Necrology

George Alusik was born Feb. 11, 1935 in Ashley, Pa. and made his major league debut on Sept. 11, 1958 for the Detroit Tigers. In his six-year career with the Tigers and the Kansas City Athletics, George held a .256 batting average with 23 home runs, 93 RBIs, and an on base percentage of .333. Alusik passed away on April 20, 2018 in Woodbridge, N.J.

Rudy Árias was born on June 6, 1931 in Las Villas, Cuba and made his big league debut on April 10, 1959 as a left-handed pitcher. A member of the 1959 "Go-Go" White Sox who won the American League pennant, Árias had a solid year in his one major league season, appearing in 34 games and posting a record of 2-0 to compliment an ERA of 4.09. Árias passed away on Jan. 12, 2018.

Bob Bailey was born on Oct. 13, 1942 in Long Beach, Calif. and made his big league debut on Sept. 14, 1962. A highly touted young player out of Wilson High School in Long Beach, Calif., Bailey signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1961, receiving the largest signing bonus in baseball history at the time. Bailey would go on to play for 17 seasons in the major leagues as a third baseman and outfielder, and put together a solid career, notching 1,564 hits and 189 home runs for a career batting average of .257 and 773 RBIs. Bailey passed away on Jan. 9, 2018 in Las Vegas.

Ray Barker was born on March 12, 1936 in Martinsburg, W. Va. and made his big league debut on Sept. 13, 1960 with the Baltimore Orioles. In Barker's seven-year career with the Orioles, Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees, he held a .214 batting average with 44 RBIs and 10 home runs. Barker passed away on May 29, 2018 in West Virginia.

Tony Bartirome was born on May 9, 1932 in Pittsburgh, Pa. and made his MLB debut April 19, 1952 for his hometown Pirates. In his one-year career, Tony had 78 hits, 16 RBIs and scoRed 78 runs. After his playing career he served as a team trainer for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1967-1985 and coached for the Braves from 1986-1988. Bartirome passed away on June 22, 2018 Bradenton, Fla.

Bob Barton was born on July 30, 1941 in Norwood, Ohio and made his big league debut on Sept. 17, 1965 with the San Francisco Giants. A skilled catcher, Barton compiled a total of 1,986 putouts along with 185 assists in his ten-year career. After playing for five seasons with the Giants, Barton spent the last five years of his career between the San Diego Padres and Cincinnati Reds, playing his last big league season in 1974. Barton passed away on Jan. 15, 2018 in Vista, Calif.

Tom Brewer was born on Sept. 3, 1931 in Wadesboro, N.C. and made his big league debut with the Boston Red Sox on April 18, 1954. A right-handed pitcher, Brewer won 91 games during his eight-year career and was a 1956 American League All-Star. Spending his entire career with the Red Sox, Brewer had his best season in 1956 when he went 19-9 with an ERA of 3.50. Brewer passed away on Feb. 15, 2018.

John Briggs was born on Jan. 24, 1934 in Natoma, Calif. and made his debut on April 17, 1956 with the Chicago Cubs. A right-handed pitcher, he played five years in the league and accumulated 150 innings pitched. Briggs passed away on Dec. 25, 2018.

Fred Caligiuri was born on Oct. 22, 1918 in West Hickory, Pa. and made his big league debut on Sept. 3, 1941 with the Philadelphia Athletics. A right-handed pitcher, Caligiuri held a 2.93 ERA in his first of two seasons. Caligiuri passed away on Nov. 30, 2018 in Charlotte, N.C. at the age of 100.  

Marcos Carvajal was born on Aug. 19, 1984 in Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela and made his big league debut on April 6, 2005 with the Colorado Rockies. A right-handed pitcher, Carvajal appeared in 42 games during his career and notched 49 strikeouts in 57 innings pitched. Carvajal passed away on Jan. 24, 2018 in his hometown of Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela. 

José Castillo was born on March 19, 1981 in Las Mercedes, Venezuela and made his MLB debut on April 7, 2004 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. During his five-season career, he played with three big league teams. Castillo passed away on Dec. 6, 2018 in La Morita, Venezuela. 

