RIP to Dave Wickersham, whose pitching career began and ended in Kansas City -- for two different teams. He died in Overland Park, Kan., on June 19 at the age of 86. One of the news outlets that reported his death was Fox 4 News in Kansas City, where his daughter Carey is employed as … Continue reading Obituary: Dave Wickersham (1935-2022)
Here lies Fern Bell, an outfielder who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1939 and 1940. After his baseball career, he became a “missing” ballplayer, all the while living out his life as a golf pro out West. Fernando Jerome Lee Bell was born in Ada, Okla., on January 21, 1913. At least, that’s what … Continue reading Grave Story: Fern Bell (1913-2000)
RIP to Gene Clines, who was part of a world championship Pirates team during his 10-year playing career as an outfielder. He also had a substantial career as a major-league coach and remained in uniform into the 2000s. He died on January 27 at the age of 75. Clines played for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1970-74), … Continue reading Obituary: Gene Clines (1946-2022)
RIP to Roger Samuels, who transformed from a wild starting pitcher to an effective reliever relatively late in his career, earning a couple of callups to the major leagues. He died on January 17 at his home in San Jose, Calif., at the age of 61. He had been battling kidney cancer for several years. … Continue reading Obituary: Roger Samuels (1961-2022)
RIP to Cholly Naranjo, a Cuban pitcher whose international playing career included one season in the major leagues. He died on January 13 in Miami at the age of 87. Naranjo, who was living in a nursing home because of dementia, died from complications of COVID-19. Journalist Nick Diunte wrote a beautiful tribute to Naranjo, … Continue reading Obituary: Cholly Naranjo (1934-2022)
RIP to Eddie Basinski, who was the second-oldest living ballplayer and one of the last surviving members of the Brooklyn Dodgers. He died on January 8 in Gladstone, Ore., at the age of 99. He had lived in a care facility there for the last seven years after being diagnosed with dementia. Basinski played for … Continue reading Obituary: Eddie Basinski (1922-2022)
RIP to Bill Virdon, who was both an award-winning outfielder and an award-winning manager in a baseball career that spanned six decades. He died on November 22 in Springfield, Mo., at the age of 90. He and his wife, Shirley, had recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. His passing was announced by the Pittsburgh Pirates, … Continue reading Obituary: Bill Virdon (1931-2021)
RIP to Dave Roberts, the Panamanian outfielder/first baseman who played in the National League in the 1960s. He died on October 2 in Huntsville Ala., at the age of 88. Roberts played for the Houston Colt .45s (1962, 1964) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1966) before embarking on a successful career in Japan with the Sankei/Yakult Swallows … Continue reading Obituary: Dave L. Roberts (1933-2021)
RIP to pitcher Chuck Hartenstein, a college star who went on to have a 6-year career in the majors. He died on October 2 at the age of 79. Hartenstein played for the Chicago Cubs (1965-68), Pittsburgh Pirates (1969-70), St. Louis Cardinals (1970), Boston Red Sox (1970) and Toronto Blue Jays (1977). Charles Oscar Hartenstein … Continue reading Obituary: Chuck Hartenstein (1942-2021)
RIP to All-Star pitcher Mudcat Grant, the first African-American to win 20 games in the American League. According to the Cleveland Indians, Grant died peacefully in Los Angeles on June 11. He was 85 years old. Over his long life, Grant involved himself in a number of off-the-field activities, including announcing, charity work, writing and … Continue reading Obituary: Jim “Mudcat” Grant (1935-2021)
RIP Baseball 