Necrology

Hank Aaron was born Febr. 5, 1935 in Mobile, Ala. and made his major league debut April 13, 1954, with the Milwaukee Braves. Aaron started his playing career in the Negro Leagues, earning $200 a month with the Indianapolis Clowns. After signing a contract with the Boston Braves in 1952, Aaron was assigned to Boston’s Class C farm club, where he led the league in runs, hits, doubles RBI and batting average, becoming the league’s Most Valuable Player. While playing winter ball in Puerto Rico in 1954, Aaron was notified that he was being sent to his first Spring Training to start left field with the Braves, after an injury to the Braves original left fielder. He hit a home run in his start. His big-league career took off that year, and he continued for the next 23 years. His many accolades include a 1957 World Series title with the Braves, 25 All-Star appearances, three Gold Glove Awards, 1957 NL MVP Award and an induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1982 – just to name a few. Aaron is known for his very successful career, but is best known for breaking and surpassing Babe Ruth’s home run record of 714. Aaron ended his career with 755 total home runs. Just four days after his retirement, Aaron became a player development director for the Braves. Aaron has broken down racial barriers his entire career and was one of the first African-Americans in MLB upper-level management. In 1999, MLB announced the introduction of the Hank Aaron Award, an award to be presented each year to the best hitters in the National League and the American League. His jersey number 44 has been retired by both the Atlanta Braves and the Milwaukee Brewers. Aaron passed away at age 86, on Jan. 22, 2021.

Tom Acker was born March 7, 1930, in Paterson, N.J. and made his major league debut April 20, 1956, with the Cincinnati Redlegs. Before his major league service, Acker served in the United States Military in 1952. Acker pitched four years in the big leagues, spending all four years with the Redlegs/Reds. He appeared in total of 153 games with Cincinnati. Acker passed away Jan. 4, 2021 in Narvon, Pa.

Joe Altobelli was born May 26, 1932, in Detroit, Mich. and made his major league debut April 14, 1955, with the Cleveland Indians. Altobelli spent three years in the majors, playing for the Indians and the Minnesota Twins. After his playing days, Altobelli began his successful managing career in the Baltimore Orioles system, leading the Bluefield Orioles to a title in 1967. In 12 years of managing in the minors, Altobelli accomplished four league titles. After successfully moving up in his managing career, Altobelli became manager of the San Francisco Giants, then returned to the Orioles, managing them to a World Series title in his first year. He was also a radio broadcaster for the Rochester Red Wings from 1998-2009 and was elected into the Red Wings Hall of Fame, as well as the International League Hall of Fame. Altobelli passed away March 3, 2021, in Rochester, N.Y.

Fred Andrews was born May 4, 1952, in Lafayette, La. and made his major league debut Sept. 26, 1976, with the Philadelphia Phillies. Andrews played two years in the majors as a second baseman and pinch hitter, both years spent with the Phillies. Andrews passed away Dec. 20, 2021.

Ed Armbrister was born July 4, 1948, in Nassau, Bahamas and made his major league debut Aug. 31, 1973, with the Cincinnati Reds. Armbrister played five years in the big leagues, all five years spent with the Reds, resulting in two World Series Championships. Armbrister passed away March 17, 2021, in Nassau, Bahamas.

Rich Barry was born Sept. 12, 1940, in Berkeley, Calif. and made his major league debut July 4, 1969, with the Philadelphia Phillies. Barry played 20 games in the majors with the Phillies as a pinch hitter and left fielder. He passed away Oct. 9, 2021.

Kimera Bartee was born July 21, 1972, in Omaha, Neb. and made his major league debut April 3, 1996, with the Detroit Tigers. Bartee played six seasons in the majors as a centerfielder, spending his time with the Tigers, Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies. After his playing days, Bartee stayed near the game becoming a coach for the Delmarva Shorebirds (2005-2007), minor league outfield/baserunning coordinator for the Pittsburgh Pirates (2008-2011) and then first base coach for the Pirates (2017-2019). In 2021 he became the baserunning and outfield instructor for the Tigers, later becoming first base coach that same season. Bartee passed away Dec. 20, 2021, in Omaha, Neb. at age 49.

Joe Beckwith was born Jan. 28, 1955, in Auburn, Ala. and made his major league debut July 21, 1979, with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Beckwith played seven years in the big leagues, spending five of those years with the Dodgers and two with the Kansas City Royals. Beckwith pitched in Game 4 of the 1985 World Series, winning the World Series with the Royals that year. Beckwith passed away May 22, 2021, in Auburn, Ala.

Mike Bell was born Dec. 7, 1974, in Cincinnati, Ohio and made his major league debut July 20, 2000, with the Cincinnati Reds. Bell played 19 games in the majors, but is most known for his time as a bench coach with the Minnesota Twins in 2020. Before his time with the Twins, he was Director of Player Development for the Arizona Diamondbacks for a decade. Bell passed away from kidney cancer March 26, 2021 in Chandler, Ariz.

Ron Blazier was born July 30, 1971, in Altoona, Pa. and made his major league debut May 31, 1996 with the Philadelphia Phillies. Blazier pitched two years in the majors with the Phillies. He passed away Dec. 4, 2021, in Bellwood, Pa. at age 50.

Cloyd Boyer was born Sept.1, 1927 in Cossville, Mo. and made his major league debut April 23, 1948, with the St. Louis Cardinals. Boyer pitched five years in the major leagues, spending four of those years with the Cardinals. His two younger brothers Ken and Clete also played in the major leagues. After his playing days, Boyer started off his coaching career as the coach for the Richmond Virginians. He later became the New York Yankees minor league pitching coach, major league coach and scout. He also was a major league coach for the Atlanta Braves and Kansas City Royals, and managed in the Toronto Blue Jays and Braves organizations. Boyer passed away at age 94 on Sept. 20, 2021, in Carthage, Mo.