Ed Charles was born on April 29, 1933 in Daytona Beach, Fla. and made his major league debut on April 11, 1962 with the Kansas City Athletics. A right-handed hitting third baseman, Charles was a part of the New York Mets team that won the 1969 World Series. Considered one of the better players in Kansas City Athletics history, Charles collected 917 hits in eight major league seasons to the tune of a .263 career batting average and a career on-base percentage of .330. Charles passed away on March 15, 2018 in Queens, N.Y.

Don Choate was born on July 2, 1938 in Potosi, Mo. and made his big league debut on Sept. 12, 1960 with the San Francisco Giants. Although he only played in the big leagues for a year due to a back injury, he made a huge impact on his community following his baseball career, living out his passion as a firefighter for 28 years. Choate passed away on Feb. 4, 2018 in Fairview Heights, Ill.

Bill Connors was born Nov. 2, 1941 in Schenectady, N.Y. and made his major league debut on May 3, 1966 for the Chicago Cubs. Connors had a short three-year career, making appearances in 26 games with a total of 43 innings pitched and 24 strikeouts. After his playing career, he started his coaching career in 1971 and coached around the league until 1996 when he landed a position as Vice President of Player Personnel with the New York Yankees. Connors passed away on June 18, 2018 in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Roy Dietzel was born on Jan. 9, 1931 in Baltimore, Md. and made his big league debut on Sept. 2, 1954 with the Washington Senators. Despite breaking his leg three times while in the minor leagues, Dietzel battled through and got his call to the big leagues in 1954. Although he played in the major leagues for just nine games, the right-handed hitting second baseman went 2-for-4 in his first big league game. Following his baseball career, he served as president of his local Little League and Pony League baseball programs. Dietzel passed away on Feb. 3, 2018 in Charlotte, N.C.

John Duffie was born on Oct. 4, 1945 in Greenwood, S.C. and made his major league debut on Sept. 18, 1967. Though he only played in two games in the big leagues, he made two starts and recorded six strikeouts. Duffie passed away on April 19, 2018 in Douglas, Ga.

Don Eddy was born on Oct. 25, 1946 in Mason City, Iowa and made his major league debut on Sept. 7, 1970. Eddy was a right-handed pitcher and pitched two seasons in the Major Leagues posting a 2.31 ERA in 1970 and a 2.38 ERA in 1971. Eddy passed away on Oct. 10, 2018 in Rockwell, Iowa.

Howard Rodney "Doc" Edwards was born on Dec. 10, 1936 in Red Jacket, W.Va and made his debut for the Cleveland Indians on April 21, 1962. Edwards, a catcher, earned his nickname "Doc" while serving in the medical corps in the marines. After retiring, he became a manager with the Philadelphia Phillies and Cleveland Indians, and later took on a coaching position for the New York Mets. Edwards passed away on Aug. 20, 2018 in San Angelo, Texas.

Frank Ernaga was born on Aug. 22, 1930 in Susanville, Calif. and made his debut with the Chicago Cubs on May 24, 1957. Ernaga went on to play two seasons in Major Leagues. Ernaga passed away on April 30, 2018 in Susanville, Calif.

Vaughn Eshelman was born on May 22, 1969 in Philadelphia, Pa. and made his MLB debut for the Boston Red Sox on May 2, 1995. Eshelman went 15-9 during a three-year career in the majors. Eshelman passed away on July 24, 2018 in Magnolia, Texas.

Sammy Esposito was born on Dec. 15, 1931 in Chicago, Ill. and made his MLB debut for the Chicago White Sox on Sept. 28, 1952. Esposito was an infielder in the majors for a decade, almost entirely with the White Sox, backing up Hall of Famers Nellie Fox and Luis Aparicio. Esposito missed part of the 1953 season and all of 1954 due to military service. Esposito passed away on July 9, 2018 in Newland, N.C.

Tom Fletcher was born June 28, 1942 in Elmira, N.Y. and made his MLB debut for the Detroit Tigers on Sept. 12, 1962. Though Tom only pitched two innings in the majors, he was also the father to Darrin Fletcher, a former MLB catcher of 14 years. Fletcher passed away on May 9, 2018 in Oakwood, Ill.

Tito Francona was born on Nov. 4, 1933 in Aliquippa, Pa. and made his major league debut on April 17, 1956 with the Baltimore Orioles. An All-Star in 1961 with the Cleveland Indians, Francona would go on to play for 15 seasons as a first baseman and outfielder. The father of current Indians manager Terry Francona, Tito Francona had the best stretch of his career from 1959 to 1964 while with the Indians, notching 832 hits, 378 RBIs and clubbing 85 homers during that span. Francona passed away on Feb. 13, 2018 in Beaver, Pa.

