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Baseball Passings in 2018

Edgy MD Jan 04 2018 04:54 PM

New wave-era AL infielder Rob Picciolo has died suddenly following a heart attack. Rob, who played nine years in the bigs followed by a long (longest-ever, I believe) tenure as a Padres coach, was sort of made in the mold of Tim Foli — an infielder who managed to make up for his lack of power with a stubborn refusal to take a walk. He was Doug Flynn without the Gold Glove. Not much of an asset as a player, but somehow squeezed out a nine-year career and a long life in baseball after. [fimg=250:2douumg1]http://www.tradingcarddb.com/Images/Cards/Baseball/110/110-672Fr.jpg[/fimg:2douumg1] [fimg=250:2douumg1]http://www.tradingcarddb.com/Images/Cards/Baseball/98/98-88Fr.jpg[/fimg:2douumg1] [fimg=250:2douumg1]https://ssli.ebayimg.com/images/g/bD0AAOSw4dtXgF9v/s-l1600.jpg[/fimg:2douumg1] [fimg=250:2douumg1]https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/515tTm6aP1L.jpg[/fimg:2douumg1] [fimg=250:2douumg1]http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/pics/rob_picciolo_autograph.jpg[/fimg:2douumg1] [fimg=250:2douumg1]https://ssli.ebayimg.com/images/g/KL4AAOSwdrdZcDZ6/s-l1600.jpg[/fimg:2douumg1]

MFS62 Jan 04 2018 05:31 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

I remember his name was pronounced PEACH-a-low. RIP. Later

G-Fafif Jan 10 2018 09:24 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Bob Bailey, who I remember mostly as the third baseman on the early Expos clubs, has passed away at 75. You may remember him as a Pirate, Dodger, Red and/or Red Sock, as well. His final AB was a PH SO in the Bucky Bleeping Dent game, but let's not hold that against him.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 10 2018 09:37 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

41Forever Jan 10 2018 09:51 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

An original Expo!

MFS62 Jan 10 2018 03:45 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Bailey was one of the first "Bonus Babies". Back then, the rules said that bonus babies had to be kept on the major league roster for one year signing or be lost in the draft. After watching him as a rookie during that first year, Dick Young wrote, "While on one hand, he can't hit, on the other hand, he can't field either". RIP, Bob. Later

Frayed Knot Jan 14 2018 06:58 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Doug 'The Lord' Harvey - 87 31 years as an ump (all with the NL); 18 as a crew chief; 4,673 games. HoF Class of 2010

Edgy MD Jan 14 2018 07:14 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Also the most recent (that is, most recently active) ump in the Hall of Fame. The only guy enshrined since Harvey was Hank O'Day, who worked from 1895-1927. O'Day worked ten World Series (second only to Doug Harvey), and also played for seven years. They've taken a pass on an ump who was larger than life and more famous than half the players (Dutch Rennert); an ump who lost his career, most of his ability to walk, and nearly his life in an act of selfless heroism (Steve Palermo); and an ump who came out as gay (Dale Scott). I think what I'm saying is Harvey may be the last Hall of Fame ump we get for a long time. Between the rise of video review and the falling of the status (my impression) of umpiring that has both precipitated and followed video review, I don't think anybody is in a hurry to enshrine a guy in blue. Plus, Harvey was "The Lord." That's status!

Zvon Jan 15 2018 04:09 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Frayed Knot wrote: Doug 'The Lord' Harvey - 87 31 years as an ump (all with the NL); 18 as a crew chief; 4,673 games. HoF Class of 2010 Actually just found out a few minutes ago. My favorite all time ump. I guess his family is as low key and humble as he was. His passing barely made a ripple. None of my brothers knew. And just a few weeks ago I ran into a pic of him and opened a folder for UMPS and saved it, thinking maybe Ill make a set of cards with umpires on em. Bummed.

G-Fafif Jan 22 2018 12:12 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Moose Stubing, a curious figure in the recent CPF comprehensive survey of living former MLB managers, is no longer in that category, having died at 79. Moose got the most attention in his career as a scapegoat while coaching third base for the Angels in the 1986 ALCS.