Hall Breeden was born June 28, 1944, in Albany, Georgia and made his major league debut April 7, 1971 with the Chicago Cubs. Breeden played five years in the big leagues, four of the five years being with the Montreal Expos. Breeden is best known for his high slugging percentage in 1973 with the Expos (.535). He also hit two pinch-hit home runs in a double header that same year, duplicating the feat only accomplished by Joe Cronin at the time. Breeden passed away May 3, 2021, in Leesburg, Ga.

Bobby Brown was born Oct. 25, 1924, in Seattle, Wash. and made his major league debut Sept. 22, 1946, with the New York Yankees. Brown played eight years in the big leagues, all eight spent with the Yankees. With New York, he accomplished four World Series Championship wins. He also is the all-time leader for batting average in postseason play, batting .439. Brown missed the summer after the 1952 season, due to his time serving in the Military. After his playing days, Brown found more success off the field, becoming a cardiologist, and then the President of the American League. He was the AL president for ten years. Brown passed away March 25, 2021, in Fort Worth, Texas at age 96.

Duke Carmel was born April 23, 1937, in New York, N.Y. and made his major league debut Sept. 10, 1959, with the St. Louis Cardinals. Carmel spent four years in the majors as a first baseman/outfielder, playing for the Cardinals, New York Mets and the New York Yankees. After his days on the diamond, Carmel became a salesman for a liquor distributor. Carmel passed away Aug. 3, 2021, in New Orleans, La.

Rafael Carmona was born Oct. 2, 1972, in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico and made his major league debut May 18, 1995, with the Seattle Mariners. Carmona pitched four years in the majors, all four spent with the Mariners. Carmona passed away Aug. 3, 2021, at age 48.

Tom Carroll was born Sept. 17, 1936, in Jamaica, N.Y. and made his major league debut May 7, 1955, with the New York Yankees. He was the ninth-youngest player in the American League his rookie season. Carroll played three years in the majors, splitting his time between the Yankees and the Kansas City Athletics. In the 1955 World Series with the Yankees, he was used as a pinch runner twice, being the youngest Yankee to appear in a World Series. Beyond his playing days, Carroll joined the State Department. He passed away Sept. 22, 2021.

Hy Cohen was born Jan. 29, 1931, in Brooklyn, N.Y. and made his major league debut April 17, 1955, with the Chicago Cubs. Cohen spent one season in the majors with the Chicago Cubs. After his playing days, Cohen earned a master’s degree in education from Cal State Northridge, then became a teacher and baseball coach at Birmingham High School. Cohen was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1996. He passed away Feb. 4, 2021, in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

Dick Colpaert was born Jan. 3, 1944 in Fraser, Mich. and made his major league debut July 21, 1970, with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Originally signed with the Baltimore Orioles, Colpaert appeared in eight major league games with the Pirates. Colpaert passed away April 6, 2021.

Billy Conigliaro was born August 15, 1947, in Revere, Mass. and made his major league debut April 11, 1969, with the Boston Red Sox. Conigliaro played five years in the big leagues, spending his time with the Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers and the Oakland Athletics. His one year with the Athletics ended his big-league career out strong, as a 1973 World Series champion. His career came to an end after having two knee surgeries following the 1973 season. After his playing days, he became an amateur astronomer. Conigliaro passed away Feb. 10, 2021, in Beverly, Mass.

Rheal Cormier was born April 23, 1967, in Moncton, Canada and made his major league debut Aug. 15, 1991, with the St. Louis Cardinals. Cormier played 16 years in the big leagues, spent with the Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds and the Montreal Expos. He pitched a total of 643 games in the majors, being the second-highest for a Canadian pitcher of all-time. He also represented Canada in the first edition of the World Baseball Classic in March 2006. Before he excelled at baseball, Cormier was one of the top badminton players in New Brunswick. In 2012, Cormier was elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. He passed away from lung cancer March 8, 2021, in Cap-Pelé, NB CAN.

Del Crandall was born March 5, 1930, in Ontario, Calif. and made his major league debut June 17, 1949, with the Boston Braves. Crandall played 16 years in the big leagues, 13 of those years being with the Boston/Milwaukee Braves. During his successful playing career, Crandall was an 11-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove Award winner and a 1957 World Series Champion. He was known for being one of the top catchers of his time, but missed two seasons due to military service. After his playing days, he became a manager in the Los Angeles Dodgers minor league system, managing young stars Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero, Mike Scioscia and Mickey Hatcher. Crandall also managed the Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners and coached the California Angels. He then became a radio broadcaster for the Chicago White Sox and the Brewers. Crandall passed away May 5, 2021, in Mission Viejo, Calif.

Joe Cunningham was born August 27, 1931, in Paterson, N.J. and made his major league debut June 30, 1954, with the St. Louis Cardinals. Cunningham spent 12 seasons in the big leagues, playing for the Cardinals, Chicago White Sox and the Washington Senators. In his big-league debut, Cunningham hit a homerun off of Art Fowler of the Cincinnati Redlegs. 1959 was his most prominent year, being the Cardinals regular right fielder, while hitting .345 - just second in the National League behind Hank Aaron. Cunningham earned an All-Star appearance that season. After his playing days, he became a manager in the Cardinals minor league system in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Beyond that, he worked in the front office in sales, later becoming a coach on the major league staff in 1982. Cunningham passed away March 25, 2021, in St. Louis, Mo.

Jerry Davie was born Feb. 10, 1933, in Detroit, Mich. and made his major league debut April 14, 1959, with the Detroit Tigers. Davie played one year in the majors with his hometown team, the Tigers. After signing as a free agent before the 1952 season, Davie was called to serve in the United States military during the Korean War, missing the 1953 and 1954 seasons. After his playing career, Davie became a director of parks and recreation, and was also a salesman. Davie passed away April 7, 2021.

Jacke Davis was born March 5, 1936, in Carthage, Texas and made his major league debut April 9, 1962, with the Philadelphia Phillies. Davis played 48 games in the big leagues with the Phillies. After his playing career, Davis started his coaching career, becoming the head coach at Carthage High School from 1973-1981 and then Panola College from 1982-1996. Davis was elected to the Panola athletics Hall of Fame. Davis passed away May 30, 2021, in Carthage, Texas.