Al Gallagher was born on Oct. 19, 1945 in San Francisco, Calif. and made his debut on April 7, 1970 with the San Francisco Giants. A third baseman, Gallagher had a career high batting average of .277 in his second season in the league. Gallagher passed away on Dec. 6, 2018 in Fresno, Calif.

Oscar Gamble was born on Dec. 20, 1949 in Ramer, Ala. and slugged 200 home runs during his 17 seasons in the major leagues. A left-handed hitting first baseman, Gamble was a powerful hitter and had his best season in 1977 with the Chicago White Sox as a member of the "South Side Hitmen", clubbing 31 home runs, driving in 83 RBIs and posting a batting average of .297. In 1979, Gamble was traded to the New York Yankees and played there through the 1984 season, riding his left-handed power to a career slugging percentage of .585 at Yankee Stadium. In addition to his ability to crush a baseball, many remember Gamble for his personable nature and his large, recognizable afro that could barely be contained by a helmet or hat. Gamble passed away on Jan. 31, 2018 in Birmingham, Ala.

Harvey Gentry was born on May 27, 1926 in Winston-Salem, N.C. and made his MLB debut for the New York Giants on April 14, 1954. Harvey was a major leaguer for just a brief time for the World Champion New York Giants in 1954. Gentry passed away on July 1, 2018 in Pickerington, Ohio.

Dave Garcia was born on Sept. 15, 1920 in East St. Louis, Ill. Dave spent over 65 years in professional baseball working positions from scout to major league manager. In his six years as a big league manager with the Angels and Indians, he posted a .497 win percentage. Garcia is one of four people to have played, coached or announced professional baseball in eight different decades. Garcia passed away on May 21, 2018 in San Diego, Calif.

Bob Giggie was born on Aug. 13, 1933 in Dorchester, Mass. and made his big league debut on April 18, 1959 for the Milwaukee Braves. Giggie, a right-handed pitcher, appeared in 30 games during his career. He passed away Dec. 9, 2018 in Braintree, Mass. 

Jack Hamilton was born on Dec. 25, 1938 in Burlington, Iowa and made his major league debut on April 13, 1962 for the Philadelphia Phillies. A right-handed pitcher, Hamilton pitched for eight seasons as both a starter and reliever, putting together a record of 32-40 and an ERA of 4.53 over 611.2 innings pitched. Hamilton passed away on Feb. 22, 2018 in Branson, Mo.

Dave Hill was born on Nov. 11, 1937 in New Orleans, La. and made his Major League debut on Aug. 22, 1957 for the Kansas City Athletics and had a brief two-game stay with the Athletics. Hill passed away on Oct. 16, 2018 in Lakeland, Fla.

John Hope was born on Dec. 21, 1970 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and pitched in parts of four seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The former second round draft pick had his best season in 1993 when he posted a 4.03 ERA in 38 innings of work. Hope passed away on April 18, 2018 in his hometown of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Ken Hottman was born May 7, 1948 in Stockton, Calif. and made his major league debut for the Chicago White Sox on Sept. 11, 1971 notching his first major league hit 11 days later against Vida Blue. Hottman passed away on April 16, 2018 in Sacramento, Calif.

Bill Johnson was born on Oct. 6, 1960 in Wilmington, Del. and made his big league debut on Sept. 6, 1983 with the Chicago Cubs. Although his time in the big leagues was brief, Johnson made the most of it, going 1-0 with an ERA of 3.57 in 17.2 innings of work. After his career came to an end in 1986, Johnson continued to show his love for the game by coaching youth baseball in his spare time. Johnson passed away on Jan. 20, 2018 in his hometown of Wilmington, Del.

John Kennedy was born on May 29, 1941 in Chicago, Ill. and made his MLB debut for the Washington Senators on Sept. 5, 1962. Kennedy spent 12 seasons in the major leagues. Kennedy's best year with the bat was when he hit .276/.320/.412 for the Boston Red Sox in 1971; it was his only season with an OPS+ over 100. Kennedy passed away on Aug. 9, 2018 in Peabody, Mass.