Edgy MD Jan 30 2018 02:04 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Kevin Towers, minor league pitcher, big league pitching coach, scouting director, and longtime GM with the Pads and Diamondbacks, gone at 56. [fimg=500]https://cdn-s3.si.com/s3fs-public/2018/01/30/kevin-towers-diamondbacks-padres-gm-dead.jpg[/fimg]

Frayed Knot Jan 31 2018 09:36 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

The most famous afro in MLB history is gone. Well, the afro has been gone a while [see pic] but its owner, Oscar Gamble, is also gone. He was 68, no cause of death reported as of yet. 200 career ML HRs for the Cubs, Phillies, Indians, White Sox (twice), Rangers, Yankees (also twice), and Padres. [fimg=300:2511aghh]http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.3790245.1517414078!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_1200/alg-gamble-jpg.jpg[/fimg:2511aghh]

Edgy MD Jan 31 2018 09:49 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

That might be the greatest baseball card in history. Even where it's bad, it's bad to a great degree. Blessings be on its subject, Oscar Gamble. [fimg=300:ietdooz4]http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.336591.1314431409!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/amd-gamble-teaches-jpg.jpg[/fimg:ietdooz4]

Frayed Knot Jan 31 2018 10:14 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Edgy MD wrote: That might be the greatest baseball card in history. Even where it's bad, it's bad to a great degree. And even though it's a bogus picture since Gamble was never allowed to wear his hair like that under the Steinbrenner regime. He joined the Yanx in November of '75 [a trade w/Cleveland for Par Dobson] and again at the mid-season trading deadline in 1979 so maybe that card is a late season issue 1979 version

Edgy MD Jan 31 2018 10:18 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Exactly. That sort of bizarre anachronism amplifies the impact.

SteveJRogers Jan 31 2018 10:29 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Frayed Knot wrote: Edgy MD wrote: That might be the greatest baseball card in history. Even where it's bad, it's bad to a great degree. And even though it's a bogus picture since Gamble was never allowed to wear his hair like that under the Steinbrenner regime. He joined the Yanx in November of '75 [a trade w/Cleveland for Par Dobson] and again at the mid-season trading deadline in 1979 so maybe that card is a late season issue 1979 version Its from the 1976 Traded set that was issued prior to the 1977 season, so the cap is an airbrushed Cleveland one.

SteveJRogers Jan 31 2018 10:31 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Afro in its full glory

smg58 Jan 31 2018 10:32 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

I have that card. I always loved Oscar Gamble. The only thing that would have made that afro more perfect is a Houston Astros uniform.

MFS62 Jan 31 2018 06:50 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Frayed Knot wrote: The most famous afro in MLB history is gone. Well, the afro has been gone a while [see pic] but its owner, Oscar Gamble, is also gone. He was 68, no cause of death reported as of yet. 200 career ML HRs for the Cubs, Phillies, Indians, White Sox (twice), Rangers, Yankees (also twice), and Padres. [fimg=300]http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.3790245.1517414078!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_1200/alg-gamble-jpg.jpg[/fimg] The first baseball website I joined was called FASTBALL. One of the members had the screen name "Oscargamble'sfroinalid". I'm guessing he took that name after seeing that card. He must be very sad today. RIP. Later

Chad Ochoseis Feb 11 2018 05:54 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Wally Moon, 87, now mainly remembered as the left-handed hitter who led the Dodgers in home runs in 1959 by figuring out how to hit opposite field home runs over the left field fence at the LA Coliseum, 251 feet from home plate. Just imagine what he could have done had he played at YS III! OE - I thought he led the team in home runs, but apparently he tied for third with 19. The other three '59 Dodgers who hit nineteen or more home runs had Metly futures.

Lefty Specialist Feb 11 2018 06:29 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Snider and Hodges, certainly.