Frankie de La Cruz was born March 12, 1984, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and made his major league debut June 18, 2007, with the Detroit Tigers. Frankie played four years in the majors, playing for the Tigers, Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers. While his final big league game was in 2011, he continued his professional career up until the Winter of 2020-21. Frankie passed away March 14, 2021, just two days after his 37th birthday due to a heart attack.

Art Ditmar was born April 3, 1929, in Winthrop, Mass. and made his major league debut April 19, 1954, with the Philadelphia Athletics. Ditmar played nine years in the majors, split between the Athletics and the New York Yankees. He missed the 1951 and 1952 seasons due to military service during the Korean War. After his return back to the game, Ditmar won a World Series with the Yankees in 1958. Ditmar passed away June 11, 2021, in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Chuck Dobson was born Jan. 10, 1944, in Kansas City, Mo. and made his major league debut April 19, 1966, with the Oakland Athletics. Dobson, a right-handed pitcher, played nine years in the majors, spending seven of those seasons with the Athletics and the remaining with the California Angels. Dobson passed away Nov. 30, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo.

Don Demeter was born June 25, 1935, in Oklahoma City, Okla. and made his major league debut Sept. 18, 1956, with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Demeter played 11 years in the majors with the Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians. Demeter’s most successful season was 1959 with the Dodgers, the year they won the World Series. His personal best season was 1962 with the Phillies, where he was in the top ten in the National League in batting average, slugging percentage, home runs and RBI. After his playing days, Demeter became a pastor in Oklahoma City, Okla. He passed away Nov. 29, 2021.

Solly Drake was born Oct. 23, 1930, in Little Rock, Ark. and made his major league debut April 17, 1956 with the Chicago Cubs. Drake played two years in the majors, split between the Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies. Drake and his brother Sammy were the first black brother combination to play major league baseball in the 20th Century. He missed the 1952 and 1953 seasons due to military service during the Korean War. After his playing days, Drake became minister of the Greater Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, Calif. He passed away Aug. 18, 2021.

Nino Escalera was born Dec. 1, 1929, in Santurce, Puerto Rico and made his major league debut April 17, 1954, with the Cincinnati Redlegs. Nino played in 73 games with the Redlegs. After his time in the majors, he continued to play in Puerto Rico. He later became a scout for the San Francisco Giants and the New York Mets. Escalera passed away July 3, 2021, in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico.

Pedro Feliciano was born Aug. 25, 1976, in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico and made his major league debut Sept. 4, 2002, with the New York Mets. Feliciano played nine years in the majors, spending all nine with the Mets as a relief pitcher. During his playing days, he became a three-time NL Games Pitched Leader. Feliciano passed away Nov. 8, 2021, in Puerto Rico at age 45.

Ray Fosse was born April 4, 1947, in Marion, Ill. and made his major league debut Sept. 8, 1967, with the Cleveland Indians. Ray played 12 years in the big leagues, eight of those years spent with the Indians and three with the Oakland Athletics. Throughout his successful career Fosse was a two-time All-Star, two-time World Series winner with the Athletics and a two-time Gold Glove winner. Beyond his playing days, Fosse entered the booth, becoming a broadcaster for the Athletics in 1986. He remained with the A’s, continuing to play a large part in the organization until August 2021 due to his battle with cancer. Fosse passed away Oct. 13, 2021, at age 74.

Paul Foytack was born Nov. 16, 1930, in Scranton, Pa. and made his major league debut April 21, 1953, with the Detroit Tigers. Foytack played 11 years in the big leagues, spending 10 of those years with the Tigers, the other two with the Los Angeles Angels. After his playing days, Foytack worked in sales for an industrial rubber plastics company in Keego Harbor, Mich. He passed away Jan. 23, 2021.

Bill Freehan was born Nov. 29, 1941, in Detroit, Mich. and made his major league debut Sept. 26, 1961, with the Detroit Tigers. Freehan played a solid 15 years in the majors, his entire career spent with the Tigers. He ended his career as an 11-time All-Star, five-time Gold Glove Award winner and 1968 World Series Champion. After his playing days, Freehan became the head coach at the University of Michigan from 1990-95. He also served as president of an automobile manufactures representative agency. He came back to work for the team that drafted him, serving as a commentator on Tigers broadcasts in 1984 and later coaching in the Tigers’ organization from 2002-05. Freehan passed away Aug. 19, 2021, in Michigan after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

Adrian Garrett was born Jan. 3, 1943, in Brooksville, Fla. and made his major league debut April 13, 1966, with the Atlanta Braves. Garrett played eight years in the big leagues, spent with the Braves, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics and the California Angels. After his playing days, Garrett became a minor league manager, coordinator and coach, spanning more than 50 years total in the professional game. Garrett passed away April 22, 2021, in Kyle, Texas.

Don Gile was born April 19, 1935, in Modesto, Calif. and made his major league debut Sept. 25, 1959, with the Boston Red Sox. Gile played four years in the majors, all four spent with the Red Sox. Gile is known as being one of the tallest catchers in major league history at 6’6”. After his playing days, Gile became a national sales manager for Oral-B Laboratories. He passed away Feb. 5, 2021.

Pedro González was born Dec. 12, 1937, in San Pedro De Macoris, Dominican Republic, and made his major league debut April 11, 1963, with the New York Yankees. González played five years in the big leagues, splitting his time with the Yankees and the Cleveland Indians. Known as one of the earliest big leaguers to come out of San Pedro de Macoris, González appeared in the 1964 World Series with the New York Yankees, where he was mostly seen at first base. González passed away Jan. 10, 2021, in his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris, due to lung disease.