Mike Kilkenny was born on April 11, 1945 in Bradford, Canada and made in big league debut on his birthday in 1969 for the Detroit Tigers. In his five-year career with the Tigers, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, and Cleveland Indians, Mike made 139 total appearances, 54 of which were starts. Kilkenny posted a 4.43 ERA in 410 innings pitched, and collected 23 wins. Kilkenny passed away on June 28, 2018 in St. Thomas, Canada.

Bruce Kison was born on Feb. 18, 1950 in Pasco, Wash. and made his debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 4, 1971. In his impressive 15-year career with the Pirates, California Angels and Boston Red Sox, Bruce collected 115 wins, 1073 strikeouts and had a 3.66 ERA in his 380 appearances. In 1971 and 1979, he helped the Pirates to two World Series victories along with appearances in the NLCS in 1972, 1974, 1975 and an ALCS with the Angels in 1982. Kinson passed away on June 2, 2018 in Bradenton, Fla.

Steve Kline was born on Oct. 6, 1947 in Wenatchee, Wash. and made his MLB debut on July 10, 1970 for the New York Yankees. In Kline's six-year career with the Yankees, Indians and Braves, he made appearances in 129 games, 105 of which were starts. Kline had a 3.26 ERA, 240 strikeouts and collected 43 career wins. Kline passed away on June 4, 2018 Chelan, Wash.

Wayne Krenchicki was born on Sept. 17, 1954 in Trenton, N.J. and made his Major League debut on June 15, 1979 for the Baltimore Orioles. He played for Team USA and in the 1975 Pan American Games where they won a Silver medal. Krenchicki passed away on Oct. 16, 2018 in Pittsfield, Ill.

Joe Landrum was born on Dec. 13, 1928 in Columbia, S.C. and made his debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers on July 13, 1950. Landrum pitched 16 games in the majors for the Dodgers in 1950 and 1952, having his pitching career cut short by the Korean War. Landrum passed away on Aug. 19, 2018 in Columbia, S.C.

Dick LeMay was born on Aug. 28, 1938 in Cincinnati, Ohio and made his major league debut on June 13, 1961 for the San Francisco Giants, pitching 2.2 scoreless innings. A left-handed pitcher, LeMay played for three seasons in the big leagues, compiling a 4.17 ERA over 108.0 innings pitched between the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs. LeMay passed away on March 19, 2018 in Kansas City, Mo.

Johnny Lewis was born on Aug. 10, 1939 in Greenville, Ala. and made his major league debut for the St. Louis Cardinals on April 14, 1964. Lewis won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964 and went on to play four years in the major leagues. Lewis is remembered for hitting a home run in the 11th inning of a game on June 14 to beat Jim Maloney of the Cincinnati Reds, who had pitched ten no-hit innings up until that point. Lewis passed away on July 28, 2018 in Pensacola, Fla.

Pete Lovrich was born on Oct. 16, 1942 in Blue Island, Ill. and made his major league debut for the Kansas City Athletics on April 26, 1963. Lovrich passed away on Dec. 12, 2018 in Marblehead, Mass.

Ralph Lumenti was born on Dec. 21, 1936 in Milford, Mass. and made his big league debut at the age of 20 on Sept. 7, 1957 with the Washington Senators. A left-handed pitcher, Lumenti had good velocity on his pitches and managed 30 strikeouts in 33.1 innings of work during his major league career. Lumenti passed away on Feb. 7, 2018 in his hometown of Milford, Mass.

Don Mason was born on Dec. 20, 1944 in Boston, Mass and made his MLB debut for the San Francisco Giants on April 14, 1966. Mason played eight years in the major leagues. He passed away on June 19, 2018 in Yarmouth, Mass.

Willie McCovey was born on Jan. 10, 1938 in Mobile, Ala. and made his MLB debut for the San Francisco Giants on July 30, 1959. McCovey earned Rookie of the Year accolades in 1959, was a six-time All-Star, All-Star game MVP and 1969 MVP. McCovey finished his career with a .270 batting average, 521 home runs, 1,555 RBI's, and played a total of 2,588 games. In 1986, McCovey was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. McCovey passed away on Oct. 31, 2018 in Stanford, Calif.