41Forever Feb 11 2018 07:09 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Wally Moon, 87, now mainly remembered as the left-handed hitter who led the Dodgers in home runs in 1959 by figuring out how to hit opposite field home runs over the left field fence at the LA Coliseum, 251 feet from home plate. Just imagine what he could have done had he played at YS III! OE - I thought he led the team in home runs, but apparently he tied for third with 19. The other three '59 Dodgers who hit nineteen or more home runs had Metly futures. Wally's other claim to fame: Winning the NL Rookie of the Year Award in 1954 -- beating Hank Aaron. Aaron actually came in fourth, behind Moon, Ernie Banks and teammate Gene Conley.

Chad Ochoseis Feb 11 2018 07:23 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Lefty Specialist wrote: Snider and Hodges, certainly. Yep, the two gimmes. Another future Met had 19 on the year.

Frayed Knot Feb 11 2018 07:25 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Tommy Davis?

Chad Ochoseis Feb 11 2018 07:42 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Not Davis.

seawolf17 Feb 11 2018 07:42 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Julio Franco.

Chad Ochoseis Feb 11 2018 07:59 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Nah. Franco was over the hill by 1959.

Zvon Feb 11 2018 09:16 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Chad Ochoseis wrote: OE - I thought he led the team in home runs, but apparently he tied for third with 19. The other three '59 Dodgers who hit nineteen or more home runs had Metly futures. Charlie Neal, believe it or......just believe it.

Chad Ochoseis Feb 12 2018 05:06 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Yeah. 19 home runs in 1959 and 22 in 1958. Who would've thunk?

Edgy MD Feb 12 2018 08:17 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

I was leaning toward Zimmer. It's a baseball reality that you didn't have to a home run hitter to hit home runs if you played at Ebbets Field or Polo Grounds.

MFS62 Feb 12 2018 08:22 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Chad Ochoseis wrote: Nah. Franco was over the hill by 1959. So was I. Oh, wait! Later

Frayed Knot Feb 14 2018 03:57 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

'Tito' (John Patsy) Francona, father of current Cleveland manager Terry Jon 'Tito' Francona -- 84 15 year career (1956-1970) with Cleveland, Atlanta, StL, Oakland, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Detroit, Milwaukee, Chicago White Sox 2nd in ROY in 1956 w/the Orioles and 5th in MVP 1959/Indians

G-Fafif Mar 03 2018 10:51 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Sammy Stewart, O's reliever of yore, 63. http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orio ... story.html

Edgy MD Mar 04 2018 05:08 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Good work by Schmuck there telling a complicated story.

G-Fafif Mar 23 2018 08:37 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Former Marlins owner Wayne Huizenga, reported dead at 80.

G-Fafif Apr 05 2018 11:26 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Jerry Moses, one of that handful of Mets who made it to the active roster but not to the field as a Met, 71. An All-Star catcher in the American League for the Red Sox pre-Fisk. Theoretically backed up Grote and Stearns in 1975 between the time his contract was purchased from Detroit and the time it was sold to San Diego 14 games into the season.

G-Fafif May 15 2018 12:25 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Frank Quilici, Twins infielder, coach, manager, broadcaster and guy whose card I got a lot in second grade, 79.

G-Fafif Jun 02 2018 10:38 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Bruce Kison, 68, cancer. Pitched for two world champions in Pittsburgh. His wedding, amid the '71 Series, was a big deal. https://www.si.com/vault/1972/04/10/613 ... -innocence Made a snide remark about not wanting to sign with the Mets as a free agent following the 1979 season.

Edgy MD Jun 02 2018 11:01 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Known here in Baltimore as a pitching coach and scout, more than as a rare member of both Pirate championships over the O's. That last line is crazy. I totally would have signed with the Mets following the 1979 season.

G-Fafif Jun 07 2018 02:31 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Red Schoendienst, 95, Hall of Famer as a player, a fixture as a manager, an icon as a Cardinal. Member of the world champion 1957 Braves. His passing leaves alive only 18 former New York Giants.

Edgy MD Jun 07 2018 06:11 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Red's great. The definition of a baseball lifer. If a Hall of Fame candidate is a player-manager, player-executive, or player-umpire, the HoF Veterans' Committee is supposed to consider the totality of a figure's career, even if he was just submitted on a player ballot. Schoendeist was seemingly one of the few times they took that charge seriously. One of three Reds in the Hall of Fame.