Charlie Gorin was born Feb. 6, 1928, in Waco, Texas and made his major league debut May 29, 1954, with the Milwaukee Braves. Gorin, a left-handed pitcher, played two seasons with the Braves. Before his big league debut, he missed two seasons due to military service during the Korean War. After his playing days, he took his talents to work in education. Gorin became a high school teacher and coach and after earning his master’s degree in education, he also became the dean of boys and assistant principal at John Reagan High School in Austin, Texas. He retired in 1990. Gorin passed away Feb. 21, 2021, in Austin.

Mudcat Grant was born Aug. 13, 1935, in Lacoochee, Fla. and made his major league debut April 17, 1958, with the Cleveland Indians. Jim “Mudcat” Grant played 14 years in the majors, spending seven of those years with the Indians. He also played for the Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Dodgers, Montreal Expos, St. Louis Cardinals, Oakland Athletics and the Pittsburgh Pirates. A two-time All-Star, Grant tossed a complete game during in Game 1 of the World Series to beat the Dodgers, 8-2. Alongside being a successful pitcher, Grant was a singer and was frequently asked to sing the National Anthem before games. Grant wore many hats after his playing career, serving on the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Associations board for many years, as well as the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. He also became a broadcaster for the Indians, Dodgers and Athletics. Grant passed away June 12, 2021, in Los Angeles, Calif.

Johnny Groth was born July 23, 1926, in Chicago, Ill., and made his major league debut Sept. 5, 1946, with the Detroit Tigers. Groth played 15 years in the majors, spending 11 of those 15 years with Detroit. Groth is known for scoring the last run in St. Louis Browns history in September 1953. Following his playing days, Groth managed the Decatur Commodores in 1961 and the Montgomery Rebels in 1962. He passed away Aug. 7, 2021.

Chuck Hartenstein was born May 26, 1942, in Seguin, Texas and made his major league debut Sept. 11, 1965, with the Chicago Cubs. Hartenstein played six years in the majors, splitting his time between five different teams, three of those years spent with the Cubs. Beyond his playing days, Hartenstein became a coach for the Cleveland Indians in 1979 and was a member of the Milwaukee Brewers staff from 1987-89. He passed away Oct. 2, 2021.

Wynn Hawkins was born Feb. 20, 1936, in East Palestine, Ohio and made his major league debut April 22, 1960, with the Cleveland Indians. Hawkins played three seasons in the majors, all three spent with the Indians. In college, Hawkins didn’t play baseball but excelled in basketball, ending his career as the Baldwin Wallace University’s all-time career scoring leader with 1,392 points. After his playing days, Hawkins returned to the Indians as a scout, a traveling secretary and also worked in the club’s sales department. Hawkins passed away Feb. 11, 2021, in Canfield, Ohio.

Tom Hilgendorf was born March 10, 1942, in Clinton, Iowa and made his major league debut Aug. 15, 1969, with the St. Louis Cardinals. Hilgendorf played six years in the majors, splitting his time with the Cardinals, Cleveland Indians and the Philadelphia Phillies. He ended his career playing in 184 total big-league games. Hilgendorf passed away March 25, 2021, in Iowa City, Iowa.

LaMarr Hoyt was born Jan. 1, 1955 in Columbia, S.C. and made his major league debut Sept. 14, 1979, with the Chicago White Sox. Hoyt pitched eight years in the majors, six of those seasons spent with the White Sox. Throughout his successful big-league career, Hoyt accomplished the following accolades; 1983 National League Cy Young Award, 1983, 1985 NL All-Star, 1985 All-Star Game MVP. Over his eight-year career, he won a total of 98 games. Hoyt passed away Nov. 29, 2021, in Columbia, S.C.

Willard Hunter was born March 8, 1935, in Newark, N.J. and made his major league debut April 16, 1962, with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hunter spent two years in the majors, playing for the Dodgers and the New York Mets. Hunter passed away Febr. 2, 2021, in Omaha, Neb.

Grant Jackson was born Sept. 28, 1942, in Fostoria, Ohio and made his major league debut Sept. 3, 1965, with the Philadelphia Phillies. Jackson played 18 years in the big leagues, playing for the Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, Montreal Expos and the New York Yankees. He ended his career as a 1969 NL All-Star and a World Series title with the Pirates in 1979. After his playing career, Jackson entered the coaching arena, first for the Pirates from 1983-85, where he was the first African American pitching coach for the team. Jackson passed away Feb. 2, 2021, in Canonsburg, Pa.

Jerry Johnson was born Dec. 3, 1943, in Miami, Fla. and made his major league debut July 17, 1968, with the Philadelphia Phillies. Johnson played 10 years in the majors, splitting his time between the Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros, San Diego Padres and the Toronto Blue Jays. Johnson is notably known for being the winning pitcher for the Blue Jays inaugural game win April 7, 1977. Johnson passed away Nov. 15, 2021, in Canyon Lake, Calif.

Ron Johnson was born March 23, 1956, in Long Beach, Calif. and made his major league debut Sept. 12, 1982, with the Kansas City Royals. Johnson played three years in the majors, splitting his time with the Royals and the Montreal Expos. After his playing career, Johnson stuck close to the game, beginning his coaching career. He started as a minor league coach in the Royals organization from 1986 through 1991. He then continued in the Royals organization all through 1999. He was named the Texas League Manager of the Year in 1995. He joined the Boston Red Sox organization in 2000, managing in the minor leagues for 10 seasons, before being promoted to the majors as the Red Sox’s first base coach. He remained a coach with the Red Sox for two years, before joining the Baltimore Orioles organization in 2012. Johnson passed away from COVID-19 on Jan. 26, 2021.

Doug Jones was born June 24, 1957, in Covina, Calif. and made his major league debut April 9, 1982, with the Milwaukee Brewers. Jones played 16 years in the majors, spending his time with seven different teams, majority of that time with the Cleveland Indians. Jones ended his well-respected career as a five-time All-Star. After his playing days, Jones began his coaching career starting as an assistant coach at Pusch Ridge Christian Academy, then was a minor league pitching instructor for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He also coached for San Diego Christian College, and the Colorado Rockies minor league system. Jones passed away Nov. 22, 2021.