Larry Miller was born on June 19, 1937 in Topeka, Kan. and made his major league debut on June 21, 1964 for the Dodgers. In his three years in the majors, he made 48 appearances and pitched 145 innings. Miller struck out 93 batters and collected five wins. Miller passed away on March 21, 2018 in Phoenix, Ariz.

Wally Moon was born on April 3, 1930 in Bay, Ark. and made his big league debut on April 13, 1954 with the St. Louis Cardinals. A left-handed hitting outfielder and first baseman, Moon was the second player for the Cardinals to hit a homer in his first big league at-bat and collected 1,399 hits during his career en route to a batting average of .289. A three-time National League All-Star and two-time World Series champion, Moon received 1954 National League Rookie of the Year honors and won a Gold Glove Award in 1960. Moon passed away on Feb. 9, 2018 in Bryan, Texas.

Jerry Moses was born on Aug. 9, 1946 in Yazoo City, Miss. and went on to play for nine seasons in the major leagues. A right-handed hitting catcher, Moses made his big league debut on May 9, 1965 and would go on to be an American League All-Star in 1970 with the Boston Red Sox. In 386 games, Moses collected 269 hits en route to a respectable career batting average of .251. After his playing career, Moses was extremely involved with the MLBPAA, championing increased benefits for inactive, non-vested former players who did not originally qualify for pension benefits, and acting as a catalyst for countless charitable events, including the Legends for Youth Clinic Series. Beloved by many due to his kind-hearted nature, Moses served as the chairman emeritus for Major League Alumni Marketing until his passing. Moses passed away on March 27, 2018.

Julio Navarro was born on Jan. 9, 1936 in Vieques, Puerto Rico and made his big league debut on Sept. 3, 1962 with the Los Angeles Angels. A right-handed pitcher, Navarro put together an ERA of 3.65 over 212.1 innings pitched and notched 17 saves during his major league career. Following his playing career, he was a scout for the Chicago Cubs and coach for the Atlanta Braves in 1988. Navarro passed away on Jan. 24, 2018 in Orlando, Fla.

Dave Nelson was born on June 20, 1944 in Fort Sill, Okla. and made is big league debut on April 11, 1968 for the Indians. The 1973 All-Star played for 10 years in the majors with the Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators, Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals. In Nelson's career, he batted .244, had 630 hits, 20 home runs and 187 stolen bases. Nelson passed away on April 23, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wis.

Billy O'Dell was born on Feb. 10, 1933 in Whitmire, S.C. and made his MLB debut for the Baltimore Orioles on June 20, 1954. In 1958 O'Dell went 14-11 with a 2.97 ERA. O'Dell was selected as an All-Star and pitched three perfect innings in the All-Star Game. In 1962, O'Dell then went 19-14 with a 3.53 ERA, leading the National League pennant-winning Giants in strikeouts (195) and complete games (20). O'Dell passed away on Sept. 12, 2018 in Newberry, S.C.

Len Okrie was born on July 16, 1923 in Detroit, Mich. and made his big league debut as a catcher on June 16, 1948 for the Washington Senators. In Okrie's four years in the majors with the Senators and Boston Red Sox he played in 42 games, collected 17 hits and 3 RBIs. Okrie then went on to have a 20-year coaching career in the minor leagues in which he won nearly 1,000 games. Okrie passed away on April 12, 2018 in Fayetteville N.C.

Larry Owen was born on May 31, 1955 in Cleveland, Ohio and made his major league debut on Aug. 14, 1981 for the Atlanta Braves. In his six-year career with the Braves and Royals, Larry collected 68 hits, 30 RBIs and 8 home runs. Owen passed away on June 6, 2018 in Westerville, Ohio.

Marty Pattin was born on April 6, 1943 in Charleston, Ill. and made his Major League debut on May 14, 1968 for the California Angels, making an All-Star appearance three years later. Pattin passed away on Oct. 3, 2018 in Charleston, Ill.

Laurin Pepper was born on Jan. 18, 1931 in Vaughan, Miss. and made his big league debut on July 4, 1954 with the Pittsburgh Pirates as a right-handed pitcher. Spending all four of his major league seasons with the Pirates, Pepper pitched in 44 games and logged 109.2 innings. Following his baseball career, he became the Athletic Director at Ocean Springs High School, where the stadium was named after him. Pepper passed away on Feb. 4, 2018 in Ocean Springs, Miss.

