Necrology

Brant Alyea was born on Dec. 8, 1940 in Passaic, N.J. and made his Major League debut on Sept. 11, 1965 with the Washington Senators. Alyea spent six seasons in the Majors as a leftfielder and pinch hitter for the Senators, Minnesota Twins, Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals. In his first Major League plate appearance, Alyea hit a home run after pinch hitting in the bottom of the 6th inning. Alyea passed away on Feb. 4, 2024 in Huntingdon Valley, Pa.

Cuno Barragan was born on June 20, 1932 in Sacramento, Calif. and made his Major League debut on Sept. 1, 1961 with the Chicago Cubs. Barragan spent three seasons as a catcher in the majors, all three with the Cubs. In his first Major League at bat, he hit his one career home run against Dick LeMay of the San Francisco Giants. Barragan missed the 1954 and 1955 seasons due to serving in the Navy. He passed away on May 12, 2024 in California.

Kevin Batiste was born on Oct. 21, 1966 in Galveston, Texas and made his Major League debut on June 13, 1989 with the Toronto Blue Jays. Batiste played in one big league season with the Blue Jays as an outfielder and pinch runner. After his baseball career, Batiste went on to play football for the University of Houston. He passed away on April 2, 2024.

Larry Brown was born on March 1, 1940 in Shinnston, W.V. and made his major league debut on July 6, 1963 with the Cleveland Indians. Brown spent 12 seasons in the Majors as an infielder, playing for the Indians, Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles and the Texas Rangers. He is the younger brother of former big league catcher, Dick Brown. Brown passed away on April 12, 2024 in Stuart, Fla.

Sean Burroughs was born on Sept. 12, 1980 in Atlanta, Geogia and made his Major League debut on April 2, 2002 with the San Diego Padres. Burroughs spent seven seasons in the majors as a third baseman. He played for the Padres, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Arizona Diamondbacks and the Minnesota Twins. Sean Burroughs, the son of former MVP Jeff Burroughs, was on the Long Beach Little League World Series team that won titles when he was 11 and 12 years old. He also was a third baseman for Team USA in the Sydney Olympic Games. Burroughs passed away on May 9, 2024, in Long Beach, Calif. at the age of 43.

José DeLeón was born on Dec. 20, 1960 in Rancho Viejo, Dominican Republic and made his major league debut on July 23, 1983 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. DeLeon pitched in 13 seasons in the Majors, playing for the Pirates, Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies and the Montreal Expos. He pitched one one-hitter and two two-hitters during his career. DeLeon passed away on Feb. 25, 2024 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Larry Demery was born on June 4, 1953 in Bakersfield, Calif. and made his Major League debut on June 2, 1974 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Demery played in four seasons in the majors all spent with the Pirates as a right-handed pitcher. Demery’s dad, Artist Demery played in the Negro Leagues and his brother, Art, was in the Kansas City Royals organization. Demery passed away on Feb. 20, 2024 in Bakersfield, Calif.

Carl Erskine was born on Dec. 13, 1926 in Anderson, Indiana and made his Major League debut on July 25, 1948 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Erskine pitched in 12 season in the Majors, and spent all 12 playing for the Dodgers. Looking back at his career, Erskine pitched two no-hitters, was a 1954 NL All-Star and a 1955 World Series Champion with the Dodgers. Due to his support and work with the Special Olympics and with the Baseball Assistance Team after retirement, he received the Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2023 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Erskine passed away on April 16, 2024 in Anderson, Indiana at the age of 97.

Billy Gardner was born on July 19, 1927 in New London, Conn. and made his Major League debut on April 22, 1954 with the New York Giants. Gardner spent 10 seasons in the Majors as an infielder for the Giants, Baltimore Orioles, Washington Senators, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. He is a two-time World Series champion with the Giants in 1954 and the Yankees in 1961. After his playing days, Garnder became a coach for the Red Sox (1965-66), and worked on the Montreal Expos staff (1977-78), later managing in their organization for a few season. He also joined the coaching staff for the Twins before becoming manager. He managed the Twins for five seasons and the Kansas City Royals for one season. Gardner passed away on Jan. 3, 2024 in Waterford, Conn. at the age of 96.

Jerry Grote was born on Oct. 6, 1942 in San Antonia, Texas and made his Major League debut on Sept. 21, 1963 with the Houston Colt .45s. Grote spent 16 seasons in the majors as a catcher with the Colt .45s, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers and the Kansas City Royals. Grote ended his notable career as a two-time NL All-Star and a 1969 World Series Champion with the Mets. He is also a member of the Mets Hall of Fame. During the Mets successful 1969 season, Grote played a large role hitting .458 during the first 17 games of the end of their regular season stretch. After his playing days, he became a manager in the minor leagues. Grote passed away on April 7, 2024 in Austin, Texas.

Don Gullett was born on Jan. 6, 1951 in Lynn, Ky. and made his major league debut on April 10, 1970 with the Cincinnati Reds. Gullett, a left-handed pitcher, spent nine seasons in the majors, playing for the Reds and the New York Yankees. He found success in his career with both teams, winning two World Series Championships with the Reds and one with the Yankees. After retirement, Gullett became a pitching coach in the Minor Leagues, later moving up to work with the Reds from 1993-2005. He was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 2002. He passed away on February 14, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio.