Lew Krausse was born April 25, 1943, in Media, Pa. and made his major league debut June 16, 1961, with the Kansas City Athletics. Krausse pitched 12 years in the big leagues, playing for the Athletics, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals. Krausse is known for ceremonial pitches after starting in the first home game in Athletics history in 1968. He also was the starting pitcher for the Brewers first-ever game in 1970. Krausse passed away at age 77 from cancer Feb. 16, 2021.

John LaRose was born Oct. 25, 1951, in Pawtucket, R.I. and made his major league debut Sept. 20, 1978, with the Boston Red Sox. LaRose pitched in one game for the Red Sox. He also played for the Winter Haven Super Sox of the Senior Professional Baseball Association in 1989. LaRose passed away Jan. 1, 2021, in Cumberland, R.I.

Tommy Lasorda was born Sept. 22, 1927, in Norristown, Pa. and made his major league debut Aug. 5, 1954 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Lasorda pitched three seasons in the big leagues, which was only the start to his Hall of Fame career. After his playing days, Lasorda continued in the Dodgers organization becoming a Dodger scout in 1961, then a manager in the minors in 1965. In 1973, the Dodgers promoted Lasorda to coach. He then led the Dodgers as manager for 21 years, managing the team to two World Series title, eight division titles and four National League pennants. He also managed the United States in the 2000 Sydney Olympics to their first-ever gold medal in baseball, making him the only manager in baseball history to win a World Series and an Olympic gold medal. Lasorda was also a two-time National League Manager of the Year, earning an induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1997. Along with his many accolades, Lasorda was the Branch Rickey Award 2006 recipient, an award given to the major league personality who best demonstrates exemplary community service. Lasorda was a major factor in Dodgers history. He passed away Jan. 7, 2021, in Fullerton, Calif.

Don Leppert was born Nov. 20, 1930, in Memphis, Tenn. and made his major league debut April 11, 1955, with the Baltimore Orioles. After five seasons in the minors, Leppert spent the 1955 season in the big leagues with the Orioles. Beyond his playing days, he worked for the Chattanooga Bakery Company in Memphis. Leppert passed away Jan. 5, 2021.

Richie Lewis was born Jan. 25, 1966, in Muncie, Ind. and made his major league debut July 31, 1998, with the Baltimore Orioles. Lewis pitched seven years in the majors, playing for the Orioles, Florida Marlins, Detroit Tigers, Oakland Athletics and the Cincinnati Reds. After his playing days, he became the pitching coach for the Columbus Catfish in 2006. Lewis passed away in December 2021 at the age of 55.

Charlie Lindstrom was born Sept. 7, 1936, in Chicago, Ill. and made his major league debut Sept. 28, 1958 with the Chicago White Sox. Lindstrom appeared in one game during his time in the majors, where he hit a triple and drew a walk. Charlie, regularly called Chuck, is also the son of Hall of Famer, Freddie Lindstrom. After his playing days, Lindstrom became a coach at Lincoln College. He passed away Sept. 29, 2021

Phil Lombardi was born Feb. 20, 1963, in Abilene, Texas and made his major league debut April 26, 1986, with the New York Yankees. Lombardi spent three years in the majors, two seasons spent with the Yankees and one with the New York Mets. Lombardi passed away May 20, 2021, in Stevenson Ranch, Calif.

Julio Lugo was born Nov. 16, 1975, in Barahona, Dominican Republic and made his major league debut April 15, 2000, with the Houston Astros. Lugo played 12 years in the majors, splitting his time between seven different teams, and won World Series in 2007 with the Boston Red Sox. Lugo passed away Nov. 15, 2021, in the Dominican Republic at the age of 45 due to an apparent heart attack.

Memo Luna was born June 25, 1930, in Mexico, Mexico and made his major league debut April 20, 1954, with the St. Louis Cardinals. While Luna only appeared in one game in the majors with the Cardinals, his professional career of nearly twenty years earned him a place in the Salon de la Fama in Mexico in 1987. Luna passed away Nov. 9, 2021, in Los Mochis, Sinaloa Mexico at age 91.

Ángel Mangual was born March 19, 1947, in Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico and made his major league debut Sept. 15, 1969, with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Mangual, nicknamed Cuqui, played seven years in the big leagues, three of those seasons ending in World Series wins with the Athletics (1972,1973,1974). In Game 4 of the ’72 World Series, Mangual hit a pinch single in the ninth inning to win the game for the A’s. Mangual passed away Feb. 16, 2021, in Puerto Rico.

Mike Marshall was born Jan. 15, 1943, in Adrian, Mich. and made his major league debut May 31, 1967, with the Detroit Tigers. Marshall spent 14 years in the majors, playing for the Tigers, Seattle Pilots, Houston Astros, Montreal Expos, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers, Minnesota Twins and the New York Mets. Marshall ended his career with the 1974 NL Cy Young Award, led the league three times in saves and was a two-time All-Star. He also has a Ph.D. in kinesiology from Michigan State University. One of the most dominant relievers of his era, Marshall was nicknamed Iron Mike. He taught his cousin, Brent Honeywell’s son, Brent Honeywell Jr. to throw a screwball – his old signature pitch. Marshall passed away June 1, 2021, in Zephyrhills, Fla.

Billy Moran was born Nov. 27, 1933, in Montgomery, Ala. and made his major league debut April 15, 1958, with the Cleveland Indians. Moran played seven years in the majors, splitting his time between the Indians and the Los Angeles Angels. He missed the 1955 and 1956 seasons due to serving in the United States military during the Korean War. During his playing career, Moran was announced as an AL All-Star in 1962, starting in both All-Star games that summer. Beyond his baseball days, Moran became the owner of an insurance agency in Atlanta, Ga. after earning his degree in industrial management. He passed away Oct. 21, 2021.

