Remembering those the Phillies family lost in 2024
Remembering those in the Phillies family whom we lost in the 2024 calendar year. Included are two nonagenarians and baseball’s Hit King.
SS Bud Harrelson died January 11 in Northport, NY; age 79. Spent 16 years in the Majors, including 1978-79 with the Phillies.
Jimy Williams, January 26, Tarpon Springs, FL; age 80. Phillies coach, 2006-2008. Managed three teams in the Major Leagues.
RHP Tom Qualters, February 15, Somerset, PA; age 88. Received a $40,000 bonus after high school graduation. Phillies, 1953, 1957-58; White Sox, 1958.
RHP Jose DeLeon, February 25, Santo Domingo, DR; age 63. 13 years in the Majors, including 1992-93 with Phillies.
RHP Pat Zachry, April 4, Austin, TX; age 71. 10-year big-league career concluding with Phillies in 1985.
OF Hank Allen, brother of the late Dick Allen, May 29, Bethesda, MD; age 83. Originally signed by Phillies, 4/10/60; sold to Senators, 1965. Seven years in the American League. Longtime Brewers/Astros scout after playing career.
INF Wayne Graham, September 3; Austin, TX; age 88. Originally signed by Phils in 1957. Played briefly for them in 1963 and Mets in 1964. Legendary baseball coach at Rice University (1992-2018); Seven College World Series teams, including the 2003 champions.
RHP Doug Bird, September 24, Asheville, NC; age 74. 11 years in majors, 1979 with Phillies.
Pete Rose, September 30, Las Vegas, NV; 83. Baseball’s Hit King. 23-year big-league career, 4,256 hits; .303 average. Five seasons with Phillies, 1979-83. 1B on 1980 World Champion Phils.
LHP Fernando Valenzuela, October 22, Los Angeles, CA; age 63. 1981 Rookie of Year and Cy Young Award winner with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Pitched 17 years in Majors. Signed as a free agent June 24, 1994, with Phillies, pitched in eight games.
RHP Ray Semproch, October 27, Cleveland, OH; age 93. Originally signed by the Phillies in 1951. Made MLB debut in 1958 (13-11 record). Career included 1959 with the Phils and parts of 1960-61 in the American League.
LHP Don Ferrarese, November 7, Apple Valley, CA; age 95. Pitched eight years in the Majors, including 1961-62 with the Phillies.
INF Gary Sutherland, December 16, Monrovia, CA, age 80. Originally signed by the Phillies out of UCLA, November 6, 1964. His MLB debut came two years later. He also spent 1967-68 with the Phils before being selected by Montreal in the 1968 expansion Draft.