganss played for the Cleveland Naps/Indians (1914-1923), Boston Red Sox (1924-25) and Philadelphia Athletics (1926). Bill Wambsganss was born on March … Continue reading Grave Story: Bill Wambsganss (1894-1985)
RIP to George Yankowski, who was one of baseball's oldest players and one of its few surviving veterans of World War II. He died on February 25 at the age of 97 in The Villages, Sumpter County, Fla. Author Doug Gladstone, who initially reported his passing, has been active in speaking out for the handful … Continue reading Obituary: George Yankowski (1922-2020)
RIP to Neal Watlington, who was one of the game's oldest players and one of a handful of surviving members of the Philadelphia Athletics. He died on December 29, 2019, just four days after his 97th birthday. Watlington, a catcher, played for the A's in 1953. While he seems that he didn't like to talk … Continue reading Obituary: Neal Watlington (1922-2019)
Here lies Lou Limmer, a hard-hitting first baseman who had two seasons in the big leagues and who was a part of historic moment in Jewish baseball history and Philadelphia Athletics history. Limmer played for the Athletics in 1951 and 1954. (Special thanks to Harry Shpelfogel, RIP Baseball reader, who sent me the photo of … Continue reading Grave Story: Lou Limmer (1925-2007)
Here lies Billy Hitchcock, whose life in baseball included stints as a player, coach, manager and minor-league executive. As an infielder, Hitchcock played for the Detroit Tigers (1942, 1946, 1953), Washington Senators (1946), St. Louis Browns (1947), Boston Red Sox (1948-1949) and Philadelphia Athletics (1950-1952). He also served as a manager for the Tigers (1960), … Continue reading Grave Story: Billy Hitchcock (1916-2006)
RIP Baseball 