Al Naples was born Aug. 29, 1926, in Staten Island, N.Y. and made his major league debut June 25, 1949, with the St. Louis Browns. Naples played one year in the majors at age 22 with the Browns. He passed away Feb. 26, 2021, in Orleans, Mass.

Mel Nelson was born May 30, 1936, in San Diego, Calif., and made his major league debut September 27, 1960, with the St. Louis Cardinals. Nelson pitched six seasons in the majors, playing for the Cardinals, Los Angeles Angels and the Minnesota Twins. Following his playing days, Nelson entered the scouting world in 1973. He was a longtime scout for the Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Cardinals, Colorado Rockies and Houston Astros. Nelson passed away in November of 2021.

Ricky Nelson was born May 8, 1959, in Eloy, Ariz. and made his major league debut May 17, 1983, with the Seattle Mariners. Nelson played four seasons with the Mariners as an outfielder, with a total of 123 game appearances. He passed away Nov. 19, 2021.

Mike Overy was born Jan. 27, 1951, in Clinton, Ill. and made his major league debut Aug. 14, 1976, with the California Angels. He pitched one year with the Angels. Overy passed away September 22, 2021, in Sun City West, Ariz.

Stan Palys was born May 1, 1930, in Blakely, Pa. and made his major league debut Sept. 20, 1953, with the Philadelphia Phillies. Palys played four years in the big leagues, splitting his time between the Phillies and the Cincinnati Redlegs. Before his career in the majors, Palys missed the 1951 season due to military service. Palys retired after the 1967 season, taking his talents back to school to earn a business degree from the University of Scranton. After graduation he worked for mentally disabled children, Palys passed away Feb. 8, 2021, in Jupiter, Fla.

Cecil Perkins was born Dec. 1, 1940, in Baltimore, Md. and made his major league debut July 5, 1967, with the New York Yankees. Perkins appeared in two games for the Yankees, pitching a total of five innings. Perkins passed away Oct. 28, 2021, at age 80.

Juan Pizarro was born Feb. 7, 1937, in Santurce, Puerto Rico and made his major league debut May 4, 1957, with the Milwaukee Braves. Pizarro played a solid 18 years in the majors, winning a World Series his rookie season with the Braves, and earning two American League All-Star appearances during his time with the Chicago White Sox. His big-league career ended with over 400 game wins. Pizarro passed away Feb. 18, 2021, after a long-fought battle with cancer.

Scott Reid was born Jan. 7, 1947, in Chicago, Ill. and made his major league debut Sept. 29, 1970, with the Philadelphia Phillies. Reid played two seasons with the Phillies as an outfielder and pinch hitter. Beyond his playing days, Reid became a scout for the Phillies and held other positions with the Chicago Cubs and the Florida Marlins. He later joined the Detroit Tigers as vice president/assistant to the general manager and was later promoted to VP of Player Personnel, then Senior Advisor starting with the 2017 season. Reid passed away June 29, 2021, in Phoenix, Ariz.

Ken Reitz was born June 24, 1951, in San Francisco, Calif. and made his major league debut Sept. 5, 1972 with the St. Louis Cardinals. Reitz spent 11 years in the big leagues, playing for the Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates. During his playing days, Reitz was successful in achieving a National League All-Star appearance in 1980 and received a Gold Glove Award in 1975. Reitz passed away March 31, 2021, in St. Charles, Mo.

Jerry Remy was born Nov. 8, 1952 in Fall River, Ma. and made his major league debut April 7, 1975 with the California Angels. Remy played 10 years in the majors with the Angels and the Boston Red Sox. He ended his career as an AL All-Star in 1978. After his playing days, Remy became a television broadcaster for many years for his former team, the Red Sox. He was later inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2006 and elected Honorary President of Red Sox Nation in 2007. Remy passed away Oct. 30, 2021, at age 68 after an ongoing battle with cancer.

J.R. Richard was born March 7, 1950, in Vienna, La. and made his major league debut Sept. 5, 1971, with the Houston Astros. Richard’s run with the Astros lasted a successful 10 years. A dominant pitcher for Houston, Richard struck out 15 batters in his major league debut, tying the record for most strikeouts in a debut. He was the National League ERA Leader in 1979 and the National League All-Star in 1980. After appearing in his first All-Star game in 1980, Richard suffered a stroke leading him to never pitch in a big-league game again. After a long road of recovery, he was able to pitch in a few games in the minors. In 2020, Richard was inducted into the Astros’ Hall of Fame. Richard passed away Aug. 4, 2021 in Houston, Texas.

David Roberts was born June 30, 1933, in Panama, Panama and made his major league debut Sept. 5, 1962, with the Houston Colt .45s. Roberts played three years in the majors, splitting his time between the Colt .45s and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Throughout the entirety of his 22-year professional career, Roberts hit 429 home runs and collected 2,660 hits. Hank Aaron was the only player to have a longer career of those who debuted in 1952. After his playing days, Roberts became a scout for a year, then worked in the insurance industry, later ended up working with emotionally troubled kids for 12 and a half years. He passed away in October 2021.

Eddie Robinson was born Dec. 15, 1920, in Paris, Texas and made his major league debut Sept. 9, 1942, with the Cleveland Indians. Robinson played 13 years in the majors, spending five of those seasons with the Indians. He ended his tenure with as a four-time All-Star and 1948 World Series champion with the Indians, after missing the 1943-45 seasons due to military service during World War II. Beyond his playing days, Robinson wore many hats, becoming the field director for the Baltimore Orioles in 1961, Colt .45s assistant GM in 1962 and their farm director in 1964. A few more titles he held were Kansas City’s director of player development in 1976, Atlanta Braves farm director from 1968-1972, General Manager for both the Braves and Texas Rangers, and President of Emeritus as well as the founder of the Dallas/ Ft. Worth chapter for the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association. At age 98, he became the oldest living MLB player, holding the title for two years. Robinson passed away Oct. 4, 2021, at age 100.