Rob Picciolo was born on Feb. 4, 1953 in Santa Monica, Calif. and played infield in the major leagues for nine seasons. A strong defender, Picciolo was a member of the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers team that won the American League pennant. Following his playing career, Picciolo was a manager in the minor leagues and served on the San Diego Padres coaching staff from 1990 to 2005 before becoming a member of the Los Angeles Angels organization as an instructor in the minor league system. Nicknamed the "Pepperdine Peach", Picciolo also served as the Angels bench coach from 2011 to 2013. Picciolo passed away on Jan. 3, 2018 in Los Angeles.

Frank Quilici was born May 11, 1939 in Chicago Ill. and made his big league debut for the Minnesota Twins on July 18, 1965. The two-time All-American at Western Michigan University had a five-year career with the Minnesota Twins before joining their coaching staff in 1971. The following season, at the age of 33, he was promoted to manager and led the Twins through the 1975 season. As a player, the utility infielder appeared in 405 games compiling 146 hits, 26 doubles, six triples and five home runs. Quilici passed away on May 14, 2018 in Burnsville, Minn.

Marv Rackley was born July 25, 1921 in Seneca, S.C. and made his big league debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947; the same day Jackie Robinson made his historic debut. Rackley's four-year career included stints with the Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Cincinnati Reds. He also served in the Army Air Force during World War II for three years before his eventual return to baseball. An outfielder, Rackley appeared in 185 games accumulating 151 hits, 20 doubles, and six triples. Rackley posted a career .317 batting average and had his best season in 1948 where he hit .327 in 88 games. Rackley passed away April 24, 2018 in Greenville, S.C.

Curt Raydon was born on Nov. 18, 1933 in Bloomington, Ill. and made his major league debut on April 15, 1958 with the compiling a record of 8-4 and an ERA of 3.62 over 134.1 innings of work. Raydon passed away on March 3, 2018 in Sam Rayburn, Texas.

Rudy Regalado was born on May 21, 1930 in Los Angeles, and went on to play for three seasons in the big leagues, making his major league debut on April 13, 1954 with the Cleveland Indians. A right-handed hitting third baseman, Regalado notched 63 hits in 91 career games and went 1-for-3 in the 1954 World Series. Regalado passed away on Feb. 12, 2018 in San Diego.

Daryl Robertson was born on Jan. 5, 1936 in Cripple Creek, Colo. and made his debut for the Chicago Cubs on May 4, 1962. Robertson appeared in nine games that month, and went 2-for-19 making five starts at shortstop. Robertson passed away on July 31, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Ed Roebuck was born July 3, 1931 in East Millsboro, Pa. and would go on to play 11 seasons in the big leagues, making his debut on April 18, 1955 for the Brooklyn Dodgers. As a rookie, he pitched 84 innings for the eventual World Series champions while gathering 12 saves and five wins. He posted a career 3.35 ERA, 52-31 record, and 62 saves. Roebuck pitched for three teams during his career including the Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, and the Washington Senators. After his career ended, Roebuck went to work as a scout for a number of teams until retiring in 2004. Roebuck passed away June 14, 2018 in Lakewood, Calif.

Ed Samcoff was born on Sept. 1, 1924 in Sacramento, Calif and made his major league debut on April 21, 1951 at the age of 26 for the Philadelphia Athletics. Although his big league career was brief, he posted a .291 batting average over six seasons in the minor leagues. He had over 850 hits, 162 doubles, 51 triples, and 33 home runs in the minors. Samcoff passed away on March 29, 2018 in Fair Oaks, Calif.

Jose Santiago was born on Sept. 4, 1928 in Coamo, PR and made his Major League debut on April 17, 1954 with the Cleveland Indians. Known for his blazing fastball, Santiago had a brief MLB career, but made a large impact in the Caribbean Leagues. Santiago was inducted into the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003. Santiago passed away on Oct. 9, 2018 in San Juan, PR.

Carl Scheib was born on Jan. 1, 1927 in Gratz, Pa. and made his big league debut on Sept. 6, 1943 at the age of 16 for the Philadelphia Athletics, making him the youngest player in American League history. A right-handed pitcher, Scheib pitched for 11 seasons in the major leagues and put together an ERA of 4.88 to go along with 45 wins over 1,070.2 innings pitched. Scheib's best season came in 1948 when he went 14-8 with an ERA of 3.94 in 198.2 innings pitched. Scheib passed away on March 24, 2018.