Benjamin Grimm Jun 07 2018 06:44 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Edgy MD wrote: One of three Reds in the Hall of Fame. At first I thought you meant Cincinnati Reds, and thought how is that possible?

SteveJRogers Jun 07 2018 08:42 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

I imagine you aren’t counting Frick Award winner Red Barber. Pitcher Red Faber is the only one coming to mind.

Edgy MD Jun 07 2018 08:50 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Staying healthy and piling up prestigious win totals with the Yankees in the 20s and 30s is a good way to punch your ticket. Ask Waite Hoyt. Urban Shocker may have retired relatively young but he may have had a better career than either of them.

SteveJRogers Jun 07 2018 10:16 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

At the risk of opening myself up to more “you’re a YLDB” quips... D’OH! That’s a pretty big one to miss!

G-Fafif Jun 25 2018 08:23 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Donald Hall, 89, former poet laureate of the United States -- and baseball author. Collaborated with Dock Ellis on In the Country of Baseball, produced a fine collection of essays, Fathers Playing Catch with Sons.

G-Fafif Jul 30 2018 02:03 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Tony Cloninger, 77, best known as the pitcher who hit two grand slams in one game. He did it for the Braves in 1966. Less known for my confusing him with Tony Conigliaro when I was very young.

G-Fafif Oct 07 2018 05:45 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

RIP to two players I knew mostly as baseball cards I kept getting when I was seven: Lee Stange, 81; and Marty Pattin, 75.

Frayed Knot Oct 07 2018 05:55 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Marty Pattin was a Seattle Pilot and therefore part of BALL FOUR - also with the Angels, Brewers (nee Pilots), BoSox, and with those great Royals teams of the mid-'70s Was known in the clubhouse and team bus trips (IIRC) for his X-rated Donald Duck impression.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 19 2018 12:00 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Wayne Krenchiki, who I remember as a Reds & Expos reserve infielder but who also played for the Orioles & Tigers, 64 years old.

G-Fafif Oct 23 2018 02:01 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Hank Greenwald, longtime SF Giants announcer, 83. Did MFYs for a couple of years and didn't care for the owner.

SteveJRogers Oct 31 2018 06:35 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Willie McCovey :(

Frayed Knot Oct 31 2018 06:45 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Dang!, although I knew he hadn't been in good health for a number of years now and was often seen in a wheelchair. And all this comes as I was just thinking the other day how it's been a couple of years since I've seen Mays, seven years older than McCovey, anywhere in public.

vtmet Oct 31 2018 06:55 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

as a child, besides being a Mets fan, I was also a Giants fan because Willie Mays and Willie McCovey were 2 of my favorite players...at least until the Mets acquired Willie Mays...

SteveJRogers Oct 31 2018 06:57 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Frayed Knot wrote: Dang!, although I knew he hadn't been in good health for a number of years now and was often seen in a wheelchair. And all this comes as I was just thinking the other day how it's been a couple of years since I've seen Mays, seven years older than McCovey, anywhere in public. Mays was at the Bonds number retirement this summer.

MFS62 Oct 31 2018 07:39 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

I remember listening to McCovey's first major league game on radio as Les Keiter recreated it back to New York. The team had just moved from New York and the station felt there were enough fans here who still rooted for the team. IIRC, he went 4-4 against Robin Roberts, with two triples. I still remember Keiter's signature calls on triples "Back, back, wayyy back. BOOM off the top of the wall*. Here goes Willie, around second, heading for third. Here comes Willie. Here comes the ball. He BEAT the ball, he BEAT the ball". RIP Later * = actually there was a tall scoreboard on the wall in right field in Seals' Stadium.