Tom Robson was born Jan. 15, 1946, in Rochester, N.Y. and made his major league debut Sept. 14, 1974, with the Texas Rangers. Robson, the uncle of Mike Moustakas, played two years in the big leagues with the Rangers. After his playing career, Robson managed in the minor leagues, then became a hitting coach for the New York Mets and the Rangers. He also wrote a book titled The Hitting Edge. Robson passed away April 20, 2021, in Chandler, Ariz.

Mike Sadek was born May 30, 1946, in Minneapolis, Minn. and made his major league debut April 13, 1973, with the San Francisco Giants. Sadek played eight seasons in the big leagues, all spent with the Giants. After his playing days, Sadek remained with the Giants, working as a Community Representative from 1983-1990, and Assistant to the Director of Community Services in 1991. Sadek passed away Jan. 20, 2021, in San Andreas, Calif.

Ron Samford was born Feb. 28, 1930, in Dallas, Texas and made his major league debut April 15, 1954, with the New York Giants. Samford played four years in the majors, splitting his time with the Giants, Detroit Tigers and the Washington Senators. Samford finished his 158-game playing career with five home runs and 27 RBI. Samford passed away Jan. 14, 2021, in Dallas, Texas.

Richie Scheinblum was born Nov. 5, 1942, in New York, N.Y. and made his major league debut Sept. 1, 1965 with the Cleveland Indians. Scheinblum played eight years in the majors, spending four of those years with the Indians. He also played for the Washington Senators, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, California Angels and the St. Louis Cardinals. In his only season with the Royals in 1972, Scheinblum was named an American League All-Star. After his major league career, Scheinblum played in Japan for two years. Beyond his baseball days, he opened a jewelry store in Anaheim, Calif., then worked for a clothing company in Palm Harbor, Fla. Scheinblum passed away May 10, 2021.

Chuck Schilling was born Oct. 25, 1937 in Brooklyn, N.Y. and made his major league debut April 11, 1961, with the Boston Red Sox. Schilling spent five years with the Red Sox, playing in 541 total major league games. After his playing days, he became a high school math teacher in Long Island, N.Y. Schilling passed away March 30, 2021, in West Chester, Pa.

Gerry Schoen was born Jan. 20, 1947, in New Orleans La. and made his major league debut Sept. 14, 1968, with the Washington Senators. Schoen played one game with the Senators, and is the only MLB pitcher to come from Loyola University New Orleans. Schoen passed away May 5, 2021, in Tullahoma, Tenn.

Norm Sherry was born July 16, 1931, in New York, N.Y. and made his major league debut April 12, 1959, with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Sherry played five years in the majors, spending four of those years with the Dodgers and his final year with the New York Mets. Sherry missed the 1952 and 1953 seasons due to military service. His brother George Sherry pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates organization in 1951. After his playing days, Sherry managed the California Angels for two years in the 1970s and also was a coach in the organization for three years. Sherry passed away March 8, 2021, in San Juan Capistrano, Calif.

Dwight Siebler was born Aug. 5, 1937, in Columbus, Neb. and made his major league debut Aug. 26, 1963 with the Minnesota Twins. He pitched five years with the Twins. Siebler passed away June 16, 2021, in Omaha, Neb.

Tom Simpson was born Sept. 15, 1927, in Columbus, Ohio and made his major league debut May 6, 1953, with the Chicago Cubs. Simpson spent one season in the majors with the Cubs, appearing in 30 games. Simpson passed away Feb. 7, 2021, in Folsom, Calif.

Dick Smith was born July 21, 1926, in Blandburg, Pa. and made his major league debut Sept. 14, 1951, with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Smith played five years in the big leagues, all five spent with the Pirates. Before his professional baseball career, Smith served in the Army in World War II. After his playing days, Smith received his master’s degree from Penn State University, then worked for the university for the next 25 years. Smith passed away Jan. 25, 2021, in Boalsburg, Pa.

Jack Smith was born Nov. 15, 1935, in Pikeville, Ky. and made his major league debut Sept. 10, 1962, with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Smith played three years in the big leagues, playing for the Dodgers and the Milwaukee Braves. Smith was part of the 1963 Dodgers World Series champion team. He passed away April 7, 2021, in Conyers, Ga.

Jim Snyder was born Aug. 15, 1932, in Dearborn, Mich. and made his major league debut Sept. 15, 1961, with the Minnesota Twins. Synder played three years in the big leagues, all three spent with the Twins. Following his playing days, Synder became a minor league manager for many years, and he also coached for the Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres. Snyder passed away March 9, 2021, in Dearborn, Mich.

Rennie Stennett was born April 5, 1949, in Colon, Panama and made his major league debut July 10, 1971, with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Stennett played 11 years in the majors, nine of them with the Pirates and the other two with the San Francisco Giants. In 1971, Stennett was part of the Pirates fielding the first all-Black lineup in MLB history. He also won the 1979 World Series with the Pirates. Stennett passed away May 18, 2021.

Bill Sudakis was born March 27, 1946, in Joliet, Ill. and made his major league debut Sept. 3, 1968, with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He led the team his rookie year with a .471 slugging percentage in 87 at-bats. Sudakis played eight years in the majors, four of those years spent with the Dodgers. Sudakis passed away Sept. 15, 2021, at age 75.

Don Sutton was born April 2, 1945, in Clio, Ala. and made his major league debut April 14, 1966, with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Sutton played a successful 23 years in the majors, splitting his time between five teams, but is best known for his stint with the Dodgers. Sutton’s accolades include four NL All-Star appearances, 1977 All-Star Game MVP Award, 1980 NL ERA Leader and an induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame: Class of 1998. Looking back on his pitching career, he won 324 games, struck out 3,574 batters and pitched in four World Series. After retiring, Sutton became a radio and television broadcaster for the Atlanta Braves and the Washington Nationals. In 1998, the Dodgers retired his jersey number, 20. He was also inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame in 2015 as a broadcaster. After a long battle with cancer, Sutton passed away in his home Jan. 19, 2021, in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

Tim Talton was born Jan. 14, 1939, in Pikeville, N.C. and made his major league debut July 8, 1966, with the Kansas City Athletics. Talton played two seasons with the Athletics. At the beginning of his career in 37 games, Talton hit .340 and slugged .547 with his team hitting .236. Talton passed away July 22, 2021, in Goldsboro, N.C.