Red Schoendienst was born Feb. 2, 1923 in Germantown, Ill. and made his major league debut on April 17, 1945 at the age of 22 for the St. Louis Cardinals. Schoendienst would then begin a string of 74 consecutive years in a major league uniform as a player, coach, or manager. In his 19 year playing career, he posted a .289 batting average while collecting 2,449 hits, 84 home runs, and 773 RBIs. He led National League second basemen in fielding percentage for seven consecutive years and handled 320 straight chances without committing an error. His 1956 league record fielding percentage of .9934 would stand for 30 years. A ten-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion (twice as a player, three times as a coach or manager), Schoendienst was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1989. The Cardinals have retired his #2 jersey number and also elected him into their own St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum. Schoendienst passed away on June 6, 2018 in Town and Country, Mo.

Jerry Schoonmaker was born on Dec. 14, 1933 in Seymour, Mo. and made his big league debut on June 11, 1955 with the Washington Senators. In his two major league seasons, Schoonmaker appeared in 50 games as a solid defensive outfielder, and missed the 1956 season while serving in the United States Army during the Korean War. Schoonmaker passed away on March 18, 2018.

Al Stanek was born Dec. 24, 1943 in Springfield, Mass. and made his big league debut at the age of 19 on April 26, 1963 for the San Francisco Giants. Stanek went on to win 29 games and post a 3.51 ERA in the minor leagues. His future would be cut short after a shoulder injury during basic training for the Vietnam War. Stanek passed away May 8, 2018 in Holyoke, Mass.

Lee Stange was born on Oct. 27, 1936 in Chicago, Ill. and made his MLB debut for the Minnesota Twins on April 15, 1961. Stange played a total of 359 games in the major leagues. Stange passed away Sept. 21, 2018 in Florida.

Joe Stanka was born on July 23, 1931 in Hammon, Okla. and made his MLB debut for the Chicago White Sox on Sept. 2, 1959. Stanka went 1-0 with 3.38 ERA in two games. Stanka passed away on Oct. 15, 2018 in Katy, Tex.

Rusty Staub was born on April 1, 1944 in New Orleans and made his major league debut on April 9, 1963 with the Houston Colt .45's. A left-handed hitting right fielder and first baseman, Staub went on to play for 23 seasons in the big leagues. While playing for the Montreal Expos, Staub became one of the first stars for the Expos, obtaining the endearing nickname "Le Grand Orange" due to his efforts to learn the French Canadian language. The only player ever to notch 500 hits with four different teams, Staub ranks 13th on the all-time list for games played, and collected 2,716 hits, 292 home runs and 1,466 RBIs during his career. A six-time All-Star, Staub became one of the most reliable offensive players for the New York Mets between 1972 and 1975, establishing himself as a beloved figure amongst Mets fans. After his playing career, Staub devoted his life to giving back to others, becoming heavily involved in charity work. On top of the Rusty Staub Foundation's efforts to provide millions of meals for those in need, Staub is best remembered for the work he did for families of fallen police officers and firefighters in New York City, for whom he raised millions of dollars. Staub also served as a goodwill ambassador for the New York Mets and was a vice president for the MLBPAA, serving as the chairman of the annual Legends for Youth Dinner. Staub passed away on March 29, 2018 in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Chuck Stevens was born on July 10, 1918 in Van Houten, N.M. and made his big league debut on Sept. 16, 1941 with the St. Louis Browns. In 1942, Stevens joined the US Army Air Force and spent the next three years in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Upon his return to baseball in 1946, Stevens would appear in 207 games over the next three seasons for the Browns. A career .251 hitter, he collected 184 hits, 29 doubles, eight triples, and four home runs. Perhaps his biggest impact on the game of baseball came during his time as the director of the Association of Professional Ball Players of America. From 1960 until 1988, Stevens helped thousands of former players get back on their feet during tough times. Stevens passed away on May 28, 2018 in Long Beach, Calif.

Sammy Stewart was born on Oct. 28, 1954 in Asheville, N.C. and made his major league debut on Sept. 1, 1978 with the Baltimore Orioles, striking out seven consecutive batters during the outing. An effective right-handed reliever, Stewart played all but two of his ten big league seasons with the Orioles, winning a World Series with the ballclub in 1983. In 359 games, Stewart put together a record of 59-48 and an ERA of 3.59 over 956.2 innings and won the American League ERA title in 1981. Stewart passed away on March 2, 2018 in Hendersonville, N.C.