sharpie Nov 01 2018 07:17 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

I was living in the Bay Area during the latter part of McCovey's time with the Giants. His return, and particularly his play in the '78 season, was really quite infectious. In '79 the Giants had another first baseman, Mike Ivie, a quiet home run hitter who was a former catcher and had a hang-up about throwing the ball back to the catcher (think a cross between Lucas Duda and Mackey Sasser). McCovey was really slowing down but he had some sort of grudge against Ivie. In '80 the taunting of Ivie got heated and he got off to a terrible start. Mid-season the Giants brought up Calvin Murray, brother of Eddie. McCovey announced that now that they had a real first baseman he could retire, which he did. Murray was terrible, Ivie got traded and that led to a period where the Giants had a new first baseman every season until Will Clark arrived. Despite his dickish behavior toward Mike Ivie, he was a charismatic and likable player. Until yesterday all of the Giant's '60's greats were alive: Mays, Cepeda, Perry and Marichal all still are.

Lefty Specialist Nov 01 2018 08:18 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Tom Seaver once said that Mays and McCovey were the scariest back-to-back players he ever pitched to.

smg58 Nov 01 2018 08:42 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

It's kind of surreal (but also indicative of my age at the time) that I first remember Willie McCovey as a first baseman for the Padres.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 01 2018 09:22 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

I discovered baseball in 1971, and Willie McCovey was one of the biggest names in the game. I'll always have a special fondness for the superstars of those years because I was eight years old and baseball players were never more larger than life than they were then. Oh, and Charlie Brown was definitely rooting for the Giants against the Yankees in the 1962 World Series. (Note that these two strips were published six weeks apart!)

Mets Willets Point Nov 01 2018 09:28 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

smg58 wrote: It's kind of surreal (but also indicative of my age at the time) that I first remember Willie McCovey as a first baseman for the Padres. I similarly remember Pete Rose as a 1st baseman for the Phillies.

Edgy MD Nov 01 2018 09:43 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Marty Noble wrote a while back about a homer that McCovey hit above the clock at Busch Stadium. It would supposedly be the first topic of conversation when Tim McCarver and Al Jackson would meet every spring in St. Lucie. "Tim, why'd you call that pitch?" "Me?! Why'd YOU hang it?"

Frayed Knot Nov 01 2018 12:55 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

sharpie wrote: I was living in the Bay Area during the latter part of McCovey's time with the Giants. His return, and particularly his play in the '78 season, was really quite infectious. At least a certain percentage of Bay area fans considered McCovey 'theirs', seeing as how his rookie season came in their third season there, as opposed to Mays who, while certainly popular, was seen more as a NYC transplant.

G-Fafif Nov 01 2018 01:59 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Gil Hodges implemented a four-man outfield to cut down McCovey's extra-base power in the thirteenth inning of a scoreless game at Shea, a move that paid off perfectly on August 19, 1969, when Willie hit one to deepest left center and Cleon Jones was in position to run it down and make a backhanded catch. Tommie Agee homered to win it, 1-0, in the bottom of the fourteenth. The losing pitcher was Juan Marichal, who had gone the distance. Giants in those days.

cooby Nov 01 2018 04:24 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I discovered baseball in 1971, and Willie McCovey was one of the biggest names in the game. I'll always have a special fondness for the superstars of those years because I was eight years old and baseball players were never more larger than life than they were then. Oh, and Charlie Brown was definitely rooting for the Giants against the Yankees in the 1962 World Series. (Note that these two strips were published six weeks apart!) Me too, very end of 1971. I worshiped all the players from every team, but of course the Mets were my favorites. Only I was 11 or 12. 12 I guess by then

smg58 Dec 07 2018 07:32 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

[url]https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/12/luis-valbuena-former-pirates-infielder-jose-castillo-killed-in-car-accident-in-venezuela.html An awful tragedy.

seawolf17 Dec 07 2018 07:59 AM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

That is terribly sad. Although honestly, I couldn't tell you what team(s) Valbuena played for. I looked him up and was stunned at how long he'd be in the bigs. Castillo I remember as a Pirates middle infielder, but thought he played for a lot *longer* than he did.

G-Fafif Dec 10 2018 02:38 PM Re: Baseball Passings in 2018

Dirty Al Gallagher, Giants 3B from their 1971 NL West championship team, 73.