Randy Tate was born Oct. 23, 1952, in Florence, Ala. and made his major league debut April 14, 1975, with the New York Mets. Tate, a right-handed pitcher, played one year in the major leagues with the Mets. He then played in the Puerto Rico Winter Baseball League in 1975. Tate passed away March 25, 2021, in Muscle Shoals, Ala.

Wayne Terwilliger was born June 27, 1925, in Clare, Mich. and made his major league debut Aug. 6, 1949, with the Chicago Cubs. Terwilliger spent nine years in the big leagues, playing for the Cubs, Brooklyn Dodgers, Washington Senators, New York Giants and the Kansas City Athletics. In 1951, Terwilliger backed up second baseman, Jackie Robinson partway through the season. After his playing days, Terwilliger became a coach for several teams, including the Senators and Texas Rangers under Ted Williams from 1969-1972. He won two World Series coaching for the Minnesota Twins. He then managed 12 minor league teams, winning a total of 1224 games. He also published an autobiography in 2006 named, Terwilliger Bunts One. Terwilliger passed away Feb. 3, 2021, in Weatherford, Texas.

Tim Thompson was born March 1, 1924, in Coalport, Pa. and made his major league debut April 20, 1954, with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Thompson played four years in the majors, spending his time with the Dodgers, Kansas City Athletics and the Detroit Tigers. Thompson passed away Oct. 25, 2021, in Lewistown, Pa.

Dick Tidrow was born May 14, 1947, in San Francisco, Calif. and made his major league debut April 18, 1972, with the Cleveland Indians. Tidrow played 13 years in the majors, splitting his time between the Indians, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox and New York Mets. Throughout his six-year stint with the Yankees, Tidrow won two World Series titles with the team in 1977 and 1978. After his playing days, he became a scout for the Yankees and worked in the front office for the San Francisco Giants. He then became a special assistant in 1996 to the GM, farm director from 1997-2005 and was finally Senior Vice President of Player Personnel. Tidrow passed away July 10, 2021, in Lee’s Summit, Mo.

Tim Tolman was born April 20, 1956, in Santa Monica, Calif. and made his major league debut Sept. 9, 1981, with the Houston Astros. Tolman played seven years in the majors, five spent with the Astros, his last two with the Detroit Tigers. After his playing days, Tolman entered his coaching career. He coached for the Tucson Toros in 1990, managed in the Astros organization from 1991-1996, was a minor league field coordinator for the Cleveland Indians from 2003-06, the third base coach for the Washington Nationals in 2007, then became bench coach for the Indians under manager Manny Acta. He also was a scout and scouting supervisor for the Astros from 1997-2002. Tolman passed away June 3, 2021, in Tucson, Ariz.

Vito Valentinetti was born Sept. 16, 1928, in West New York, N.J. and made his major league debut June 20, 1954, with the Chicago White Sox. Valentinetti played five years in the majors, splitting his time between the White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers and Washington Senators. He missed the 1952 season and most of the 1951 and 1953 seasons due to military service. Valentinetti passed away Aug. 5, 2021, after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Coot Veal was born July 9, 1932, in Sandersville, Ga. and made his major league debut July 30, 1958, with the Detroit Tigers. Veal played six years in the majors, playing for the Tigers, Washington Senators and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Veal is best known for being the first batter in history for the new Washington Senators. He was also a star basketball player at Auburn University before his professional baseball career. Veal passed away March 14, 2021.

Bill Virdon was born June 9, 1931, in Hazel Park, Mich. and made his major league debut April 12, 1955, with the St. Louis Cardinals. Virdon played 12 years in the majors, 11 of those years spent with the Pittsburgh Pirates and two with the Cardinals. Virdon won the 1955 National League Rookie of the Year Award with the Cardinals, a World Series with the Pirates in 1960 and was named a 1962 NL Gold Glove winner. After his playing days, Virdon entered the coaching world. He first started as a minor league manager in the New York Mets organization, then rejoined the Pirates organization as a player-coach in 1968, reaching full-time the following season. In 1972, he became the Pirates Manager, leading the team to an NL East division title and also led the Houston Astros to their first-ever division title in 1980. He later managed the Montreal Expos in 1983, and coached again for the Pirates and the Astros. Virdon passed away Nov. 23, 2021, in Springfield, Mo. at age 90.

Ted Wieand was born April 4, 1933, in Walnutport, Penn. and made his major league debut Sept. 27, 1958, with the Cincinnati Redlegs. He played two seasons with the Redlegs. After his playing days, Wieand worked at the Schuler Plumbing and Heating Service in Allentown, Pa. until 1983. He then became a heating and plumbing foreman at Muhlenberg College before he retired in 1998. Wieand passed away July 7, 2021, in Allentown, Pa.

Stan Williams was born Sept. 14, 1936, in Enfield, N.H. and made his major league debut May 17, 1958, with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Williams had a successful 14 seasons in the majors, with a 1960 NL All-Star appearance and a 1959 World Series title under his belt. He ended his pitching career with 109 wins, a 3.48 ERA and 43 saves. After his playing days, Williams became a manager for the Bristol Red Sox in 1974. He then began his coaching stint, coaching for the Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Columbus Clippers, New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds and Seattle Mariners. Williams passed away Feb. 20, 2021, in Laughlin, Nev.

Duane Wilson was born June 29, 1934, in Wichita, Kan. and made his major league debut July 3, 1958, with the Boston Red Sox. Wilson played one year of major league ball with the Red Sox as a left-handed pitcher. After his playing days, Wilson entered the banking industry in 1964, later becoming a vice president for the Stockyards National Bank until 1985, and then with the Southwest National Bank. Wilson passed away Nov. 9, 2021, in Wichita, Kan.