Dean Stone was born on Sept. 1, 1930 in Moline, Ill. and made his MLB debut for the Washington Senators on Sept. 13, 1953. In Stone's first full season in the major leagues, he went 12-10 with a 3.22 ERA and was selected to the All-Star team as a rookie. Stone passed away Aug. 21, 2018 in East Moline, Ill.

Steve Stroughter was born on March 15, 1952 in Visalia, Calif. and made his major league debut on April 7, 1982 with the Seattle Mariners. A left-handed hitting outfielder, Stroughter would play in 26 games during his career, hitting his one big league home run off Dennis Martinez of the Baltimore Orioles. Stroughter passed away on March 6, 2018 in Fresno, Calif.

Moose Stubing was born on March 31, 1938 in Bronx, N.Y. and made his big league debut on Aug. 14, 1967 with the California Angels, making a brief five plate appearances in the major leagues. Following his playing career, Stubing remained involved in the game, serving as a scout, minor league manager, big league third base coach and interim manager for the Angels at various times between 1971 and 1990. Additionally, Stubing was named a special assistant to the general manager of the Washington Nationals in 2008. Stubing passed away on Jan. 19, 2018 in San Marino, Calif.

Paul Stuffel was born March 22, 1927 in Canton, Ohio and made his MLB debut for the Philadelphia Phillies in Sept. 16, 1950. Stuffel was signed out of high school in 1945, shortly before entering military service, serving two years. Stuffel passed away on Sept. 9, 2018 in Canton, Ohio.

Chuck Taylor was born April 18, 1942 in Shelbyville, Tenn. and made his major league debut on May 27, 1969 for the St. Louis Cardinals at the age of 27. Taylor's eight seasons in the big leagues with four different teams was filled with success. He posted a 3.07 career ERA while collecting 28 wins and 31 saves as a reliever for the Cardinals, New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers, and Montreal Expos. Taylor passed away on June 5, 2018 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Bobby Treviño was born on Aug. 15, 1945 in Monterrey, Mexico and made his major league debut on May 22, 1968 with the California Angels. A right-handed hitting centerfielder, the 22-year-old acquired nine hits in 17 career games. Treviño passed away on Dec. 5, 2018 in Monterrey, Mexico.

Luis Valbuena was born on Nov. 30, 1985 in Caja Seca, Venezuela and made his MLB debut on Sept. 2, 2008 with the Seattle Mariners. Valbuena was a multipurpose left-handed hitting third baseman, second baseman, and first baseman. He played 11 seasons for five different teams and had a career average of .229. Valbuena passed away on Dec. 6, 2018 in La Morita, Venezuela.

Benny Valenzuela was born on June 2, 1933 in Los Mochis, Sinaloa Mexico and made his MLB debut on April 27, 1958 for the St. Louis Cardinals. Valenzuela played a brief 10 game career in the Major Leagues. Valenzuela passed away on Oct. 24, 2018.

Roy Wright was born on Sept. 26, 1933 in Buchtel, Ohio and made his major league debut on Sept. 30, 1956 for the New York Giants. Although it would be his only major league appearance, Wright would pitch for three more seasons in the minor leagues posting a 4.57 ERA and winning 21 games. Wright passed away on May 5, 2018 in Chickamauga, Ga. 

Ozzie Van Brabant was born on Sept. 28, 1926 and made his major league debut with the Philadelphia Athletics on April 13, 1954. Van Brabant played a total of 11 games in his two stints in the major leagues. Van Brabant passed away on Aug. 18, 2018 in La Jolla, Calif.

Myron White was born on Aug. 1, 1957 in Long Beach, Calif. and made his MLB debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sept. 4, 1978. White passed away on Aug. 4, 2018 in Santa Ana, Calif.

Dick Young was born on June 3, 1928 in Seattle, Wash. and made his big league debut on Sept. 11, 1951 with the Philadelphia Phillies. A left-handed hitting second baseman, Young played for parts of two seasons in the major leagues, notching 18 hits in 20 career games. Prior to his baseball career, Young served in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II. Young passed away on Jan. 7, 2018 in Bremerton, Wash.