Jim Hannan was born on Jan. 7, 1939 in Jersey City, N.J. and made his major league debut on April 17, 1962 with the Washington Senators. Hannan played in 10 seasons in the Major Leagues, pitching for the Senators for nine of those seasons, and one with the Detroit Tigers and the Milwaukee Brewers. After his playing career, Hannan became one of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association’s founding members and served as the inaugural president of the organization from 1982-86. He became chairman of the MLBPAA in 1996, holding the position until 2024. Due to his significant influence, the MLBPAA created the annual Jim Hannan Scholarship Award that supports athletes attending Jim’s alma maters, the University of Notre Dame and Saint Peter’s Prep. Under his leadership, Hannan advocated for the MLBPAA and the Legends for Youth Clinic series, providing guidance and consistent contributions to its growth. Among other initiatives within the Alumni, Jim created the coaches clinic series in 2013. He passed away on Feb. 8, 2024 in Annandale, Va. at the age of 85.

Bud Harrelson was born on June 6, 1944 in Niles, Calif. and made his major league debut on September 2, 1965 with the New York Mets. Harrelson spent 16 years in the majors as an infielder with the Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, and the Texas Rangers. He ended his notable career as a two-time NL All-Star, NL Gold Glove Award winner and a 1969 World Series champion with the Mets. Beyond his playing career, he managed the Mets for a season and a half, and became part owner of the Long Island Ducks of the Independent Atlantic League. Harrelson passed away on Jan. 10, 2024 in East Northport, N.Y. after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 79.

Whitey Herzog was born on Nov. 9, 1931 in New Athens, Ill. and made his Major League debut on April 17, 1956 with the Washington Senators/Nationals. Herzog spent eight seasons in the majors as an outfielder, pinch hitter and first baseman. He played for the Senators/Nationals, Kansas City Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, and the Detroit Tigers. Beyond his playing days, Herzog is most notably known for his 19-year career as a big league manager, where he was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010 in vote of the Veterans Committee. He managed one season with the Texas Rangers and the California Angels, five seasons with the Royals, and 11 with the St. Louis Cardinals. Under his management, he won the 1982 World Series Championship with the Cardinals, three NL Pennants and was a two-time Manager of the Year. Herzog passed away on April 15, 2024 in St. Louis, Mo. He was 92.

Ken Holtzman was born on Nov. 3, 1945 in St. Louis, Mo. and made his Major League debut on Sept. 4, 1965 with the Chicago Cubs. Holtzman spent 15 seasons in the major leagues as a left-handed pitcher with the Cubs, Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees. He ended his successful career as a two-time AL All-Star and four-time World Series champion. He pitched two no-hitters during his time with the Cubs and was also the last pitcher to hit a home run, until Joe Blanton did the same 34 years later. With 174 career wins, Holtzman is the winningest Jewish pitcher in Major League Baseball history. After his playing days, Holtzman managed the inaugural year of the Israel Baseball League. He passed away on April 14, 2024 in St. Louis, Mo.

Odell Jones was born on Jan. 13, 1953 in Tulare, Calif. and made his Major League debut on Sept. 11, 1975 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Jones spent nine seasons in the majors, pitching four of those seasons with the Pirates and the remaining with the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles and Milwaukee Brewers. He ended his career with a 4.42 ERA. Jones passed away on March 20, 2024 in Beaverton, Ore.

Don Lassetter was born on March 27, 1933 in Newnan, Ga. and made his Major League debut on Sept. 21, 1957 with the St. Louis Cardinals. Lassetter played in one season in the majors with the Cardinals as a left fielder. He passed away on Jan. 22, 2024 in Clarksdale, Miss.

Jim McAndrew was born on Jan. 11, 1944 in Los Nation, Iowa and made his Major League debut on July 21, 1968 with the New York Mets. McAndrew spent seven seasons pitching in the Majors, most notably with the Mets and the San Diego Padres. He ended his big-league career as a 1969 World Series champion with the Mets. His son, Jamie also went on to play in the big leagues. McAndrew passed away on March 14, 2024 in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Al McBean was born on May 15, 1938 in Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands and made his major league debut on July 2, 1961 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. McBean spent 10 seasons pitching in the big leagues for the Pirates, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers. Nine of those seasons were spent with the Pirates. McBean was the first pitcher to enter majors from the Virgin Islands. He found success during his career as a reliever, recording 22 saves in 1964. McBean passed away on Jan. 31, 2024 in his hometown in the Virgin Islands.

Dave McCarty was born on Nov. 23, 1969 in Houston, Texas and made his major league debut on May 17, 1993 with the Minnesota Twins. McCarty spent 11 seasons in the majors as a first baseman and outfielder with the Twins, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Kansas City Royals, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Oakland Athletics and Boston Red Sox. He was drafted by the Twins third overall out of Stanford University. McCarty was an integral part of Team USA as a DH in the 1990 Baseball World Cup. After his playing days, McCarty entered the commercial real estate business. He passed away on April 29, 2024 in Oakland, Calif. at the age of 54.